Below is the projected start order for Stage 2. This Time Trial stage starts one runner each minute, in reverse order to previous results and expected finish times. Dropouts may still adjust the start times by a few minutes – the list will be finalized and available at the start line at 7:30am August 10.

2015 Stage 2 Start Order

In the past, we have had numerous requests from participants wanting to raise funds for a different charity, other than the official charity of The ENDURrun.

Just as The ENDURrun can be a personal journey of determination and willpower, they wanted their fundraising efforts to go towards a charity with personal meaning or significance.

We are very pleased to announce a new policy regarding fundraising, beginning with The 2015 ENDURrun.

If The ENDURrun came and went too fast for you to stay current on all of the online content, here is a concise look at what you might have missed!
If you’ve got more links, let us know and we will include them!

By Stage

More from The ENDURrun

2015 – Ultimate registration is now open
Results – 2014 Cumulative | Updated stage records
Photos – Pre-race meeting | Potluck social | #OneToughRunner campaign
News – Final day storylines – with conclusions | Post-ENDURrun withdrawal
Facebook group – ENDURrunners

Media

Woolwich Observer – Participants find out that ENDURrun lives up to its name
Waterloo Chronicle – ENDURrun’s 160km offers ultimate challenge for runners
RunWaterloo blog – What is The ENDURrun?

End of week blogs

Joao Oliveira – A unique experience – English version
Stage 7 Recaps: Vicki Zandbergen | Paul Mora | Robin Brunet
Health + Performance – Team results and commentary | Final PB count
Relay stage recaps – Jessica Kuepfer | Robert Brouillette
Penny Walford – The bond between running buddies

The ENDURrun has ended and runners have started leaving Waterloo. Of the many emotions, soreness and withdrawal are two of the most common. We now start the countdown: 356 days until ENDURrun 2015.

@cellagirl @UnaRanToday @Werundaily @dela_2012 @ENDURrun I am sore and creaky. My legs hate me. A lot.

— Paul Mora (@rungeek) August 18, 2014

@rungeek 356 days

— The ENDURrun (@ENDURrun) August 18, 2014

5k this morning, including a victory lap of the Bechtel track. #hurty #i2P #GGT #ENDURrun

— Steve And Una (@Werundaily) August 18, 2014

Rocking my @ENDURrun Ultimate finisher shirt at work today. #onetoughrunner pic.twitter.com/6IURSs2cfs

— Paul Mora (@rungeek) August 18, 2014

Word of the day "ouch" #ENDURrun though not nearly as bad as I thought it would be #funtimes

— Robin Brunet (@robinandamelia) August 18, 2014

RT @ENDURrun: @cellagirl @UnaRanToday @Werundaily @dela_2012 @rungeek #ENDURrun @AndrewMoizer @BinkJoanne Withdrawal happening in Ottawa too

— Steve And Una (@Werundaily) August 18, 2014

@ENDURrun @UnaRanToday @Werundaily @dela_2012 @rungeek @AndrewMoizer @BinkJoanne Had to make my own lunch. I miss #endurrunfood!

— Michelle Lennox (@cellagirl) August 18, 2014

The ENDURrun BLUES!!! RT @ENDURrun: Are you experiencing #ENDURrun withdrawal? http://t.co/QGLmdneGF6

— Ben Hack (@thebenhack) August 20, 2014

More reflections in the ENDURrunners Facebook group.

Stage 7 is the finale of the “8 Days, 7 Stages, 160 KM” ENDURrun. At the end of a long week, a full marathon is a true test where anything can happen. With close standings among many of the Ultimate men and some highly competitive relays and women, the race was bound to be interesting.

Quick Links

Stage 7 Results | Final Cumulative Results | Strava Flyby | Photos

Recap

Sixteen athletes started at 6am, in order to finish before noon, while the rest of the field took off at 7:30am. H+P Men’s A1 relay runner Rob Brouillette quickly put a significant gap between himself and the field, coming through the half already five minutes ahead of Matt Leduc. Behind him was a pack of the same six men who have been working together all week, along with Mindy Fleming, all on pace to break three hours. Vicki Zandbergen was hot on Catherine Kelly’s heels, in a battle for third.

H+P Women’s relay runner Jessica Kuepfer took a page out of teammate Gillian Willard’s books: pacing off Holger Kleinke in hopes of a PB. The majority of the field found at least one other person to work with over the first 21.1km loop, before spreading out more in the second half of the race.

In the end, Matt Leduc protected his lead and won the overall competition in a time of 11:07:53, despite finishing second today. “Dark Horse” Stefan Gudmundson pulled out the surprise victory with a huge PB of 2:55:13 to Christian Belair’s 2:56:37, meaning Christian was able to hang on to his third overall finish by just seven seconds! Patrick Kelly maintained his position in the overall results (second) by running an impressive sub-3 hour marathon. Mindy Fleming placed first in the stage and the ultimate competition, with a total time of 12:30:12. Angela Batsford was second today and overall, while Vicki was able to overcome an 18:18 deficit to grab third in the cumulative results. In the relay competition, Rob was able to hold his impressive pace for a 2:41:37 PB, completing H+P Men’s A1 team’s wire-to-wire win with the fourth fastest all-time relay time. Congratulations Matt and Mindy on your Ultimate wins, as well as the other finishers. You are 41 Tough Runners!

For some context, here are Matt and Mindy’s times compared to all winning times in the history of The ENDURrun.

Of course, this race would not be possible without the incredible volunteers and runners. To the entire ENDURrun community: thank you! We hope to see you again next year!

Social

[Edit: storylines have been updated with the post-stage outcomes.]

Sunday is Stage 7 of The ENDURrun: The Marathon. Here are just a few of the many storylines that we are following:

Sharing the Lead
Prior to this year, never had more than two individuals won any given stage of The ENDURrun in any given year. In fact, between men and women, the same person won every stage EIGHT times. This year, in the men’s event, FOUR different Ultimate runners have won stages: Matt Leduc (1,2), Patrick Kelly (3,5), Joao Oliveira (4) and Christian Belair (6). Who will win Stage 7, someone new to the party, or one of our familiar faces?
Someone new: Stefan Gudmundson comes through with a massive negative split for a big new PB and stage win!

Chasing Records
Mindy Fleming is within grasp of two historic ENDURrun records. The Stage 7 record belongs to Joanne Bink (3:08:54, 2011), and the Ultimate Competition record belongs to Jackie Jackman (12:07:47). Mindy’s personal best marathon is 2:57:42 from Ottawa 2013. Having already set the Stage 1 record this year, will she push herself to break the Stage 7 record, and go for the 2:53:11 to break the all-time record?
Gave it a shot: Mindy came out with a blistering 1:30:59 first half before backing off and racing a smartly conservative second half. More records will have to wait for 2015!

Mr. Consistency
Holger Kleinke is one of the most consistent runners that we know. He achieved the lowest standard deviation in lap times for Stage 3 (24:43, 24:54, 24:48, 24:27, 24:43, 24:43) and Stage 5 (30:15, 30:34, 30:14, 30:15, 30:12) – and this was without wearing a watch! The over/under on Holger’s lap time differential tomorrow (two identical half marathon laps) is 21.5 seconds. Would you bet on the over or under?
Over, barely: Holger’s splits were 1:38:59 and 1:38:13. Of course they were.

Close Race
Despite the group of individuals winning various stages, Matt Leduc has led wire-to-now and maintained sole posession of the gold jersey. Despite this, he only leads Patrick Kelly by 3:28 overall. How will the closest race in recent memory play out Sunday morning? It’s a deep field too – Christian Belair, Stefan Gudmundson and Joao Oliveira are all within 17:44 of the lead!
Stefan’s push in the last 10k put him 7 seconds out of third place, while Matt increased his lead to 6:26 on the final day to win The ENDURrun 2014.

Dark Horses
Stefan Gudmundson (4th, 13:54 gap) and Catherine Kelly (3rd, 54:16 gap) are defending Ultimate champions and will lace up Sunday morning. It’s a tall order for either athlete, but they both know what it takes to earn the gold jersey!
While Stefan had a great result, Catherine didn’t have it in her at this stage, struggling on the second half and being passed for third place by Vicki. Not the result she was looking for, but a courageous performance!

Personal Records
Personal Records are dropping like flies. Among many notables, Ed Andringa has EBed (ENDURrun bested) every stage, while Stefan has recorded a genuine PB! How many PBs and how many BQs are going down tomorrow?
Yes – but too many to count.

Will Una get lost?
We love you Una!
No!

Early Birds
Eight runners have already signed up for ENDURrun 2015. Sara Blanchett signed up for The ENDURrun 2014 last August and has already signed up for The ENDURrun 2015. How many more will take advantage of the “ENDURrunner’s high” promo code (“ENDURrunner”) and sign up by Sunday night?
Two more on Sunday and a total of 32 by the end of the ENDURrunner discount!

Relay and Sport Competitions
Jeff Martin leads the Sport Division by 1:42 over Vince Charbonneau, and H+P Men’s A1 leads the Relay over the H+P Men’s A2 by 21:07. Do they have what it takes to close it out?
Yes to both.

Will Paul and Susan run together?
To recreate this epic scene from 2012?
Sadly, not this time.