The Tail Chaser Challenge

Many of us have had races cancelled and goals and personal challenges put on hold. With Covid-19 affecting every runner, everywhere, what are we going to do with all that awesome run fitness we've developed?

Join us for the first Tail Chaser Quarantine Edition. Similar to a Backyard Run - The rules are simple - Run 8k (5 miles) every 3 hours for your choice of duration - 6, 12, 24, 36 or 48 hours. You can either do it on the treadmill, trails, road, track, your backyard, your living room - you get the idea. Have fun. Be imaginative. Run, walk, hike, crawl. Do it solo and with social distancing being the priority. Just get moving. ***Please follow your local jurisdictions laws.

The Important Info:

When: We know you lots going on and your time is uncertain, so we are making the event open to you from May 1st at 12:01 AM until May 31st at 11:59 PM.

Where: We all live in different parts and we can't hang out with one another, so do this challenge wherever you want - indoors, track, trails, roads, your living room.

How: You must run each 8k every 3 hours on the 3 hour mark - so if you start at 6am, you MUST run your next 8k at 9am, then again at 12pm etc. until you are done - you cannot run it in one shot - enjoy the break, rest up, eat, hydrate, get a foot rub from a loved one? You can run it 8k at a time. Do it in 100m sprints. Easy. Hard. You can walk it. Hike it. Crawl it. However you want to complete each 8k loop, is up to you. Run one. Walk one. Hike half, run half....your choice. Just know that it can only be run, walk, hike or crawl. No assistance, no piggy backing, no bicycles...just your feet. The route can vary up each time, it doesn't need to be the same each time - just complete 8k (5 Miles) each time. You can make it flat, hilly, rolling, downhill, on the track, around your living room carpet - your choice.

Important Health Note: We do not recommend you participate if you are feeling ill, have a known condition that puts you at higher risk of contracting the illness, if you are in a high risk area where limiting your exposure would be difficult, if you cannot ensure an adequate amount of quarantine time before and after the event, if you will be in contact with someone who is ill or is immunosuppressed, elderly, or are considered higher risk.

Remember: This is just for fun – we do not want this event to add any unnecessary burdens to the medical system, Be Smart!!

Cost and Swag: Entry cost is $25, no matter what duration you choose. You will get a sweet bandana with the Tail Chaser logo (picture to come). This will also cover the shipping of your bandana to you. We will also be donating $10 per entry to Etobicoke Humane Society to help support their 100% volunteer-based animal adoption centre.

Tracking: There is a Strava group https://www.strava.com/clubs/thetailchaserchallenge created that you can upload to. We will have a Facebook group created - https://www.facebook.com/groups/222386582427925/ - just for this event, so you can post pics, tell us how you are doing and check in with your fellow races. If you like the low-tech way of doing things; plot out a 8k route, get out each 3 hours for your goal duration and email us your distance completed....we trust you, after all, this isn't an Olympic qualifying event (yet)!

FAQ:
Where can I do my run mileage? Run wherever you want. Get creative and have fun!

What time can I start? You pick the start time and then start your run 3 hours later. So if you chose to start at 6:00 am- your next run would start at 9:00am etc.

How do I submit my results ? You can post them to our Strava Page, Facebook Page or email us. The honour system works as well.

I didn't complete the event when I attempted, do I need to do it again ? Yes. Do it again, you have a whole month to get it done. You can do it! If you need support, check out our Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/222386582427925/)

Do I need to do this all at the same time? Yes. Whatever distance you signed up for, you must complete within that time limit. You can not extend it over multiple days.

Can I do it as one straight run? No. That just defeats the fun - who doesn't want to be awake and running over a 24 hour period. Sleep is overrated.

Do I still get my swag even I don't finish or start the event? Of course you do! We will be mailing out your swag throughout the month of May.

I really want to share my experience with people leading up to and on my event day, how can I do that? Awesome!! Join our Facebook Group, Strava and post away on your favourite social media platform. Use hashtags #crazycatadventures #thetailchaser. Most imaginative and fun posts could win you a prize...wink wink!

Is there prizing? Just the knowledge that you got out every 3 hours for an 8k run and your friends may not have...and really do you need friends that don't share your love of running? But having said that, we're sure we could find a little something something for most elevation? Silliest costume you ran in? Best run map art? Who knows what can happen!

Are there refunds or transfers? No! This is an event helping to raise funds for an incredible charity, that needs our help in these crazy times. Consider this is your good deed for the month and we appreciate it.

Can I do a separate donation to EHS? Yes please! There is an option for you to add in an additional donation. Anything $25 and over will get you a tax receipt.

Our Charity Partner

We are excited to have Etobicoke Humane Society (EHS) as our charity partner for The Tail Chaser Virtual Cchallenge.

Small Shelter, Big Heart

Our shelter might be small, but our heart is big!

EHS is an independent, all-volunteer, federally registered charity serving the Greater Toronto Area since 1987. EHS is an independent shelter. Their operations are not administered by nor funded by the OSPCA, the Toronto Humane Society, the City of Toronto Animal Services nor any other organization. EHS operations are overseen by a volunteer board of directors. Everyone involved at EHS is a volunteer, including their board of directors, shelter volunteers, office volunteers and program coordinators. EHS has no paid employees. Their services are available for cats and dogs. They are a no-kill shelter and don't euthanize for lack of space. They provide cats and dogs with an individulaized high standard of quality care, including:

• Volunteers spend hours each day individually socializing each animal
• Animals are housed in large enclosures, including climbing structures for cats
• Dogs spend approximately five hours out of their enclosures each day and usually go on walks three times daily

They moved into their new, rented facility in April 2012 on Six Point Avenue, allowing them to offer on-site sheltering and adoption. Off-site fostering is also used to further expand their services for special needs animals.