Toonie Express Event Reviews 2010 
The Grim - Feb 2010
The Grim is something special a 5 mile lap double or quit (Yes I did the 10m 2 lap option). On each muddy hilly lap there are 32 obstacles in this case horse jumps. You may have seen horses jumping into water well so did we and it was very cold! the air temperature was just 2deg C and the water was a bit nippy when it got to waist high. The final hill was a real killer and after doing that it was hard to start the second lap but I had to do it. It was very nice to meet Brittany on the first lap, she is just getting back into extreme running and due to a Josh and a small child to look after she ran 1 lap and then nipped off home to cook dinner :) All in all this was a very good race and I will wear my new t-shirt with pride, not so sure about the horse rosette though. Chris
Belvoir Challenge - Feb 2010
Mud, Miles and Cake. Chris & Cat took part in the 15.1 mile race this was a very challenging race using trails, fields, small roads and lots of mud some quite deep. The first half had loads of stiles which did not help the legs. I finished in 2:26 and Catherine (running with Catherine Sheldrake) finished in 3:28. Hard work but a great laugh and washing the kit after was special, so Catherine tells me. Very pleased with my certificate and the endless cake at the end of the race, really no need for more shirts and goodybags of random stuff this is a very good well presented "old school" race and we love it. Chris
Ropsley Raid Trail Race - Feb 2010
Odd for me to be doing this race as I'm normally in Orlando doing the Marathon howver this year due to our long winter we did not get to Orlando and also the Raid was moved due to extreme mud. On the new date the race went ahead despite extreme mud, there was lots of it, the clingy clay stuff that they have in Lincolnshire fields real good for growing spuds but heavy on your trainers. The race started up hill but was mainly flat with lots of trails, field edges and plenty of mud! My legs tired so Dave Raynes got ahead of me with a mile to go but I was happy with my run. This race was very well presented by Ropsley Road Runners, well done team I love the kit bag by the way! I now take 2 bags to each race, travel heavy :) Chris
Folksworth 15 - Feb 2010
The first of this year’s marathon trainers for a lot of runners, the Folksworth 15 is a real test of stamina, especially this year as many runners have endured a long lay off due to adverse weather throughout December and beginning of January depleting their normal training regimes. This 2 lap course with its 3 hills on each lap is not easy in the best of years, but this year talking to other runners on the route many found it hard going more so on the second lap facing the last 2 climbs. The temperature was about right for the race not too cold or hot and it kept dry for the race, I enjoyed a good first lap in about 1hour 3 minutes, with a slightly better second lap to although it felt harder work on the climbs, getting me to the finish in 2 hrs 1 minute. Dave Raynes.
Ancaster Snow Run 10k - Jan 2010
Chris, Cat, Dave R & Matt had a great 10k trail run in calf deep snow on "Catherines Birthday Route" with snowball fight and coffee & chockie bickies after. A great way to spend some time in this crazy weather.
Real regular training sessions will be starting in a week or so and will include runs, hills training, climbing and mountain biking.
Quorn Pony Club 15k Trail Race - Jan 2010
Quorn Pony Club 15k Trail Race, 4th Jan 2010
As you can see it was cold, very cold -3 on the way and lots of interesting driving even in Dave's 4x4
The course was not very well marked partly as they had to change it due to sheet ice.
The course was lots of wide field edges with many hills thrown in the sort of stuff we really love.
Catherine went wrong on the short course 8k run and ran the second half of the 15k with me so I had time to take a few pictures and enjoy the day.
I think I was the only person to do the hole of the course without going wrong so does that mean I win? This was not a race for winning, it was a fun event where charity was the winner and we were pleased to play our part. Chris Smith.
Very icy conditions greeted the few runners that braved the sub zero temperatures at the start of this race at Prestwold Hall near to Loughborough. Only a handful of runners actually turned up the organizers were expecting quite a few runners and 100 horses and riders to tackle the 3 distances on offer, no horses turned up at all due to hazardous conditions under hoof. The Toonies were represented by Chris, Catherine, myself, and young Mathew Smith and a car full of Bostonians Mick (bunny trap) Dakin, Tilley Fox and Mark. The start was delayed due to a late decision to reroute the course around the really bad icy sections, but they seemed to be still rerouting once we had set off. It didn’t take long for most of us to be totally lost and confused by the course markings. Catherine was running the short course but finished up lost as did Chris who was now behind Catherine so they ran the longer course together. I was running with Mick way behind the Fox and Mark, when suddenly they appeared behind us, and after overtaking us and heading off in to the distance, it was only another mile when they appeared from the rear of the field yet again. Matt Smith decided it would be safer to run with Mick and me from then on to save any more Fox diversion routes, just as well because as Matt and I ran in in joint 4th place with Mick close behind, we waited 10 minutes for the fox and Mark to finish, they had done another 2 miles and finished from a completely different direction to the rest of the runners. Chris and Catherine managed to complete the 15km in a reasonable time with Catherine being 3rd lady over the line. All in all it was a good laugh out in the snowy fields, and could be a really good race if organized a little better. Dave Raynes.