08/13/2026
*** Notice to Reach the Beach Relay Teams ***
The Carroll Police Department is aware of and monitoring discussions and calls for relay teams to conduct their own “Indy,” or unsanctioned Reach the Beach (RTB), in light of recent permitting issues with Ragnar. The route historically, and as posted on Ragnar's website, travels through Carroll, including the village districts of Twin Mountain and Bretton Woods, one of the largest exchanges and legs in the RTB race.
The Department understands that teams have invested a significant amount of time and finances for this event. At this time, the Department has not issued any permits, which are required under state law, to hold such an event in any capacity within the Town of Carroll. The Department is actively working with locally owned running companies to plan events similar to RTB. Presently, these events are not expected to occur until 2027 due to logistical, financials, and insurance needed for an event with over 10,000 participants. As a whole, the reasoning for RTB and the fundraising for causes are the parts that make this race great.
There have been recent financial allegations regarding Ragnar and their parent company, FitLab. As stated in our post earlier this week, Ragnar's history of financial obligations to the Town of Carroll was part of my reasoning for denying their 2026 event permit request; however, there were additional reasons for the denial, such as public safety concerns and previous runner/van conduct. Outside of the financial issues, the Department's stance was that it would still deny this year's permit.
Former RTB Race Director Amber Sadler recently posted in one of the Ragnar running groups in response to our post: “…Safety issues and complete disrespect for the host community are a big part of why this happened…” And she’s not wrong. As a town official, the townspeople graciously pay me a very respectable salary to handle public safety within the Town of Carroll and, to a degree, to tolerate disrespect from people in the process of doing that job. But what I do not tolerate is disrespect directed toward my staff or members of our community, which has been an ongoing issue with the RTB Relay. The taxpayers of this community fully fund the Carroll Police Department; the Department owes its allegiance to them, not to outside interests.
For those who had made plans to visit our community for RTB and still plan on coming to the area, I welcome you to enjoy our amazing scenery, hike our trails, patronize our businesses and lodging, and visit our historical landmarks such as the Mount Washington Hotel and the Cog Railway.
In light of the discussions of Indy or unsanctioned relay teams conducting their own race, I have issued the following directives to my staff. Under the provisions of NH RSA 286:2, RSA 286:5, RSA 236:1, and applicable chapters of the New Hampshire Criminal Code, during the time of, and in proximity to the dates published for the RTB relay for 2026, any person or persons found to be engaged in activites covered under those statutes on a State- or Town-owned roadway within the Town of Carroll will be subject to an incustody arrest and issued a court date at the Lancaster District Court. Vans or vehicles being used in these activities are to be seized, towed, and held as evidence for the duration of the court process. These offenses are misdemeanor-level offenses. If during the investigation the Department determines an organization, corporation, partnership, LLC, or association is involved, defined as an “unnatural person” under NH RSA, the investigation will be forwarded to the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office for consideration of felony-level charges.
- Ian MacMillan
Chief of Police
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