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

Anne Francis May 23, 2019

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	ME
3	TRS RACING	ON
4	HALIFAX ROAD HAMMERS – MEN	NS
5	EASTERN Z DESCENDANTS	NS
6	BACK2SQUARE1	ON
7	BLACK LUNGS	ON
8	BLOWING KISSES	NS
9	BOONDOCK HARRIERS	NS
10	BRUCE TRAIL MIX	ON
11	CABOT TRAILER PARTY	NS
12	CAPE BRETON ROAD RUNNERS	NS
13	IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA IN DECEMBER	PEI
14	RAGING BULLS	NB
15	MAINE-IACS	ME
16	COASTBUSTERS	ON
17	CUMBERLAND CRUSADERS	NS
18	LABRADORABLE	NL
19	FAST WOMEN HAPPY MEN	NS
20	FEMME FATALES	NB
21	FREDERICTON TRAILMASTERS	NB
22	FUNDULATORS	QC
23	GLORY DAMES	ON
24	GOT THE RUNS	NS
25	GREAT CANADIAN HONKING GOOSE	NS
26	GREATER MONCTON RUNNING CLUB	NB
27	CAPE BRETON EAGLES	NS
28	CAN’T TOUCH THIS	NS
29	HANGING WITH MY GNOMIES	NS
30	HERD OF CATS	NS
31	HIGHLAND HOPEFULS	NS
32	12 WING SHEARWATER	NS
33	OAR THE MOUNTAIN	NS
34	LONGBOAT ROADRUNNERS	ON
35	MAINE RHINO REDUX	ME
36	16 CAPERS AND HAZEL	NS
37	ACADIANS	NS
38	MIRAMICHI LUCKY CHARMS	NB
39	MOUNTAIN VIEW RUNNERS	NB
40	NEEDS MORE COWBELL	NS
41	NO PAIN NO GAIN	NS
42	NORTH END RUNNERS	NS
43	NOT FAST BUT KINDA FURIOUS	NS
44	ALVA ROAD RUNNERS	NS
45	OVER THE HILL GANG	NS
46	WE’RE A PEPSI FAMILY	NS
47	PINK PANTERS	NS
48	PURPLE REIGN	ON
49	PATTERSON VS CABOT	NS
50	RED SOLES	PEI
51	RESEARCHERS ON THE RUN	ON
52	ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS	NS
53	RUNNING FOR LOBSTER	ON
54	SALT MARSH TRAIL RUNNING CLUB	NS
55	SEVENTEEN RUNNERS	ON
56	SIXERS	ON
57	SMOKEY MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS	NS
58	SQUID JOGGERS	NL
59	SUCKERS FOR PUNISHMENT	AB
60	TEAM 71	NB
61	TEAM PEI	PEI
62	THE B TEAM	NS
63	THE INTENSE MARGAREE SALMONIDS	NS
64	TORONTO HARRIERS	ON
65	TOTALLY 80’S	NS
66	TOUCH NOT THE CAT	NS
67	CAPE BRETON FIDDLER RUNNERS	NS
68	50 SHADES OF TARTAN	NS
69	WE’VE GOT A RUNNER	NS
70	WHERE’S MY BIKE	NS

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.

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