The University of Toronto at Scarborough Campus played host to the 49 teams of racers from both the ARC race series and the Merrell Outventure race series. Clear blue skies and sunshine greeted racers as they gathered around the start area doing last minute checks of water bottles and instructions. Course designer, Bob Miller, was on hand answering questions and giving advice while staff and volunteers made sure the starting line and the rest of the course were ready.

Taking advantage of the U of T's proximity to Morningside Park, racers were instructed to use an orienteering map to locate several checkpoints. These CP's could be found in any order so, once the race was started, teams quickly scattered, each with a plan to find the fastest route. Due to flooding from last year several bridges over Morningside Creek had been washed out leaving some teams with few options other than getting wet to get across.

Emerging from the park, teams made their way back to the start line where they signed in before getting on their bikes. A short ride south brought teams to East Point Park where they would drop off their bikes and complete a trail run along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. The crux of the run was a steep hill climb with a CP located midway up. From there some teams chose to head back down to the beach for the run back while others continued up to the ridge.

Once back at the parking lot transition area, teams remounted their bikes and traveled east to Frenchman's Bay. Located on a spit of land separating the Bay from Lake Ontario is the West Rouge Canoe Club and the start of the paddling section.

In canoes, teams would have to paddle to the very north portion of the bay before traveling back south and down a small inlet. Shallow water and spawning fish made this section a source of many post race stories. From there it was back to the canoe club and back on bikes for the final section of the race.

Biking northwest to Rouge Park, teams would once again drop off their bikes and make their way into the park on foot looking for several CP's. This was also the cut off checkpoint, meaning teams who did not make it there before 2pm would skip the park and ride directly back to the finish line.

Once the run in the Rouge was completed, teams then picked up their bikes and rode to the finish at U of T at Scarborough campus, where they received a post race Xilarate Sports Power Fluid drink to re-hydrate, and then a BBQ meal .

RESULTS:

CO-ED
1st: Urban Voyageur - Harper, Tina, Tom - 4:22:00
2nd: Inertia - Warwick, Tara, Lenora - 4:53:05
3rd: Who's Yer Daddy - Adam, Gerri, Jason - 4:53:10

OPEN
1st: City Slickers - Don, Glen, Bruce - 4:53:01
2nd: Lost on the Rocks and Trees - Ben, Gordon, Chris - 5:30:23
3rd: Country Roads - Rob, Jason, Brodee - 5:33:02

Click Here For Complete Results