Ragnar organizers make final
plea to County Commission
BY TERRY SCHMIDA
The organizers of the controversial Ragnar Relay race through the Keys were planning a final pitch to the County Commission, Wednesday, to try to salvage this year’s race.
At press time, the Ragnar Relay CEO Chris Infurchia, fresh from making a similar entreaty to the Marathon City Council Tuesday evening, was to appear before the BOCC, with a new set of concessions, aimed at placating wary commissioners, and securing a permit for the annual event.
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy was to bring the matter before her colleagues, which has been discussed now three times in two months.
According to documents Infurchia submitted to the commission on Nov. 20, the proposed contest would still go ahead on Feb. 5 and 6 as scheduled, but Ragnar would “run an abridged race, and avoid the primary areas of concern that have been reporting (sic) by the Lower Keys residents, and county staff,” Infurchia’s letter to the commission reads.
“With this plan, we would stop running the race in Marathon Key and pick it up again in Key West . . . Following this event, we would put together a comprehensive plan to find a better date for the event, reduce teams, build out a complete courtesy campaign . . . and more.”
Infurchia previously appeared at the Nov. 17 commission meeting to make his case for a permit for Ragnar, which draws hundreds of participants, but also necessitates the use of numerous motor vehicles on U.S. 1, including vans.
Safety concerns about runners on Monroe’s busiest thoroughfare during the peak traffic time of the year led commissioners to uphold the turning down Infurchia’s application at the November meeting. The county previously denied the permit in October, but due to timing issues, agreed to discuss the matter again, in order to allow public comment, as well as input from Infurchia’s side.
Public sentiment ran about half-and-half at the November meeting, with some Keys residents worried about safety issues, and others encouraging the spirit of athleticism the race engenders, and reminding commissioners about the money the event raises for worthy charities such as the Special Olympics.
Representatives of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office noted that during last year’s race weekend, the number of accidents on U.S. 1 increased to 27, from just 16 the weekend before, and 19 on the following weekend.
However Mayor Heather Carruthers advised Infurchia to come back with a new plan, that might be considered.
Ragnar’s website claims that the organization strives to “make life more awesome” through “better health, lasting relationships, and “an enormous amount of fun.”
The site further claims that most Americans spend seven hours daily on “screen time,” and just four minutes outdoor during the same period.
“We exist to break that cycle and rebuild individuals’ connections with their mind and body, with nature and with other like-minded people,” the site says.

 

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