CONWAY — Since 1982, Toad Suck Daze has promoted the importance of physical fitness while benefiting local charities through racing events. Originally, the race was known as the Randy Baker 8K, started by the First National Bank of Conway to honor Baker, a former teller at the bank who died of cancer.
In 1984, the 8K race was combined with a race organized by the Kiwanis Club of Conway; the combined event has been known as the Toad Suck Daze 10K/5K Run ever since. Proceeds from this event are distributed to local Faulkner County charities. More than $370,000 has been donated to local charities since the inception of the race.
With approximately 1,500 runners annually, this is one of the larger road-race events in Arkansas. This is not just a normal runners’ event, however. Along with the 10K run and 5K run/walk, the event includes a wheelchair 10K and the Tadpole Trot. The Tadpole Trot, held after the 10K and 5K runs, is designed for runners ages 4 to 12, with age groups running different distances on the Conway High School track.
“The goal of the run is to raise funds for local charities, as well as promote physical fitness, particularly through the Tadpole Trot, which is focused on the involvement of area youth,” said Kevin Wish, commercial lender at Arvest Bank and registration coordinator for the run.
Wish added that the event is at the ideal time and location for participants who hope to enjoy Conway and the rest of the festival.
“The run is held the same weekend as Toad Suck Daze in Conway, which makes it convenient for families to participate in our event in the morning, then enjoy the festival in downtown Conway later that day,” he said.
The run will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday and will begin at John McConnell Stadium on the Conway High School campus. All registrants will receive a New Balance T-shirt with the Toad Suck Daze logo, as well as a packet that includes items provided by the event’s sponsors. Awards are given in the 10K and 5K races for various age groups.
Wish said the event strives for accuracy in its timing and uses chip timing to do so.
“We’ve used chip timing for about the last 10 years,” he said. “The primary benefit of the chip timing is the increased accuracy of race results, with times calculated to 1/100 of a second. Both ‘gun times’ and ‘net chip times’ are calculated for each runner.”
Runners can pick up their race chip and packet at The Sporty Runner in downtown Conway from 4-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Participants who register after 7:30 a.m. the day of the race will not be timed.
Strollers, baby joggers, skateboards, bicycles, inline skates and animals are not permitted during the run.
After the races, participants will have the opportunity to continue their physical fitness journey through the Tour de Toad bike ride. Those who complete the Toad Suck Daze 10K/5K Run and the Tour de Toad bike ride will receive an Iron Toad medal, presented by Literacy Action of Central Arkansas in partnership with the Kiwanis of Conway. The Tour de Toad will be held at noon, giving runners plenty of time to rest and gear up for the bike ride. Registration for the bike ride will be at 11 a.m.
For more information, as well as online registration, visit www.toadsuckrun.com.
Staff writer Spencer Griffin can be reached at (501) 399-3675 or sgriffin@arkansasonline.com.