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.

Club Group Runs in the Winter
Beginning in January 2009, the club will have two weekly group runs. The club keeps the Hyde Park Group Run, but it will now meet on Wednesday at 6:30 PM starting on January 7. Beginning on Sunday, January 11 we will head south into Kentucky and meet at the Perk Station in Crescent Springs KY. If one is near where you live, come out and run with us.

Weekly Group Run Details:

• Wednesday - 6:30 PM Run - Hyde Park Square - meet by the fountain - begins January 7.
• Sunday - 9:00 AM Run - Perk Station, Crescent Springs KY - meet in front of Perk Station - begins January 11
  

For more information check out our calendar or email us.

Egg Nog Jog Recap

The Egg Nog Jog is one of my favorite races in Cincinnati. I have run this race more times than any other in Cincinnati with the exception of the Reggae Run. The course is one of my favorites as it a loop course that goes around Mount Adams, and Eden Park. It has one of the more difficult hills that I haver faced even though it is not very long. The 2008 race was held a week later than usual on December 20, 2008. Typically the race gets around 150-200 runners but this year it got 400 runners and they had a line for registration out the door of the Koka Coffee Lounge, the kind host and a sponsor for this race. I decided not to get the t-shirt since I have so many and due to the number of runners, I heard that they ran out during preregistration. However, you could order one on race day and they would send it to you. Many runners could not get to the Jingle Bell Run 2 weeks earlier due to snow, so they decided to do this one. The course starts on the Jerome in Mount Adams and you go by several Mount Adams landmarks like the Celestial, Rookwood Pottery, the Art Museum, Playhouse in the Park, the Krohn Conservatory, the Water Tower and of course Eden Park. In Eden Park, you run around Mirror Lake and up through Seasongood Pavilion back to the finish by the old Rookwood Pottery Builidng which I believe is now a restaurant known as Porkopolis. Post Race featured water, coffee, bananas, and of course Egg Nog. Since it was quite cold, most did not stick around for the the door prizes and awards so I even won a door prize. Egg Nog Jog Results.

Time Change for the Al Salvato Frostbite 5 Mile
After many years of being held at 10:30 AM, the Al Salvato Frostbite 5 mile will be held at 8:30 AM on January 1, 2009 at the Campbell County YMCA. The race honors Al Salvato who passed away in 2006 due to complications from Leukemia. Al was a strong supporter of the YMCA and distance running in Northern Kentucky. He started the race about 25 years ago to raise money for the YMCA's Strong Kids Campaign. For more information about the race, go to getmeregistered.com.

Reindeer Romp Recap

Over 150 people participated in the Reindeer Romp 5k / 10K Race in Crosby Township held on Saturday December 13. Men's winner for the 5k was Ryan Woolley with a time of 17:27. The top woman was Mary Owensby with a time of 22:46. In the 10k, Keith Mills was the top male runner and Debbie Biddle was the top female. You can access the complete results here.

New Book on Northern Kentucky Running
Steve Adkisson, a local running legend has written a book titled Juggernauts: The Making of a Runner & a Team in the First American Running Boom. It recaptures his introduction to distance running and specifically cross country at Lloyd High School. For those that are familiar with Steve and the High School lore of Northern Kentucky Cross Country, the book is a must-read. For those familiar with Northern Kentucky University Cross Country history, the book is a pre-cursor to some of the individuals and events that shaped the teams of the late 70’s on the NKU campus.
It is not strictly a book on running as much as it is a reflection of the influences and attitudes that faced a young man growing up in the early 70’s and the carefree days of youth that everyone can relate to. The book is available for purchase at Barnes & Noble and also at Amazon.com.

Holiday in Lights Run Recap
This year the Holiday in Lights Run took place on Tuesday, December 9 at 6:30 PM. 43 runners showed up for the run on a rainy and relatively warm December evening. The weather was perfect for a marathon but a group run not so much. Most completed the entire route through Krohn Conservatory live Nativity scene, the lights of Mount Adams, and the holiday decorations in downtown Cincinnati from Fountain Square, to the Carew Tower to the Dule Energy Train Staion. Those who did not make the entire run wish that they had as they had to endure a cramped car back to the Williams YMCA. After the run, most met at O’Bryon’s for food and spirits even a few more who could not make the run showed at O'Bryon's to help with the beer and food. Special Thanks to Tom Glasscock for making this event a great success for the umpteenth year in a row and Ed Hunter for being the photographer.

November Poll Results
Here are the updates from the last poll. The last poll asked what is your favorite distance. About 25 people voted in the poll and 5k was the winner with 7 votes followed closely by half marathon with 6 votes. Tied for third was 10k and marathon with 4 votes each. Thank you for those that voted. I will leave the results up another day and a new poll question will be up by Wednesday December 10, 2008.

Holiday Party - January 3
RSVP NOW for another favorite of the Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati - the RCGC Holiday Party!! Definitely no later than December 29, 2008. Seats are limited and will be first come first served. We have a new location for our holiday party which is a little larger, but still cozy. So again, please RSVP ASAP or we may not have room for you!

• What: Christmas Party
  
• When: Saturday, January 3, 2009
  
• Time: 7:00pm-11:00pm
  
• Where: Swaim Park Lodge, Montgomery OH
  Corner of Cooper and Zig Zag Roads in Montgomery.
  Park in the lot on Zig Zag Road.
  
• Who: RCGC and guests (no pets please)
  
• Cost: White Elephant Gift(No fruitcake please)
  
• Info: The Club will provide entree, beverages, condiments, and wares.
  Members are asked to bring the following:
  
  • First names beginning with A-L: Dessert
    
  • First Names beginning with M-Z: Appetizer, side or vegetable
  
  For more information, visit the club calendar. Please email cincinnatirunning@gmail.com by December 29 to RSVP.
  

No Hyde Park Group Run On Tuesday December 9
With the Holiday in Lights Run on Tuesday December 9, 2008, there will be no group run at Hyde Park Square this coming Tuesday. The other group runs will continue as scheduled. All are welcome to attend. If one is near where you live, work or hang out and you would like a change from your usual running routine, come on out and run the city with us.