8 Days, 7 Stages, 160 km, 1 Tough Runner…Stage 1 – Half Marathon

Today marked the start of the ENDURrun International, also known as the “Tour de France” of running. It is a gruelling 7 stage race event, run in various locations in The Region of Waterloo, to test even the strongest runners endurance and stamina and Shoot the Thrill Photography was there…Well, technically speaking!

I was working my butt off, shooting all the runners who came out for the first stage, a half marathon, while Vicki relaxed all day by running it as part of a relay team! Well, I guess I didn’t really work all that hard. I actually had a really good time shooting today. The rain basically held off, the temperature was good, and the runners were probably the friendliest I have ever met.

AND…Vicki did run hard. She was part of the Relay team for a local running store, where everyone takes a stage. The ENDURrun this year has 7 such relay teams. There were also competitors who were “Guests” in today’s event, which is essentially people who don’t want to run the whole event or the “Sport” competitors which is for the last 3 stages.

The big enchilada though, is the Ultimate Competitor, about 30 men and about 14 woman who are competing for the title by racing all 7 stages and to male and female with the lowest times is crowned champions.

Tomorrow is the 15km time trial taking place at Riverside park, where today’s winners, Joanne Bink and Bob Jackman, will be wearing the gold jerseys indicating that they are in the lead.

Today’s photos can be found on the RunWaterloo photo page HERE, and after all the stages, I’ll post my best of the week on Flickr.

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