Pre-Race Announcements 2026

[these are the announcements as written, but improv may take over. If it’s cold I may skip some of this. Or it may get added to if needed. But here it is for your enjoyment in its original prose 😉 ]

Welcome to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and the 38th Leatherman’s Loop! My name is Rob Cummings. I am the race director for the Loop.

Some quick safety announcements. Follow the marked course. That is the clearest & straightest path. Watch for underwater and above water obstacles. Be safe out there – and keep an eye out to help your fellow runners, especially when crossing the rivers and through the mud. In the mud stick to the middle of the trail – it is the flattest part no matter the mud depth!

At the beginning of the race—you can toss your top layer to the side as you run by the teepee. It will be there for you near the teepee when you finish. Make sure your bib is NOT pinned to this article of clothing or you will not get a finish time!

Please exercise caution and common sense at the stream crossings. Ease into each crossing slowly and do not enter them full stride. The exit of the first stream crossing can be slippery on the rock ledge. Help the runner in front and the one behind if possible.

Please upload your photos from today to share with everyone. Results will be posted live. Links are on website. Photos from today will be uploaded as we receive them. If you take photos please share — scan the QR code near the food tent to upload today!

Today’s BIRTHDAYS: shout out to Nathan & Jackson Peters (both 14), Thomas Watson (37), Joshua Irizarry (31), and Audrey Day (59). 

Joe Stanley is here for his 38th run of the Leatherman’s Loop race. After winning the first year (1987) he has come back every year to run the Loop. Amazing!

Also – the Park has a birthday coming up – the FIRE TOWER was built 100 years ago in 1926. And it is returning this year! We are celebrating with a race (no surprise) on June 7th. Actually 2 races: a trail half marathon and a 10k. Both courses go by the fire tower – and we encourage you to hike up the blue trail to see the progress the park is making with the construction.

I also wanted to announce the 4TH Annual Trail Running Film Festival this coming Thursday at the Prospector Theater in Ridgefield CT. Curtain goes up at 7pm. It’s a great show and also fun to see your fellow trail runners dressed in normal clothes and not muddy! More details will come via email. I already have my tickets and am looking forward to it. Thank you to Lee Willett for bringing the festival to our neighborhood again this year.

The Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps team is here today on standby in case you need them they will be here to help. Here’s hoping you only meet them in line for bagels and coffee after your race. The Pound Ridge Fire Department is also here to help as needed in coordination with the Ambulance Corps to potentially help runners on the trail. 

Gratitude: grateful to you, the runners. You make the event what it is. Grateful to the volunteers who come out and make the event possible. I am grateful to the park staff who keep the park beautiful and welcoming to all.  Grateful to my wife Ciorsdan and family Griffin, Kathryn, Orion, Annalise, and Sawyer; they each do a lot unseen to help put on the event. 

Grateful to Tony and Judy Godino for creating this event and shepherding it through the years and keeping it going. It is a lot of work — but it is a joy to see you all out here! 

I want to introduce Danny Martin, the spiritual advisor of the loop – he has spoken before the loop for over 20 years to hopefully help make your runs more thoughtful. Danny will give the blessing and then call out the race start. 

Below is the recorded audio of the 2026 welcome and safety announcements from Rob:

[Danny blessing] [Start]