Run for the Toad - Training Run

[cbaker1]

Run for the Toad is down to about 200 spots remaining. Sounds like a lot but just over a week ago there were 300. I noticed the training run is scheduled for July 23rd and was just posted on the site yesterday. $12.

I did the training run one year and probably going to try and get out there again this year and do at least 25km on the course.

[hezzy]

The training run is loads of fun and typically gets more runners than a lot of small races. I will be there and plan on running 25K.

[Sustain26]

I can only dream. Being from Montreal, I can't find anyone to share the driving. Maybe a bus/train; are they close by the race location?

The number and quality of races in Ontario is incomparably better than hereabouts! And Cambridge is far easier to access than the Muskokas, I'm betting!

[Country_Girl]

This is so tempting! I'm doing Vulture Bait mid-October and doing the Toad too seems perhaps too much but I am so tempted to sign up now so I can do it as well as the the training run. I imagine my SO will consider this crazy!

[hezzy]

Country girl you can do the training run and not do the race. We did that last year as we were in Scotland when the race was occurring.

[Chainsaw Baby]

Looks like 209 participants in the 50K event. Incredible for a Canadian race!

[cbaker1]

Any word on what the Registration Gift will be this year? The site isn't updated. I know its been knapsacks/bags the first 9 years, but for the 10th year ann. are they planning to give each one of us something extra special?

Anyone have the inside scope and who is running?

50km
cbaker1

25km
cbaker1's wife

[Robinandamelia]

50km
cbaker1

25km
cbaker1's wife
Robinandamelia

[trailzen]

There was a bag on display at the pre run,black saucony duffle bag with 10th anniversary logo. That being said you never know what George and Peggy have up there sleeves but you know it will be good!

[Annelizabeth]

You know I hate to think that cause I can't go I will be out of date at all the races next year. Last years bag and all

[Edward]

AnneElizabeth,

Make me an offer???

Need to supplement my income somehow.......

Have not run much in three weeks due to an injury, 50 k is going to hurt.

[MINITEE]

I'll be at the chip pick up table and the double aid station (3/5 ???)

So feel free to say "Hey T!"

[hezzy]

Yay Minitee! I'm doing the 50K so it will be nice to see a friendly face out there.

[Christine_Runs]

I'm doing the 25 K. I ran 25 K this past weekend in 3:31 on a tough course, so I'm hoping for faster this weekend.

[cbaker1]

If it doesnt rain too much this week, it will be a great course. I am a little worried that K/W area is going to get a lot of rain between now and the weekend though

[MINITEE]

It was SUPPOSED to rain on Saturday, but that looks to have passed now. But it is looking like it will rain on Friday now.

If Paris got the rain on Monday that we got here in London, plus more on Friday, it may be a mudder...

See you at chip pick up, or the double aid station!

[West Grey Runner]

I have had some experience with a muddy Toad the last couple of years ( What’s with the wonderful weather and this race anyway!!!!! ). If it’s raining some the Hills are like skating on ice with very dull blades. If it’s not raining but muddy then once 1000+ folks have trampled through it then the mud stops being slippery and gets real sticky…like having sharpened skates!

See you out on the course!

[hezzy]

They've made some improvements to the course (depending on your point of view) and put down a bunch of gravel since last year. I didn't run it last year but I heard it was a mudfest. However from running the training run this year I noticed that a lot of the sections that have the potential for becoming very muddy are now covered over with gravel. Unfortunately this means that a lot of the more "technical" (if you can call the Toad that) stuff is no longer as technical. This may be a pro or a con depending on how tough you like your races to be I know this will likely help me as a BOPer in actually completing the course within the time cutoff. All along I've been thinking the cutoff is 7 hours, but I just checked the results from last year and it looks like it's 8! There's a bit of a weight off my shoulders!

[Chainsaw Baby]

I could not find an official cut-off time. I am looking at a "4th loop walk" due to a lack of training. In 2009, the last finisher was circa 8:30, so perhaps if I plead with Peggy (I think she likes me), they might wait?

Also, Ellie Greenwood and Glen Redpath are making an appearance. This might change my race tactics...

New option: Race ahead of Ellie for 100 meters, then DNF?

[cbaker1]

Race Directors sometimes extend cut off times if conditions dictate. I remember back in July a really nice race director extended the cut off for Creemore!! I didnt need it then and hope I do well Saturday and wont need it.

[Christine_Runs]

I'm pretty sure the cut-off is 7 hours so perhaps with the conditions last year they extended it.

[hezzy]

If you look at the results for last year and years prior to that anything over 8 hours is showing DNF (some have times a little after 8 hours). However they will let you finish regardless (barring bad weather). My friend finished after 8 hours last year, so he's showing as a DNF, but he finished the entire course, and was given a medal etc.