We’re excited about our 7th annual Run The Ritter and are looking forward to a great morning at Ritter Farm Park. Please read through the following information for details about your race morning with us. For those of you that are repeat Ritter runners the layout of the venue, including the start/finish area of the race, has changed this year and the information is listed below.
Pre-Event:
Address:
Ritter Farm Park
19300 Ritter Parkway Trail, Lakeville
Parking:
We strongly urge car pooling to our event as parking is limited and our registration numbers are higher than previous years. Parking attendants will assist in where to park your vehicle as efficiently as possible starting at 6:45am. If you are earlier please park responsibly on the lower end of the parking lot.
Porta-John Units:
There will be 5 units located at the top of the parking lot not far from the start/finish line. There is an additional unit near the Pavilion on the lower end of the lot. Access to bathrooms located inside the building is not allowed.
Packet Pick-up: 6:45-7:45am
This is located in the Environment Learning Center which is a building that is visible from wherever you park on the lower end. You can pick up your bib number, pins and shirt before the race. Prepare for longer lines this year and we advise getting there no later than 7:15am to give yourself enough time before the race start.
Bib Number:
Your bib has a chip attached to the back and needs to be attached to the front facing side of your visible layer of clothing for volunteers to see your race number which identifies you and for the transponder to activate when you step on the timing mats for scoring purposes. Do not cross the timing mats before the official start.
Event:
Timeline:
6:45-7:45am Packet Pick-up
7:45am Pre-Race Announcements for Canicross
7:50am Start of Canicross team race (3 mile only)
7:55am Pre-Race Announcements at start line
8:00am Start of all races. The start will be a rolling start of about 10-15 at a time every 5-10 seconds as needed. There is a very short single track hill path (2-3 seconds to get down) located near the start to get “down to the lower level” that we want to prevent congestion so the rolling start will help prevent this. The start and finish of the race is in the same location.
The Race Course: On our website https://runtheritter.com/run-information/
The new course this year is great. A little of everything and one 5 mile loop which is done twice for 10 milers without going all the way back to the start line when you begin your second loop. The 3 milers go straight at about mile 2.6ish to head back to the finish while all other runners turn right to continue on the final miles of the 5 mile. The course is well marked. Follow the orange Ritter flags and signage on the course. The entire course is wide (with exception of the very short single track at the start getting down to the lower level). There is a good mix of terrain with nothing too technical but a few short areas of rocks with leaf coverage at this time of year. A very short .2 is on a gravel road between a trail connect at a little over a mile on the course.
Aid Station:
One table with a cooler of water and combination of salty and sweet pre-packaged snack items will be located at the intersection taking runners to the finish or runners heading out for their second 5 mile loop. We expect our runners to carry hydration as needed and to carry a cup (given at the start for those that don’t have one from last year) for water. We are a cupless race on the course.
Post-Event:
Results: The results will be posted at https://www.mtecresults.com/race/leaderboard/19819/2025_Run_The_Ritter-10M
Awards: All finishers receive a eco-wooden medal with suede neck cord.
Top Finishers: Overall male and female of the 5 mile and the 10 mile events receive gift certificate for TCRC and a camper cup.
RRCA Awards: The 5 mile is the MN State RRCA 5 Mile Championship and medals will be given to the overall male and female in the open category, 40+, 50+ and 60+.
All awards will be given at the finish line area and photos will be taken.
Merrell:
Our partner Merrell (located in the Eagan Outlets) will be giving out drawstring bags with a coupon, chips, water and Gatorade powder mix located near the finish line area.
Upright Health:
Dr. Greg Roberts of Upright Health Chiropractic will be present near the finish line with his team and a heated tent for anyone needing to be looked at.
Medical:
Our medical staff will be located with the heated tent if and when needed.
Photos:
We will have two volunteer photographers on race day that will be either on the course to get action photos of all of our runners, finish line photos and random race experience photos. Smile!
Remember to take your “silo selfie” at the banner backdrop and post for all to enjoy.
Merchandise:
We will have a selection of merchandise (hats, shirts, hoodies, cups, buffs and more) located inside the building. Please visit before or after your breakfast. Our hope is to add to our inventory next year. Feel free to offer ideas on what you would like to see being offered to the merchandise team. Cash or credit via square will be accepted.
Post-Race Pancake Breakfast:
Freshly cooked pancakes (blueberry and plain) with gluten-free offered by request, sausage patties or links, eggs, pure maple syrup (donated by Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup), chocolate milk and coffee will be available beginning at 8:30am You will smell it before you see it! Access to the breakfast will be by walking up the ramp on the side of the building to the deck where the tables will be ready with the buffet style choices. We ask that all participants take their food back to the finish line area grounds where picnic tables and firepits will be to enjoy your food. No gathering on the deck where the food tables are placed please.
Final Comments:
Run The Ritter gives back:
Our goal is to reach the cumulative $10K amount in donation back to Ritter Farm Park for sustainability of the trails we use and prairie restoration land management. We anticipate being able to do this before end of this year and thank you for your contribution by way of part of your entry fee. This event is produced by 100% volunteer management and what is left after race operations fees (shirts, medals, insurance, permits, fees, timing, etc.) is given back.
Myself and our fully volunteer Run The Ritter Event Team wish you all a fantastic race experience and look forward to seeing you on Saturday, November 15. Let’s make it a great morning at Ritter Farm Park.
We are getting excited as we get closer to our 7th Annual Run The Ritter on Saturday, November 15. All registrants will receive a pre-race information e-mail with race details by Monday, November 10 regarding parking, timeline schedule and other pertinent race day details.
This note is to let you know about our one day early packet pick-up scheduled on Saturday, November 8, one week before the race. Details and location are as follows:
Date: Saturday, November 8
Time: 10am – 5pm
At: Ritter Farm Park – Environmental Learning Center (site of the race)
Address: 19300 Ritter Parkway Trail; Lakeville, MN 55044
What: Ritter bib number, pins, race shirt and any pre-ordered merchandise
You may pick up another person’s packet with proof of permission by e-mail or text to do so and show this at pickup.
This is the first year we are hosting this both at the race site location and inside the Environmental Learning Center. As you drive into the park you will see the building on the upper road though even if you park on the lower side near the silo you can easily walk to the building a very short distance.
Here are the top reasons why you should pick up your packet on Nov. 8:
-Guaranteed shirt in the size you requested;
-A chance to see the race venue so no guesses on race day;
-A chance to run part of or all of the course as a preview before the race;
-Discount coupons given during packet pickup;
-No waiting in line on race morning; (well except for the porta-potties as that never seems to change)
Please strongly consider adding this to your Saturday schedule to help prevent the long lines on race morning. We appreciate this but do understand if you have a long out of the metro area drive.
Thank you for making Run The Ritter a part of your schedule. We are thrilled by your choice to participate and look forward to seeing you.
Greetings registrants of the Feb 10 Winter Ritter 5K!
First and foremost, we are going to make this event happen despite the lack of snow! Please be prepared to run or hike the 5K course whether with your hiking or running and/or ice traction devices for shoes, or with your dog for the Canicross registrants. We will be there to host the event and are planning on having a good time no matter what the morning brings for conditions. This may be a historic year of no snow on the course in early February but never knowing what Mother Nature will deliver I would plan to at least bring the snowshoes in case Thursday and Friday of this week deliver snow but likely plan on not using them. How’s that for confidence in the weather?
For those on Facebook and Instagram check those for last minute updates if needed. Unless there is a drastic or emergency change this will be the final correspondence you will receive before the Feb 10 Winter 5K race.
Brief notes regarding the event:
ADDRESS
Ritter Farm Park
19300 Ritter Parkway Trail, Lakeville, MN
PARKING
Park on your honor in the large parking area near the silo as needed. We do not anticipate parking issues with this event as it is a smaller event than the fall Ritter trail races. There will be a coned off area near the start/finish that we ask that no one park inside of as we are using that for staging, packet pick-up, timing and post-race refreshments.
TIMELINE
9:00am Bib Number pick-up begins and the plaid knit beanies will be given to each registrant
9:55am Bib Number pick-up closes
10:00am Start of the Runners/Hikers/Walkers
10:10am Start of the Canicross participants
10:30-11:30am Post-Event Refreshments, photos and timing results
Note that though the Canicross starts 10 minutes later than the non-dog participants, bib numbers MUST be picked up by 9:55am to allow race officials to begin duties at the finish line.
THE COURSE
The course is an approximate 3 mile single loop that is primarily in the woods covered trails of Ritter Park. Participants will cross the bridge at the start and run thru trails that will bring you back to trail intersection number 1 next to the parking lot but in view of the silo. The course map is located on our website at http://migration2.maxvogel.com/snowshoe-information/
The course will be marked with pin flags to guide you in combination with right or left turn arrow signage where needed on the course to allow you to be on the course with confidence that you know where to go.
TIMING
A timing clock will be set up at the finish line and we will be manually timing this event by capturing your bib number with the corresponding clock time. These results will be posted on our website within a day or two. There are no awards for placing in this race.
REFRESHMENTS AND HYDRATION
A table will be set up near the finish line area with salty and sweet snacks, water and Gatorade. There is no aid station on the 3 mile course. Plan accordingly for carrying hydration if you feel you need it.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday morning, February 10 and wish you a great morning of fresh air and fun times.
Paulette Odenthal and Ritter team
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