Toonie Express Event Reviews 2010 July - Dec 
Grimsthorpe Castle 10k - Audust 2010
Chesterfield Spire 10 - August 2010
Belper 30k - July 2010
Chris and Adrian took part in the 30k (18.6mile) Belper Rugby Rover trail race. The day was warm, the course was well odd! Run to a roundabout then back towards other runners, to a bridge stop and wait, walk under bridge wait, run a field to stile wait, run to next stile wait etc... The course was hilly which can be good but not in this case. The course took in lots of cow fields which came with thousands of flies and of which follow sweaty runners, not at all nice. The white t-shirt was nice to wear on the way home but that's the only time I will wear it.
Thunder Run TR24 - July 2010
Thunder Run 2010
2010 Thunder Run Teams
Toonie Express win 3rd Male Team of 5 with 30x 10k laps in 24 hours. Yes it hurt and there was a lot of hard work in there.
Very well done to both teams. Biggest thanks ever to Patrick Adams and Chris (Mrs Patrick) for putting on such a unique and exciting event, we were in at the start in 2009 and aim to be there every year. The next race in the series is the 12 hour Lightning Run in March we will be there!
This is not your normal event, it's a 24hour solo or team relay on a very fine trail 10k course. We arrived Friday night and took advanteage of the free camping, hot showers and lovely toilets. We set up several tents, the gazebo and got some sleep. Saturday morning the site really cam to life as the 1,100 competitors arrived and set up camp, there was a real buzz with people exploring the trade stands, walking the course and testing shoes out. The race started at 2pm with a mass start, this really is the beginning! as the afternoon wore on all runners had don their first lap and were getting ready for food and the night laps. Running through the night is much more fun that you may think especially if you have a good headlight! I had a monster light so people were moving out of my way, they must have thought I was a pro ha ha! I loved the night stages. As the day dawned people were getting very tired and looking at the clock waiting for 24 hours to click by. Our first team were very close to winning 3rd male team of five so we sent Mark and Dave T out on a mission and when Mark came in at 24:01 he sealed our win! Our second team (a mixed 5) mad a great time and came half way up the board, a very strong performance. The only disaster we had was Andy badly twisting his ankle in a rabbit hole and having to stop running in the middle of the night, at least it was not a badger hole! We cleared up and waited for the persentations, first all getting a very nice custom medal to go with the classic goody bag we got before the race, lots of food mainly from SiS, custom printed Hot Mug and much more oh yes including Adidas shower gel which cm in very useful. Our 3rd place trophies were made by Hope and are the size of dinner plates and we got one each, how good is that! We cleared the camp and set off home drinking caffine drinks to stay awake! From Sunday night I have been on the internet talking to other runners on Facebook and Runners World adn everyone loved this race, it was big this year but is going to be massive next year and one thing is for sure, team Toonie Express will be there, well about three or four teams. Very big thanks to Patrick Adams, wife Chris and all the team that made this event, also thanks to Adidas who sponsored the race this is the best money you guys will ever spend. If when you come to enter next year you think £40 is a bit much for a run then just look at what you get! 24hour indoor catering, hot showers, nice toilets, free camping, as many 10k runs as you can do on a perfect trail course, marshalls everywhere! I don't know how Patrick does it for the money.
See you there.
Big thanks to Emma of Lucozade Sports Science who supported the team with energy gels and recovery bars to keep us going.
Elete was used by the team and we think it really adds an extra level to hydration at this type of event, thanks guys.
Love Life Love Running 10k & 6 Hour Endurance Race - July 2010
Love Life Love Running 6hr Challenge
Review to follow
Sherwood Pines 10k Trail Race - July 2010
A really nice local 10k trail race using the excellent facilities of Sherwood Pines. Chris & Catherine are regulars at this event, this year joined bu Adrian & Jill. Chris was tired from running 4x10k yesterday in training for the Thunder Run. Chris finished in 47mins first followed by Adrian in 48mins then Jill and Catherine in 1:04 We all very much enjoyed this well presented race and were pleased to see Emma of Lucozade who gave us some advice on nutrition for the Thunder Run.
Report by Chris.
7 Lakes Xtreme Cross Challenge - July 2010
7 Lakes
This was the first running of this very strange race, like a small version of the HellRunner. The race was short, a 2 lap 5 mile course. Just after the start was a double height bale wall followed by 3 more! in total there were 15 bale jumps per lap. There were several water crossings, one ankle deep, the next waist deep mucky water, the next crossing was waist deep stinky sinky mud real hard going! the second lap this mud was chest deep on me and neck deep on Catherine :) It was also just after this that Dave passed me which is not normal so I put it down to training and longer legs, or maybee not.
Our first home was Paul followed by Dave, Chris, Adrian, Jill and Catherine. Not bad at all when we can get 6 members to a new race 50 miles away.
Report by Chris
Yorkshire 3 Peaks - July 2010
Yorkshire 3 Peaks
I undertook the yorkshire 3 peaks challeng on Sat. 3rd July. It was the sponsored walk for Marie Curie so had difficulty getting past the scores of walkers trekking off. My first view of Pen-y-Ghent was from the car park and the top was covered in cloud and mist. I have attached some photo's but I am no David Bailey. Once the incline was too much I was walking. It is a steep climb to the top. At the summit, 694 metres, I had my card stamped. but could not see much as it was still cloud and mist covered. Once I was heading downwards I was able to run and had an exhilarating run/jog down to the checkpoint at Ribblehead. The next stage was up past the Ribblehead viaduct with views ahead of Whernside. To my left over the railway I could see Ingleborough in the distance. It was a gentle incline at first up whernside and the top was covered in cloud which cleared before I reached the summit. What spectacular views at 736 metres. The descent here was very steep but stepped and I really had to watch where I was putting my feet. Once I was on a better path I was able to jog down to the Philpin snack bar and the 5th checkpoint.
I drank 500mls of water straight down and jogged off looking ahead to Ingleborough. The early climb is pleasant and I was able to jog for a bit then I walked alomg stone flags as I got nearer to a really steep climb. I was sweating buckets at this point and found the climb tireing but I persevered to the top at 723 metres. I then had to retrace my steps off the summit to pick up the path back to Horton. If it is misty it is really easy to get lost but luckily it was a clear day and I had a compass with me just in case. The descent was quite steep at first and with the scattered rocks and boulders I walked this part. Once the trail evened out I was able to keep up a steady pace all the way back to the finish and a welcome soup. I was wearing my Toonie Express gear. This took me about 6hrs and 10 min. though this is not really about times. I feel very pleased to have undertaken this. I had magic drops in my camelbak and that made a big difference to how I felt.I did consume about 3 litres of fluid during this. Once I got back to the car I realised that the back of my heel on my trail shoes was almost sheered off probably due to the pounding and sharp rocks....they did the job though. The only thing to add is that the pub ( Maypole Inn, Long Preston) I was staying at had Moorhouse's premium bitter,Timothy Taylor's Landlord and excellent food. I was very happy on the saturday night. The three peaks is something to experience and I am going to have to do this again.
Report by Adrian
--------- Looks like one I should do, remind me next year - Chris
Sleaford Town Orienteering - July 2010
Chris, Catherine and Paul took part in this high speed run round Sleaford's urban centre. With the checkpoints hidden well some were challenging as was the route choice.
Paul was 2nd in the Tech course in 32:54 Chris was 5th on the Tech course in 37:12
Catherine did the Long course in 73:32
Report by Chris