Ragnar Trail Atlanta.
At Ragnar Trail Atlanta you run as one part of a relay team: your share is 15.8 miles, split across three loops through dense pine at Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers. So the preparation is not for one long run but for three separate efforts, the last of which should go as well as the first.
Ragnar Trail Atlanta 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The setting is Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, and the dense Georgia pine gives the course its character. The map shows a green, a yellow and a red loop, all starting and ending at the same point. Together they make up each team member's 15.8 miles, and the team as a whole covers 126.4. Between your loops, the others are out on course.
The shortest loop measures about seven kilometres and is the calmest, a gentle up and down with no ramp worth the name. The yellow sits in the middle at around nine. It climbs early for nearly 700 metres, then stays almost level for a long way before lifting again at its far point, with a 300-metre kick at close to ten percent, the steepest piece of the whole course.
The longest loop, just over ten kilometres, is the most restless. Over its opening kilometres one short climb follows the next, after which the rollers ease. There are no big hills anywhere: the course stays in a narrow band between just under 200 and just over 230 metres, and the work lies in the constant changes. Two water stations sit on the course, one on the yellow loop, the other serving red and green.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 7.6 | 0.7 km | 5.6 % | 9.9 % | +37 m | — |
| km 12.6 | 0.3 km | 9.9 % | 15.3 % | +30 m | — |
| km 14 | 0.3 km | 5.7 % | 7.6 % | +17 m | — |
| km 16.1 | 0.3 km | 3.5 % | 6.7 % | +11 m | — |
| km 17 | 0.4 km | 6.1 % | 11.3 % | +25 m | — |
| km 17.7 | 0.5 km | 4 % | 6.3 % | +18 m | — |
| km 18.6 | 0.8 km | 3.3 % | 8.2 % | +25 m | — |
| km 19.9 | 0.3 km | 5.5 % | 9.9 % | +17 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Ragnar Trail Atlanta.
Start under control
Do not treat the 15.8 miles as one continuous run. Each loop is its own effort with a break after it, so you can go quicker than the total distance suggests, but only so quick that the next loop does not suffer. For the team, three solid efforts count for more than one brilliant and two laboured ones.
Hold your rhythm
The longest loop is where most can be gained or lost. Its short climbs come so close together that little recovery fits between them. Run them at an even effort rather than an even pace, carry yourself easily over the crests and save any push for the flatter kilometres back to the starting point. If it falls last in your rotation, it becomes the real test.
Spend what is left
The trap is the start of every loop: you set off rested and quickly overdo it. On the yellow, the longest climb of the course comes early, and if you run it hard you carry that across the level kilometres all the way to the steep kick. Feel free to walk that kick, since 300 metres cost little time on foot and a lot of strength at a run.
Training plan for Ragnar Trail Atlanta: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly two and a half to three and a half hours of running in total, spread over three efforts of about 40 to 85 minutes. The load is mostly aerobic, with short harder spikes on the climbs. Around a third of the course each goes up, down and level, so long stretches in one rhythm are rare.
Train race pace
The defining feature is the repetition: run, stop, run again on stiff legs. That belongs in your training. Put several runs on the same day, a few hours apart, with a combined distance that approaches race distance in the final weeks. Two days like that show you how your legs respond after a break and what you can eat and drink between efforts.
Rehearse the course
For the tight rollers of the longest loop, use short hill repeats of 30 seconds to two minutes: push up and keep running over the top without a pause. That practises what counts here, finding your pace again straight after a crest. Add brisk walking on steep ramps around ten percent, so the short kick on the yellow loop does not knock you out of rhythm.
Arrive fresh
The April date puts your main build in January to March, so secure your long sessions early in the year and run as many of them as you can on trails rather than tarmac. Because the whole course makes do with two water stations, it also pays to use your longer runs to work out how you want to manage your drinking over ten kilometres.
Courses
Download the Ragnar Trail Atlanta course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
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Everything about Ragnar Trail Atlanta.
How long is Ragnar Trail Atlanta?
Ragnar Trail Atlanta is 25.43 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Ragnar Trail Atlanta have?
Ragnar Trail Atlanta has around 342 m of elevation gain over 25.43 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Ragnar Trail Atlanta?
Ragnar Trail Atlanta is classified as Rolling, averaging 13.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 32% of the route is flat, 31% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 2% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Ragnar Trail Atlanta have?
The hardest climb of Ragnar Trail Atlanta starts at kilometre 7.6, runs for 0.7 km at an average of 5.6% and gains 37 metres. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Ragnar Trail Atlanta a loop course?
Yes, Ragnar Trail Atlanta is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Ragnar Trail Atlanta course?
Yes. The Ragnar Trail Atlanta course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Ragnar Trail Atlanta?
Preparation for Ragnar Trail Atlanta should account for 25.43 km, 342 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Ragnar Trail Atlanta?
The pacing strategy for Ragnar Trail Atlanta should reflect 25.43 km, 342 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Ragnar Trail Atlanta take place?
Ragnar Trail Atlanta takes place on April 9, 2027.
Where does Ragnar Trail Atlanta take place?
Ragnar Trail Atlanta takes place in Conyers, United States.
How do I register for Ragnar Trail Atlanta?
Registration runs through the organiser: runragnar.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
