Each August, an epic running week takes place in Waterloo Region, Ontario.
The event: 8 days, 7 stages, 160 kilometres.
The people: the most amazing community of runners, volunteers, and friends.
The setting: various venues and terrains across the region. 50% road, 50% other surfaces including trail and track.
The stories: too many to name. Stories of perseverance, excellence, and triumph. Stories of camaraderie, sacrifice, and selflessness. Charity, heat, gold. If these sound like buzzwords, you need to follow along at the endurrun blog, in the endurrunners facebook group, and to the interactive results site.
What’s on the line tonight
Tonight is Stage 4: is a hilly 10 miler at 6:00 p.m. It’s a daunting challenge and a fun setting for a road race.
The men are locked in an battle for the ages: Josh Bolton won Stages 1 and 2, and Robert Brouillette won Stage 3 to pull within 2 minutes of the lead. Aidan Rutherford sits 15 minutes back and Robin Richard-Campeau is the top master in 4th overall.
Robyn Collins has opened up a 23 minute lead, and the chase pack of Catherine Desrosiers, Valery Hobson, Rebecca Kruisselbrink, and Vicki Zandbergen is separated by 7 only minutes.
In the Relay division, Health+Performance is battling various contemporary and historical times.
When the race concludes, runners enjoy a feast at sunset, now at 82.2k – just over half of the total. They rest up, having earned a rest day before the 16 miles of alpine trails Friday, the 10,000m track event on Saturday, and what else? Final Stage 7: marathon on Sunday.
