Run for the Toad to host trail 50K championships

Start of the 2012 Run for the Toad, Paris Ontario. Photo by Ryder Photography
Start of the 2012 Run for the Toad, Paris Ontario. Photo by Ryder Photography

The 13th edition of Canada’s largest trail race, the Run for the Toad 25K/50K is set to host what is arguably the fastest ultramarathon field ever assembled on Canadian soil. The Run for the Toad is rich in history with past champions like Reid Coolsaet and Ellie Greenwood among a few of the elite athletes that have taken part of the event. This year the level of talent has been taken to a whole new level.

The Association of Canadian Ultramarathoners (ACU) awarded the National Trail 50km Championships to the Run for the Toad for 2014. Race Directors George and Peggy Sarson have also put prize money up for the Top 5 men and women at the event. Heavyweights from around the world will be descending on Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area Saturday October 5th to battle it out on the rolling 4 loop course around the park.

The defending champs are both coming back on Saturday:

VERRELLE WYATT – Akron, Ohio

Verrelle is a relative newcomer to the ultra circuit but is the returning Run the Toad 50K champ. In late 2012 he won both the Buckeye Woods 50km and the Moebius 50km in 3h07 and 3h21m respectively. Then in March of 2013 he went to the USATF 50km National Championships and ran himself to a 2nd place finish in a jaw dropping time of 2h57m11s. Verrelle is currently in Grad School studying Physical Therapy and possesses PBs of 14:35 for 5K and 1:08 for the half-marathon.

STACIE CARRIGAN – Kelowna, B.C.

Stacie made a splash in the ultra scene in 2013. In her debut 50 mile race she not only set a Canadian trail record and broke the women’s course record by 22 minutes, she beat all the men at the race as well. Her 6:33 time landed her on the Canadian national team in Wales and she ran steady all day in her first international competition placing 13th. In addition to her win at the Mt Si 50-miler she also won and set a course record at the Lake Chelan 50K in Washington in June.

The 2014 edition of the Run for the Toad is shaping up to be a highly contested race in both the men’s and women’s fields and with the course being four loops the ability to spectate and watch some of the worlds best runners go toe to toe for the title.

 

 

 

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