Club Race Calendar
Check out the club calendar for Cincinnati Road Races. It includes 5Ks, 10Ks, Marathons, Half Marathons, and just about any other distance that you could imagine running. It includes Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati events, and a few regional and national races but mainly Cincinnati and Northern KY local road races. Access the club race calendar.

Volunteer Opportunities for the Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati

There are a few one time and couple of ongoing opportunities where the Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati needs you help. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and meet other members in the club.

• Valentine's Day Race: We need 2 volunteers to help with the Packet Pickup at Bob Roncker's in O'Bryonville on February 14 from noon to 3:00 PM.
  On race day we need about 5 people to help with the finish line and results for the race. Please help as this is one of our biggest fundraisers of the club. If you can help out on Saturday or Sunday, please sign-up using our online registration form.
• The Heart Mini Marathon Bag Stuffing - We need 15 people to help stuff goody bags for the Heart Mini-Marathon. on Saturday February 7, 2009 from 9:00 am to noon at the Heart Association Office at 5211 Madison Road. If you can help out, please sign-up using our online registration form and select bagstuffing. For your efforts, you get a heart mini-marathon poster.
• Ongoing - Currently, the club has openings for keeping the club running: Merchandise Coordinator, Newsletter Editor, and Social/Hospitality(plan the 3-5 social events a year like the Holiday Party, Summer Picnic, Annual meeting, Member Appreciation Happy Hour etc). Positions take only 1-2 hours a week of your time(no time at all if you enjoy them) and the only two requirements are that you enjoy hanging out with runners and be a Runners' Club Member. If you can fill one of these positions, send an email to cincinnatirunning@gmail.com.
  

Latest Poll Results
Here are the updates from the last poll. The last poll asked what is your running goal for 2009. Almost 40 people voted in the poll and run a marathon was your top goal with 10 votes followed closely by running a personal record with 9 votes. Tied for third was maintain fitness and resume/start running with 6 votes each. Thank you for those that voted. I will leave the full results up until I can think of another poll question.

RCGC Holiday Party Recap

The Runners’ Club of Greater Cincinnati held its annual Holiday Party on Saturday, January 3, 2009 at the Swaim Park Lodge in Montgomery Ohio. Approximately 30 club members and guests attended(see photos). The party was a gala potluck affair withthe Club providing meat and a variety of beverages, and members and guests bringing appetizers,salads, side dishes, and desserts. The pot luck dinner format was similar to that usedfor Holiday Parties of years past when they were held at the Clifton Recreation Center. In addition this year's featured a White Elephant Gift Exchange. A white elephant gift is an object that you would rather somebody else have. Thank you to the members and guests that contributed food items. The food was exceptional quality, variety, and amount to satisfy any hungry runner’s appetite. See you next year.

Valentine's 2 Mile Labor of Love

Please join the Runners' Club this winter in one of the most fun and unusual races you'll find in Cincinnati. In 2009 we made it more unusual by adding a couple of new specialty categories like Ball & Chain(a male and female runner are tethered together so they run together) and Blind Date(you randomly get a partner). The race is put on by the Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati and proceeds go to support running in the Greater Cincinnati area and the NKU cross country and track team.

RACE DETAILS

• DATE: Sunday, February 15th, 2009 - Open to All.
  
• TIME: 12 Noon.
  
• PLACE: Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY.
  
• PRE-REGISTRATION: ends Monday, February 9th, 2008.
  
• PACKET PICK-UP: The Running Spot, O'Bryonville, Saturday, February 14, Noon - 3 PM or at NKU day of race.
  
• DIRECTIONS: 471 ends at 27, go straight through light. Turn right at next light (NKU). Take first left, then first right.
  
• COURSE: 2 mile course beginning at Albright Health Center.
  
• OTHER: Get the flier or register online.

The Running Symposium presented by Wellington Orthopedic and Bob Roncker's Running Spot
This Saturday morning symposium will give you the latest information about running. Highly qualified presenters will instruct and entertain. There will be sessions where you will learn by doing. The morning concludes with a talk by Kevin Hanson, one of the founders of the Hanson's-Brooks Distance Project that enabled Brian Sell to make the 2008 U.S.A. Olympic Marathon Team.

2009 Running Symposium Details

• Date: January 24, 2009
  
• Time: 7:30 a.m. - Noon
  *Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast provided.
• Where: Wellington Anderson Medical Offices
  
• Cost: $15
• Presented by: Wellington Orthopedic & Sports Medicine and Bob Roncker's Running Spot
  

For more information, go to the Running Symposium.

Al Salvato Memorial Frostbite 5 Mile Recap

The Al Salvato Frostibite 5 Mile is held on January 1.  It was named after Al Salvato, an avid runner and supporter of both running and the YMCA.  Al founded the race to raise money for the Campbell County YMCA and was the race director for several years before passing away in 2006 due to complications from Leukemia.

I was not planning to run this race due to the earlier start at 8:30 AM.  I tend to get carried away on New Year's Eve so making the later start was a challenge. However, I enjoy this race since it is now the only 5 mile road race in the Cincinnati area which according to a friend of mine is the perfect distance to run(Not too short like the 5k, Not too long like the 10k but just right).  It has a great long sleeve t-shirt with a cute design and I am a sucker for cute along with humorous and minimalist for t-shirts.  Also, I heard rumors that after this year the Campbell County Y might not do the race in 2010 so I sucked it up to show up 2 hours earlier to do the race for possibly the last time.  There were 219 others who decided to do it as well even thought the start was earlier and it was much colder than last year's race. In addition, the local newspaper  was there to cover it.

For a 5 mile race, I thought that registration was reasonably priced. Included in registration was the t-shirt.  It was short sleeve rather than the long sleeve that they had in the past.  I must admit that I liked the race more when purchasing a t-shirt was optional instead of including it in the price.   Since I have so many t-shirts, I wonder when I will wear them all.   

The course has not changed in the years that I have run it.  It starts and finishes by the Campbell County YMCA , and there is an overlook of the Ohio River on the way back.  I did manage to finish the race in faster time than I expected even with an equipment malfunctioon(both my shoes came untied and I had to stop at 3 mile mark to tie them before I fell). Post Race featured bananas, and water. Since the race venue was the YMCA, you could shower after the race if you brought clothes and they did have lockers for your use as well to store your stuff, both underrated and underappreciated features.  I am hoping that they do the race next year and they can get a later start time so more can do it.  Frostbite 5 Mile Results.      

Happy New Year from the Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati

The Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati would like to wish you a Happy New Year!  When you make your New Year's Resolutions, please consider volunteering at one of our club races, maybe sponsor a club race,  join our club, and helping someone who may need your assistance.  If you can do this, I am sure 2009 will be a great year for you and others.