The 12 Stupid Things

Here are the 12 Stupid Things planned for 2009 (plus a few others). Most of these events are confirmed, though some dates are not available yet. We'll keep this list updated.

January
.
Resolution Run - January 1 - Markham, Ontario
5K run or walk
What better way to start the year than running a 5K in the snow and ice - the morning after New Years Eve? What could be stupider than that? Work off that hangover with an invigorating run with friends! As a gift for your stupidity, you'll get a free running jacket. Register early - it fills up fast.

February
.
Salomon Snowshoe Raid - February 21 - Barrie, Ontario
3-hour snowshoe orienteering race, 5K snowshoe race, or 10K snowshoe race
Nothing's stupider than strapping big pieces of metal and nylon to your boots and walking through the woods hoping not to get lost in the middle of winter! This is a snowshoe race combined with navigation by map and compass - teams of two have three hours to locate as many checkpoints as they can. We're very excited about this one - we think... No matter how bad it is, it'll be over in three hours. There are also 5K and 10K races on marked trails, for those who don't want to find their own way. You can rent snowshoes at the race, and there's a free post-race meal.

March
.
Unlock the City - March 28 – Toronto, Ontario
10K Amazing Race-type scavenger hunt
Ever seen those people in their matching t-shirts and clipboards running around Toronto and taking over the subway system? They look pretty stupid, don't they? Well, you can be that stupid too! Actually, more stupid – in this race, you aren't allowed to use the subway – you have to travel on foot. Teams of three have 3½ hours to use clues to find 12 secret locations around Toronto. Depending on how many people are doing this with us, we could have multiple teams. Let us know in advance!

Other stupid things we might do in March:
Achilles St. Patrick's Day 5K - March 15 - Toronto, Ontario
5K run or walk or wheelchair through downtown Toronto, ending at the Steamwhistle Brewery, where we'll be treated to Irish stew and beer.
Charity: Achilles Canada

April
.
CN Tower Climb for World Wildlife Fund - April 18 - Toronto, Ontario
Climb the CN Tower
Yes, we're talking about climbing the former world's tallest freestanding structure – 144 flights of stairs and a nice view of Toronto at the top. We definitely think that this classifies as a stupid endeavour! Climbing a thousand stairs when you could just take the elevator! Believe it or not, it can actually be done in 10 minutes; they say the average person can do it in 30 or 40 minutes. We'll see how average we are. Kids can participate if they're over 42 inches tall.
Charity: World Wildlife Fund-Canada

May
.
Canoe the Credit - May 24 - Mississauga, Ontario
5K, 18K, or 25K canoe paddle
A non-competitive canoe paddle down the Credit River, ending at the mouth of the river at Lake Ontario. We'll try the fast-water routes - probably somewhere around 20 kilometres. There's also a flat-water route.
Charity: Conservation Youth Corp

June
.
Toronto Mud Run - June 7 - Toronto, Ontario
5K or 10K run through trails, mud, and obstacles
The ultimate in stupid fun! A fun little trail run at Claireville Conservation Area in Toronto. There are hills, river crossings, climbing walls, tunnel crawls, hay bales, obstacles, and lots of mud. The race finishes in a giant mud pit. Free t-shirts, snacks, and outdoor showers!

Other stupid things we might do in June:
Toronto Pearson Runway Run – June 13 - Toronto, Ontario
5K run or 2K family walk/run on Runway 06R-24L at Toronto's airport (closed for the race, hopefully).
Charity: Etobicoke General Hospital

Pride and Remembrance Run – June 27 - Toronto, Ontario
5K run or 3K walk – part of Toronto's Pride celebration. This is becoming an annual event for us and a few friends – come join Team 12 Stupid Things! We're going to try to hold a certain friend to her promise to run in a Wonder Woman costume.
Charity: TBA

July
.
Sweet Corn Challenge - July 26 - Richfield, Ohio
10, 25, 50, or 100 mi bike ride – with optional 'horrendous hills'
12 Stupid Things heads south of the border for a nice little bike ride through Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the rolling hills and farmland of northern Ohio. After the ride, there's a BBQ chicken and corn-on-the-cob dinner, a band, and cheap massages. And you get sweet corn to take home.

August
.
Flying Chicken Run - August 15 - Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
5K or 10K run, 5K walk, or Little Chick Fun Run for kids under 6
Dress up as a chicken and run 5 km! You could step it up a notch by making chicken sounds as you run. Run or walk through cutesy Niagara-on-the-Lake. Apparently there are prizes for the best chicken costume, and there's lots of food and a barn dance following the run. We will be leaving our chicken costumes at home, but Shif is likely to cluck a bit.

Depending on how we're doing by August, we might try one of these even stupider things, too:
National Capital Triathlon - August 1 - Ottawa, Ontario
Various triathlon and duathlon options. Shif would try the Try-a-Tri (200M swim, 20K bike, 3K run) and Jen would aim for the kayak triathlon (4K paddle, 20K bike, 5K run), unless she can learn to swim by August.
Charity: Camp Quality Eastern Ontario

Blueberry Triathlon - August 3 - Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Triathlon (750m swim, 20K bike, 5K run), duathlon (2.5K run, 20K bike, 5K run), or Kids of Steel Triathlon - Part of Sioux Lookout's Blueberry Festival. Swim in the sauna-like waters of northern Ontario…. or do the duathlon where no swimming is required. Both races can also be done as a relay, with a different team member doing each section.

September
.
Tour de Greenbelt – September 26 or 27 - around Toronto, Ontario
Bike rides from 25K to 65K
A series of non-competitive bike rides through the greenbelt that surrounds the Greater Toronto Area. Get out of the city and see a bit of the beautiful Ontario countryside. All routes have rest stations along the way with porta-potties, snacks, and beverages, and the day ends with a BBQ with fresh, local food. For those of us without cars, all routes are transit-accessible or shuttle service is provided.
Charity: local cycling organizations

Other stupid things we might do in August:
GWN Dragon Boat Challenge - September 12-13 - Toronto, Ontario
We'll be paddling with our team, the Flaming Dragons, in our second dragon boat regatta.
Charity: Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto

October
.
Trek or Treat – October 16 or 23 - Oakville or Vaughan, Ontario
Night-time trail run - 5K, 10K, or family "creepy mile"
Running through a wooded trail at night around Halloween – this might even be stupider than the snowshoe race! Costumes are optional, but not laughed at. Free pumpkins! Headlamps are available for rent.

Other stupid things we might do in October:
Run for the Cure - October 4 - Toronto, Ontario
5K run/walk in support of a cure for breast cancer. Jen did this event a couple times in Denver and it is one of the most touching, amazing, inspiring things she's been part of.
Charity: Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

CN Tower Climb for United Way - October 25 - Toronto, Ontario
If you missed the chance to climb the CN Tower in April, you get to try again with Jen and her work colleagues!
Charity: United Way

November
.
Turkey Trot – November 26 – Miamisburg, Ohio
5 mile run or 1 mile walk
12 Stupid Things goes back to the US while we're in Ohio for American Thanksgiving. If we run 5 miles Thanksgiving morning, how much pumpkin pie can we eat later?

December
.
Santa Jingle 5K - December 12 – Burlington, Ontario
5K run
To top of our series of stupid things, we will be running a 5K dressed as Santa! There may be kids looking for gifts trying to chase us down, so we'll need to train so we can outrun the little buggers! Registration gets you a free Santa suit. And you'll need it, because all runners in the race have to wear one! We are giddy about this one, and it seems like a very cool way to finish the year.