Actually Derek, I believe last year the registration opened in March, so we should all get our names in as soon as we see it come up. This race is going to get more and more and MORE popular!
So, now for my race report! And like usual, it is long!
It started with a full van of six excited women and poor Adam (secretly, I think he likes it). We headed off about 2:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon and made it to Cambridge just shortly after 6 p.m. Arranged to meet Bill & Sue and Bob, Donna and Derek at East Side Mario's. That was quite the feat trying to get 12 of us even close to each other in the restaurant on a Friday evening with no reservation. But we managed. While we waited for our table, a few of the girls went shopping in the mall (I don't think I need to tell anyone WHO those girls would be). When our tables came up I called "the girls" to tell them to come and be seated. So we sit down, order drinks, look at the menu, order our food. And the next thing we know..... Petra is heading off to the Bay to try on pants! Seems I interrupted her right when she found this GREAT deal. OK, so she wins the Extreme Shopper award. I don't blame her though. She got them for $8.00!!
Headed back to our hotel and got ready for the next morning. Kept checking the computer and the TV. Tried to find a station that said it was going to be 18 and sunny in the morning in Paris ON. Looked and looked and looked, and all we could find was 15 and RAIN! Sounds like Toad weather to me.
We awoke to wet pavement but it wasn't raining any more. It was dark and damp though. Made our breakfast and then headed out with a stop at Tim's for a coffee. We got to the Conservation Area just afer 8 a.m. and it was quite crowded! It seemed that we had to park a couple of kms away this year, due to all the people. But that was ok. Met the Trainors again and a bunch of our Running Maniac Friends.
Did photos, listened to the opening ceremony, and then it was time to start! We started near the back of the pack. Right off the bat, we encountered a 401-type pile up where the route was single file. Not a problem as we weren't doing this to have a speedy time anyhow. Heather and I started out with Petra, Cathy and Tracy (our running friend from London). Petra and Cathy soon went ahead. However, eventually, they stopped for a washroom break and caught up to us.
Heather and I were running just to finish, since it was her first 25K and we took our time and enjoyed ourselves. We took some photos along the way and stopped for drinks on the first loop. It was great to have the spectators and volunteer cheering us on. Bob, Donna, and Adam thanks for being out there as our own special cheering group. Although Donna, next time please don't tell us at the half way that we are being beaten by an 85 year old man!!
I'll get you back next year when you walk it! Speaking of half way, it was after this that the food got really
good at the aid stations. It pays to not be too fast. We stopped and dined on Kit Kat and Mars bars, pretzels, potato chips, bananas, and more. We stopped for a mini buffet before heading into the meadow and at that point Janet and Shannon caught up with us. We decided to all stick together.
The second loop was definitely harder than the first. Heather started to get a little lightheaded when we were in the meadow but she thinks that the banana she ate at the aid station helped her get over it. By the time we came back to the parking lot before heading back on our final foray into the woods, she was feeling much better. Bob, Donna and Adam (and some other man) were there cheering for us again.
As we ran along we were snapping photos (part of the reason we were out there for longer) and just having a fun time, in spite of how tired we were. We passed a man who was walking and having a hard time. I gave him some of my candies I was carrying. We stopped and took a photo at the 1 MILE TO GO sign, which was actually ALOT more than a mile from the end!
Tracy had a surge of energy at the end, so she took off after we did the skeleton hill. Don't know how she did it after running the Scotiabank half with a couple of her Learn to Run students last Sunday! Good for her. Janet, Shannon, Heather and I came over the finish line together at about 3:45.
Not a super fast time, but since we plan on doing this run EVERY year, it leaves us some room for improvement.
We ended by having our grilled chicken breast on a bun and strange salads and yummy pie. Shannon won the female military award and we were all so pleased for her. She cried and we cried and she ended up with a beautiful Toad Patrol print.
They gave out the awards and then there were tons of door prizes. Cathy and Petra in their usual competitive spirit ended up just about killing each other over a yellow water bottle. They actually lifted themselves off the ground and propelled themselves partly to the ground behind them and partly into Bob Trainor's lap while trying to catch the water bottle. They actually had the nerve to suggest that Shannon had pushed them (I don't THINK so - she was still crying about her award, girls!). We killed ourselves laughing.
Now, I have to say this about the Run for the Toad. This is a very "Special" event. Now that Petra, Cathy and Shannon have run it, they know what I mean. You really have to experience it to understand. And once you have experienced it, you will want to keep going back for more (thanks Sandy for introducing me to this quality event). George and Peggy Sarson put their heart and soul into this race/run and you can tell. Everything is just so special. Where else would you get this type of a display at the start line?
Special hydrating cups at the water stations!
Saucony bags for your registration gift!
More food than you can ever think of eating!
Scenery that is beautiful even when it is raining!
An opening ceremony that included a colour party, bagpipes, the Canadian and American National Anthem.
Tons and tons of door prizes -- they gave away four pairs of trail shoes including one pair to a lucky lady in our group!
While we were in line for the food, George went around and was talking to all the runners. He said that he and Peggy didn't want the Toad to just be a race, but they wanted it to be an EVENT, a party. And that it was!
Thanks to all our group for making an special event even more special!! It was great to share it with all of you! (And many, many thanks to Adam, Bob and Donna for being there for us)
