Cabot Trail Relay: bring your long johns
There's a significant amount of snow on the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, which means we could see some unexpected results in this weekend's race
The 32nd Cabot Trail Relay gets underway Saturday morning in Baddeck, on Cape Breton, NS, and the area has had some unseasonably wintry weather. Runners are being advised to dig their cold-weather gear and micro crampons out of the closet just in case, since although the forecast is not bad, it still gets chilly at night, there is a frost advisory, and flurries remain a definite possibility.
Bring your winter gear & grips for your shoes! #CTRR The weekend is fast approaching! ? https://t.co/abgn1i9OiU
— Run Nova Scotia ?? (@runnovascotia) May 23, 2019
Seventy teams will be competing in the 17-stage, 24-hour race this year. Most are from the Maritimes, Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario and Maine, but there is also a team from Alberta this year. Last year’s winning time was 16:25:16 for the men and 21:01:18 for the ladies. The course record is 16:11:38, set by the Maine-iacs in 2016.
Given the crazy weather forecast, we’re likely to see some upsets. Canadians will be rooting for the defending champions, the Halifax Road Hammers, whose men’s team beat out the Maine-iacs last year, the first time in eight years the team from south of the border did not win. (The Road Hammers ladies’ team was also victorious in 2018.)
Here is the complete team list for 2019:
TEAM | LOCATION | |
1 | HALIFAX ROAD HAMMERS – WOMEN |  NS |
2 | MAINE ROAD HAGS | Â ME |
3 | TRS RACING | Â ON |
4 | HALIFAX ROAD HAMMERS – MEN |  NS |
5 | EASTERN Z DESCENDANTS | Â NS |
6 | BACK2SQUARE1 | Â ON |
7 | BLACK LUNGS | Â ON |
8 | BLOWING KISSES | Â NS |
9 | BOONDOCK HARRIERS | Â NS |
10 | BRUCE TRAIL MIX | Â ON |
11 | CABOT TRAILER PARTY | Â NS |
12 | CAPE BRETON ROAD RUNNERS | Â NS |
13 | IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA IN DECEMBER | Â PEI |
14 | RAGING BULLS | Â NB |
15 | MAINE-IACS | Â ME |
16 | COASTBUSTERS | Â ON |
17 | CUMBERLAND CRUSADERS | Â NS |
18 | LABRADORABLE | Â NL |
19 | FAST WOMEN HAPPY MEN | Â NS |
20 | FEMME FATALES | Â NB |
21 | FREDERICTON TRAILMASTERS | Â NB |
22 | FUNDULATORS | Â QC |
23 | GLORY DAMES | Â ON |
24 | GOT THE RUNS | Â NS |
25 | GREAT CANADIAN HONKING GOOSE | Â NS |
26 | GREATER MONCTON RUNNING CLUB | Â NB |
27 | CAPE BRETON EAGLES | Â NS |
28 | CAN’T TOUCH THIS |  NS |
29 | HANGING WITH MY GNOMIES | Â NS |
30 | HERD OF CATS | Â NS |
31 | HIGHLAND HOPEFULS | Â NS |
32 | 12 WING SHEARWATER | Â NS |
33 | OAR THE MOUNTAIN | Â NS |
34 | LONGBOAT ROADRUNNERS | Â ON |
35 | MAINE RHINO REDUX | Â ME |
36 | 16 CAPERS AND HAZEL | Â NS |
37 | ACADIANS | Â NS |
38 | MIRAMICHI LUCKY CHARMS | Â NB |
39 | MOUNTAIN VIEW RUNNERS | Â NB |
40 | NEEDS MORE COWBELL | Â NS |
41 | NO PAIN NO GAIN | Â NS |
42 | NORTH END RUNNERS | Â NS |
43 | NOT FAST BUT KINDA FURIOUS | Â NS |
44 | ALVA ROAD RUNNERS | Â NS |
45 | OVER THE HILL GANG | Â NS |
46 | WE’RE A PEPSI FAMILY |  NS |
47 | PINK PANTERS | Â NS |
48 | PURPLE REIGN | Â ON |
49 | PATTERSON VS CABOT | Â NS |
50 | RED SOLES | Â PEI |
51 | RESEARCHERS ON THE RUN | Â ON |
52 | ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS | Â NS |
53 | RUNNING FOR LOBSTER | Â ON |
54 | SALT MARSH TRAIL RUNNING CLUB | Â NS |
55 | SEVENTEEN RUNNERS | Â ON |
56 | SIXERS | Â ON |
57 | SMOKEY MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS | Â NS |
58 | SQUID JOGGERS | Â NL |
59 | SUCKERS FOR PUNISHMENT | Â AB |
60 | TEAM 71 | Â NB |
61 | TEAM PEI | Â PEI |
62 | THE B TEAM | Â NS |
63 | THE INTENSE MARGAREE SALMONIDS | Â NS |
64 | TORONTO HARRIERS | Â ON |
65 | TOTALLY 80’S |  NS |
66 | TOUCH NOT THE CAT | Â NS |
67 | CAPE BRETON FIDDLER RUNNERS | Â NS |
68 | 50 SHADES OF TARTAN | Â NS |
69 | WE’VE GOT A RUNNER |  NS |
70 | WHERE’S MY BIKE |  NS |
RELATED: 70 Cabot Trail Relay teams announced
The daytime high in Baddeck is expected to be 15 C on Saturday and 13 C with showers on Sunday. Winds are out of the northwest at 19 kph, gusting to 30 kph.