Sunday morning start... - The Toronto Weekend to End Women's Cancers

JulieK · Senior Member

Sunday morning start...

Ashley Costa · Senior Member

I was waiting for 7 am on Sunday and then i looked up at 10 to 7 and everyone was basically gone.. I think maybe something should be done to make 7am start more official.

The_Doughboy · Member

I took off at 6:40, the guy the previous night said they wanted everyone left by 7:00am not starting at 7:00am.

Noreen · Senior Member

We left around 7:10 and were told at the first or second pitt stop that we were marked in somewhere around 630 in the group, so there must have been quite a lot that lefter after 7am. I thought one of the emails we received said something about the route being open as early as 6am but everyone had to be out of camp by 8am. I know at camp they said they wanted everyone to try to be going by 7am. I think that was because Sunday was supposed to be really humid and they were worried it might get too hot for people as the day went on.

Corynn · Veteran Member

We left at 7:30 and were counted 1700 at the pit stop, so there were still quite a few behind us.

tolou · Veteran Member

Chad, Paul and I left at 8 and we were basically at the end. We were counted as 2800 at the first pit. I think there were alot of one day walkers and walkers that didn't return to walk on day 2 due to their own individual reasons.

They were really trying to push people out but they just wouldn't leave. In Edmonton they actually drive around the campsite on the bullhorn singing "Ïts time to get up!!!" And they move them out in time. I think having the band walk around the tents did help a bit but they should consider closing breakfast down sooner as there were people still getting breakfast at 7.

Each year is a learning experience and there are always new people both crewing and walking that don't know what to expect.

All in all it was a great walk, great weather, and I must say Toronto has the best community support of any of the 6 cities I have walked in.

See you all next year, look out the Butterfly of Hope team will be the largest team on record!!!
Come join me and walk for your own reasons but also for Chad!!

Didds · Veteran Member

I think the band was the point when the route officially opened, wasn't it? I was scrambling to get ready whe I saw them come up, go through camp, and head down the dreaded gravel road.

Fire Chicks · Veteran Member

Ashley, I'm sorry I didn't get to see you again after we met before breakfast, I left just after 7 and was counted at 480 at the first pit stop. If they could merely line that gravel road with pillows, I'd appreciate it!!!

See ya next year, missy!

Naamphong · Senior Member

I left about 2 mins after the band walked down the gravel hill. I was counted as 435 at the first pit stop. Many walkers were still in the medical tent and at breakfast or sleeping/packing up.

Doreen H · Veteran Member

I think the official start was when the band played us out to the gravel road, but I know that the night before they had made a point of asking all walkers to be on their way by 7am. I guess not everyone heard that!

Ashley Costa · Senior Member

fire chick: I look forward to seeing your face again next year also!
gravel road covered with pillows would be a dream come true!! :P

kazalicoley · Member

The schedule that I read said anyone not staying at camp had to be back by 7 am... and I think you're supposed to leave by 8am.

This was my 9th walk and I don't think we've ever left at 7 except for maybe a couple of times when we couldn't face breakfast... I remember we arrived at the CNE at 12:30 the first year and were counted in at #30... so we must have left really early. But since then we've left closer to 7:30 or even 8 am.

We left around 7:30 this year (I needed to eat!) and I was particularly slow during the walk and was counted in at around 2900 at the second pit stop (up from about 2300 at #1).... so I was obviously not keeping up with the pace. I barely stopped at the rest of the pit stops/grab and goes except for lunch.

I felt rushed after lunch after hearing someone say we had to be back by 3:30, which meant I had about 2 1/2 hours to limp the last 14 km... I didn't think I would make it back in time.

I was behind Chad the whole time... could see him in the distance and was trying to keep up with him... he was my inspiration to complete the walk... if it wasn't for him I probably would've been swept lol

I think we made it back by 4 pm and there were still several walkers coming in after us... so I guess the 3:30 finish or be swept was just a rumour lol