Toad Suck 10K

Race History

The Toad Suck 10K was started by the Conway Kiwanas club in 1982, and run in conjunction with the then new Toad Suck Daze Festival. They conducted the race mostly by themselves for several years. First National Bank (now Regions) began a race in 1984 in honor of a fellow employee who died of cancer. The Randy Baker 8K was conducted for two years, with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. In 1986 the Kiwanas sought help with the Toad Suck 10K, and the two races were combined. First National Bank/Regions Bank has been the primary sponsor of the race ever since, and each year “In Memory of Randy Baker” is featured on the race shirt.

Course Description

The race starts on the Conway High School West grounds, heading east on Weems St. The runners wind southeast through a residential area to the first mile marker. Shortly after this the 5K and 10K routes separate and the 10Kers head west on Robinson Ave before turning south and hitting the 2 mile point. The first two miles have a few short, gradual ups and downs, with a very slight overall net downhill.

For first half of the 3rd mile, runners will get a nice gradual downhill before turning onto Salem Ave and hitting a small incline.

Salem Ave is a long, straight stretch in the middle of the race during which the route hits the 3 mile and halfway points. The fourth mile continues along Salem Ave with a gradual uphill section leading to a short, steeper climb just before the turn onto Tyler St.

Heading east on Tyler, the runners soon finish the fourth mile and get to coast downhill until a short rise awaits as the route turns south onto Manor. Another gradual downhill section will take the runners onto Hairston Ave and to the course's 5 mile point.

A quarter mile later the course turns onto Watkins. The runners head south, now in the race's final mile and turn west onto Weems St where the race began. There is a small uphill stretch as the route cuts through the high school grounds. Faster 10K runners will have to weave through many 5K finishers in this stretch. The end is finally reached after the runners complete a 3/4 trip around the high school track to the finish line.