Straight Street Climb Recap

The Straight Street Climb is the last race in the Cincinnati Hill Climb Series. The Cincinnati Hill Climb Series is a group of races where you sprint up some of Cincinnati's steepest inclines ranging from a quarter to half a mile. About 20 of us decided to partake in this particular form of torture on a cold clear Sunday morning of November 23.
Climbing a hill as part of a 3 mile or a 5 mile run is quite easy if you are from Cincinnati since on most routes you run into nothing but hills. In a long run, you just keep a steady pace up the hill without doing a full out sprint. Also, I had done some hill work on Straight Street from the Clifton Group Run but generally only the top half to get ready for a strong finish. Trying it from a cold stop to a sprint was something for which I was unaccustomed and I had not really trained to do. Since this was my first time, a couple of experienced Hill Climbers said if you feel good after the first 20 yards watch out for the crash in the next 100 yards. They also mentioned that the cold weather could also make this interesting. They were right. I started out feeling quite good the first 20 yards which meant that I went out a little too fast and then the next 100 I was not feeling quite good as my heart was trying to detach itself from my body by going up my esophagus and out my mouth(at least that what it felt like in the next 100 yards). Needless to say rather than risking my heart leaving my body and even though Deaconness Hospital was at the top of Straight Street, I walked some of the distance until I got to the top half for which I trained and resumed running. It did not seem as steep as the lower half and ran in for a relatively strong finish of about four and half minutes. There was not much food post race but I did not feel like eating but they had copious amounts of liquid from Tradewwinds Tea to Hudy Delite Beer.
Overall winners of the race were Greg McCormick, race director for the upcoming Egg Nog Jog in Mount Adams and other races in Cincinnati for the men, and Leisbet Michaels for the women.(Go to the Hill Climb website for complete results.) I may have to ask how he trains for this particular form of torture so I am ready for next years.

Reindeer Romp - December 13, 2008
This year the Reindeer Romp is adding a 10k in addition to the 5k. Entry fee includes long sleeve t-shirt and free pancake breakfast. Race kicks off the Christmas in Crosby celebration. All proceeds benefit the Crosby Kringle Chest which provides toys and other gifts for children at need at Christmas

Race Details
DATE: Saturday,December 13, 2008
TIME: 9:00 AM
PLACE: Crosby Twp Senior Center, 8910 Willey Road Harrison OH
COST: $25 preregistered and $30 on Race Day. Mail in Entries must be postmarked by December 3. Online Registration open until December 9.
INFORMATION: Go to the www.crosbytwp.org for more information or I dare you to click here.

Holiday in Lights Run - December 9, 2008
Join the Club for one of our longest running and favorite events... The Holiday in Lights Run:

• When: Tuesday, December 9th
• Time: 6:30 pm
• Where: Williams YMCA
• What: Run a few miles down to the Square and back
• For: Enjoying the lights of the season.
• Distance: Approximately 7 miles round trip
• Showers: Available at Williams YMCA
• Party: Follows the run at O'Bryons across from the Running Spot
  

Do not worry if you can not make the distance, there will be motorized sleds(aka cars) that can take you from Fountain Square back to the Williams YMCA. Need more information. Check out our calendar.

Great Bearcat Run Recap
Over 70 runners ran the UC campus this past Sunday November 9 at the Great Bearcat Run. Runners and Walkers ran over the various terrains(brick, concrete, asphalt and synthetic grass) of the UC Campus culminating with a finish near the 20 yard line of Nippert Stadium. Congratulations to our overall men's winner Matt Gancedo with a time of 16:57, and overall woman's winner Jennifer Hannen with a time of 20:23. A Big Thank You goes to the UC Running Club and the volunteers who made the race a success. Thank you to our sponsors Bob Ronckers' Running Spot, Panera Bread, RoadId, vitaminWater, and Waltz Business Solutions.
Great Bearcat Run Results

Run/Walk for Fred this Saturday November 15
At the New York City Marathon on November 2, a local Cincinnati runner, Fred Costa collapsed at Mile 22 and was rushed to Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. He remains hospitalized in critical condition and has not regained consciousness. Fred is 41 years old and has been a dedicated runner for years. He trains with Team in Training, gives countless hours of his time to help others train, to raise funds for local charities and to volunteer at local events. His family remains by his side during this difficult time.
Fred has given so much to the running community that Miles That Matter and Fleet Feet Sports are collecting donations (any amount will help) at these events (and at any time throughout the rest of the year) to help offset medical and other expenses for Fred Costa.

RACE DETAILS:

• RUN/WALK FOR FRED
• SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2008, 7:30 A.M.
• FLEET FEET SPORTS, Blue Ash, Ohio
  

Check the flier for more information.

Group Run Update
Beginning Thursday November 13, the Clifton Group Run will meet at 5:15 PM at the Clifton Recreation Center and the run will be about 30 minutes. Times for the other group runs will remain the same. All are welcome to attend. If one is near where you live, or work, come out and run the city with us.

Weekly Group Run Details:

• Tuesday - 6:30 PM Run - Hyde Park Square - meet by the fountain
• Thursday - 5:15 PM Run(Note change in time) - Clifton Recreation Center - meet in front of Clifton Cultural Arts Center(formerly the Clifton School) next to the Recreation Center.
  
• Saturday - 9:00 AM Run - Delhi Park - meet by the basketball courts.
  

For more information, check our calendar.

Hill Climb Series Returns!
The Cincinnati Hill Climb Series™, the most grueling sub-mile runs on the planet, returns to Cincinnati’s racing calendar in November. Begun over 30 years ago by a subgroup of the Clifton Track Club known as MAHFU(Masochists and Hill Freaks United), the oxygen-depleting sprints up the city’s steepest inclines are back for 2008.

"It’s two minutes of self-inflicted torture, and there's nothing the Geneva Convention can do about it!" said race director Doug Newberry, president of EventFund, LLC, referring to the average winning time for many of the shorter runs.

Proceeds from this race series benefit the Cincinnati Soap Box Derby.

Entry forms for the entire hill series are available at local running stores or at www.thehillclimb.com or www.straightstreethillclimb.com

Registration fee for any of the individual races is $10, or $20 with a custom-designed race series T-shirt that you’ll want to wear to brag about your accomplishment.

Runners are advised that the sponsor will provide plenty of liquids to facilitate recovery upon completion (or not) of the race, but participants should bring their own oxygen.
The next race in the series is Hill St (Mt. Adams) on November 16 and followed by Straight St. on November 23 which you do not want to miss.

Great Bearcat Run Preregistration Ends Early Next Week
Mail in entries for the Great Bearcat Run 5k Run/Walk must be postmarked by this Monday November 3. Online Registration is open until Tuesday November 4. Get the flier or register online now before you forget and the price goes up! Go to this link for more information.

Bob Roncker's Running Spot Grand Opening - Loveland Store only
For those that live in Northeastern suburbs of Cincinnati, Bob Roncker's newly opened store in Loveland will have a grand opening celebration beginning this Saturday November 1 and ending November 9. During this time, there will be giveaway, raffles, and 20% off fall and winter apparel. You can go to his website for more information.

Run Like Hell Recap
I attended this race from 1995 to 2002 and stopped going in 2003 due to other races that I wanted to do and the post race kept giving runners and walkers less and less and the price kept going up and up. The biggest disappointment in 2002 was that it was a Halloween race with no Halloween candy. I went back in 2007 just to check it out and the race especially the post race party definitely was better than 2002 since they had Halloween Candy plus other things. In 2008, there was a new location just down the road due to the construction at Xavier University. Thank goodness, the rain stopped about two hours before race time so more runners and walkers would experience this race. The course was the same as we ran through the Walnut Hills Cemetery with runners and walkers (including me) dressed in costume. The biggest complaint about the race that I got was the start as people ended up running through cars at the first turn onto Dana. Most people had a good time at the post race party as everything is free except the beer and wine. The post race although not as good as the Reggae Run(but what race is) was much better than 2002 and a slight improvement over 2007. I missed out on the burgers, goetta sandwiches, and hot dogs due to the long lines but not the giant chocolate chip cookies by the Panera Booth and of course they had a better mix of Halloween Candy. The highlight of the event is the costume contest which I did not win but there is always next year.

Daylight Saving Time Ends this Weekend
Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November which is November 2. Be sure to set your clocks back this weekend. About Daylight Savings Time.

October Poll Results
Here are the updates from the last poll. The last poll asked what gets you out of the house to do a race. 33 people voted in the poll and tradition was the big winner with 22 votes i.e either it is a race that you always did or the race has a great tradition. I really did not specify. Tied for second place place was the race reputation and the race distance(I hear another another poll question) followed by race uniqueness. I have a feeling that most people may be sick of polls so the next one will be up around November 10 and to give you time to look at the full results. Thank you to those that voted.

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.

Miller Lite Lope 5k Recap

This past weekend I was a glutton for punishment. This is one of my favorite races for a couple reasons. They have a nice t-shirt at a great price(One of the few races that I will open my wallet for and get the t-shirt), the venue is the Miller Brewery located outside Trenton Ohio, and the best awards of any race large or small. If you win your age or weight division, you get a case of Miller Lite or if you are under the age of 21 or a tea totaler, Premium Root Beer or Vanilla Creme Soda. The course is a flat two loop run around the brewery. I missed last years due to technical difficulty, but even after doing the Reggae Run the night before, I was not going to miss the 22nd. I was disappointed that the t-shirt was short sleeve as they usually gave a nice long sleeve t-shirt but the design did not disappoint. Also, attendance seemed down from 2006 when I last ran it but it was a great day to run on a Sunday afternoon. Runners and walkers get separate starts as walkers start a half hour before the runners. The post race was bagels, water, and fruit. The awards ceremony seemed to go on for awhile but you always stay to see if you won your age group or division and male runners seem to be the last one that they get to. The biggest shame is that more people do not either know about this race or with the number of races in Southwest Ohio, it gets difficult to fit a unique race like this into your running schedule.

Reggae Run Recap
The Reggae Run is Cincinnati's largest 5k. I have run every one except the 1rst one (out of town) and the 13th one(severe case of Triskaidekaphobia). This past Saturday was the 15th Reggae Run and certainly did not disappoint. They have a great course but extremely crowded, a great reggae band and great party (the best post-race that I have ever seen). This might be my last one as a runner as the 1 mile warm-up to the start from where I park and the sea of several thousand runners and walkers in the race carrying me to the finish is starting to be too much. Maybe next year I will volunteer so I can see how they put this amazing race together.