The 14th annual CBI Physiotherapy Halloween Haunting road races will provide a grand finale to the 2014 London Honda Race Series this Sunday, October 26th at historic Springbank Park. The event is hosted by Runners' Choice and held in support of the London Track 3 Ski School.
Over 500 competitors are expected to take part between 4 different events: the 10k and 5k Runs, 2k Fun Run/Walk, and Candy Trot. The Halloween Haunting road races are unique within the London running community in having a large number of participants dress up in Halloween costumes - with costume prizing! - and in offering London's only Candy Trot, the Halloween Treat version of the London Honda Series Kiddy Trot.
Last year, the 10k race provided some great 'elite' competition between members of the London Runner Distance Club and the Speed River/New Balance Track Club. The 2014 entries are shaping up for similar results. Barry Britt of Speed River looks to be the favourite in the 10k race, having won the 2014 Canadian 10,000m Championships and boasting a personal best of 30:10. Meanwhile, Britts teammate Matt Jurysta - a 3:41 1,500m runner making his 10k debut - will battle a trio of local London Runner teammates including the 2nd and 3rd place finishers from the 2014 Springbank Half Marathon Adam Stacey and Matt Suda, along with Canadian 10,000m medalist Kyle O'Neill. Some excellent female athletes have chosen to focus on the 5k distance, where North American Junior 3,000m Steeplechase record holder Gen Lalonde of Guelph and 2014 Canadian Championships 1,500m finalist Philippa Aukett of London are the top entries.
If you're participating on Sunday, be sure to dress up in a costume, and if you're not racing on Sunday, be sure to come out and cheer, as Runners' Choice hosts the very spookiest race of the year!