The final stage of the Sport is also the longest stage. It is a half marathon (21.1km) along the same trail as Stage 1. The course is a bit different; three loops of 7 and a bit km. So compared to Stage 1, we run out a bit farther, then do an out and back before returning to the start. Original map located here. I was really worried about my hamstring.

Stage 7 is a 5km race at a local track. That is, 12.5 loops around. After the kinds of races we’ve done all week, this one stick out as being a bit odd. Totally flat, on a rubber surface, and short loops around in one direction. One might think that this is the place where you can make up some ground in the standings, if you’re going for that sort of thing.

Of all the stages in the Sport, this is the one that scares me. It is a 13.4km “technical trail run”. Another term for it would be “insanely difficult trail run”. Stages 3 and 4 were also trail runs, but on groomed paths. I’ve never run Baden Hills, but if I know Lloyd, it will be lots of very steep elevation changes, single track trails both up and down through the bush, and lots of rocks, stumps, etc.

Today’s stage is a 5 mile hilly run along another part of the Water Bean trail. The course is actually different than that of the visual below. The race director found out this morning that part of the trail he wanted to use was closed due to bridge wash out, so he had to go and mark a different setup. It’s still on the same trail, but it’s now two loops instead of just one, and there’s less flat and more hills.

Stages 3 and 4 take place at Shades Mills, again in Cambridge. It consists of back to back runs. The first one 5km (one loop), and after a short rest, depending on how soon you finish, the second one (10km, 2 loops). It’s the only multi race day in the series. From a running strategy point of view, it’s an interesting set of races. Do you go easy on the first run, and conserve for the second, or do you run the first a bit harder so you can have more rest time between races?

Stage 2 is a 7.5km time trial race. This means that runners are started individually on the course in 30 second intervals, starting with the slowest runner. The objective is to see how long before you get passed by the faster people. Based on my ranking in yesterday’s race, I was starting third. The course started at Riverbluffs Park in Cambridge, a town to the south of Kitchener/Waterloo. It’s basically an out and back along the Grand River trail.

The first stage of the ENDURrun Sport is a 10km run along the Walter Bean Grand River Trail. It’s two loops of an out and back. The elevation trends downwards at the beginning, then flattens out as it runs along the Grand River. Of course, on the way back, it trends up hill. Original map located here I am staying in an AirBnB for the week; a small little apartment in a house with one bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.

I’m back in Waterloo for the week to participate in the ENDURrun Sport. This race has been a long time coming; I signed up for the inaugural race in 2020, only to have it cancelled due to COVID-19. It was cancelled again in 2021 for the same reason. In 2022, it was also cancelled because the race directory couldn’t secure all the permits necessary. After it was cancelled in 2022 I actually emailed Lloyd the race director, telling him to just keep the money as a donation to RunWaterloo.

On race day morning, I woke up to the sound of my alarm. Of course, as is typical for race day, I had slept badly through the night. I always am anxious before a race, and never sleep well. Normally I have a hard time getting up, but I guess due to the extra paranoia about race day, I always wake up before the alarm. Also, I’m staying in an Airbnb for the first time, and while it’s actually a very nice room and house, it’s not my bed or pillow.

The temperature in Hamilton for this race was predicted to be -11 degrees Celsius without the wind chill, and -22 with it. I think that’s the coldest it’s ever been in the 8 prior years I’ve run this race. I’ve run it in the rain, in snow, in wind, and even in the relative warmth (at least for Canada at this time of year). Today is different, and will be an interesting challenge.