quote:<HR>Originally posted by BlackSheep:
djc1225, At about the 24-25 mile mark just before you enter North Bend State Park you have to climb a hill that makes Steel Hill in Hocking Hills look like a speed bump. It's HUGE!!!Also be careful going down hill at about the 26 mile mark. The park road is VERY steep, and it may be slick. Good luck. It's a great challenge, and a great marathon. The scenery is awesome! <HR>

A great challenge is an understatement. I really started feeling it on the rail-trail. After I got home I researched the net to verify why this allegedly flat trail seemed to be all uphill. The first 3 miles were downhill, but miles 21-24 rose about 300 ft elevation. And THE hill at 24-25 was beyond brutal.
At that point, I didn't care if the downhills were so steep,I needed a rope. I was just glad to not be still running uphill. No other hill races I did prepared me for the difficulty of this course.

Aside from that, I loved everything about the course. Waterfalls on both sides of the road. Water running across the road since it rained all night and the first hour of the race. Cows looking at me wondering why I would possibly be running down a road for no obvious purpose, and trails with tunnels carved out of solid rock to run through. I still doubt I would ever go back and run it again.

OK- I ran the Columbus 10K! It was actually fun- I felt pretty good the whole time- My goal was to finish in an hour, and my time was around 56:50. So I'm happy. It was a nice course around Columbus.
Although I'm starting to feel kind of lonely doing these races- I know absolutely no one else - I may have to join a running club soon!!

Marcy
Marcy

Great race Marcy. I should plan on running that race next year. It will be 25 years since I last ran it.

Im curious, is anyone here planning on running the Columbus marathon this fall ?? Im going to do it for the 4th time this fall.

Yes, I am doing the marathon. I just signed up for the Team In Training Program for cancer. This will be my first time doing Columbus.

Tom, you should enjoy the course, it is pretty flat. You will have to let me know how your training goes. Im looking to run 12 miles this weekend.

Bill

Okay, I tried the south end of the Olentangy Trail through Berliner Park which goes right along the river. It was beautiful! Very nice path that ran through next to Civic Center Drive close to the new COSI. I highly recommend it. It was a fun run. Happy trails. . .

quote:<HR>Originally posted by runner9430:
Is there still no way to connect between the north and south on the trail ? Ive thought about running it many times, but always end up staying out east.<HR>

No, there's a big gap between King Ave through Lane Ave cutting through campus. It's very frustrating. The south end of the trail is really nice, not as many trees through some chunks of it like the north end, but it's kind of fun to run through parts of downtown.

Good job, I was thinking about doing the same thing! So how is everyone in central Ohio doing now that it has gotten hot and humid? I tried to do my long run of 12 miles last Sunday outside at around, oh about 1 pm. I got in 8 miles then had to go inside on the treadmill for the remaining 4- thought I was going to pass out!!! I had salt crystals on my legs! I guess I'm going to have to start getting my runs in early morning...

Marcy