Friday, August 2, 2013

Where I Run: Loveland Bike Trail

First let's get some giveaway business out of the way...
The winner of the Reebok Spartan Race entry is Karen Zehner! Congratulations!
If you didn't win, you can still grab a discount code here



I'm linking up with some of my running blogger friends to showcase some of the places we spend time in our running shoes. As runners, we run all over the place. Sometimes we return to the same routes out of convenience or because we fall in love with them. Some places we never go back to or only get to experience once.

I thought it would be fun to highlight one of the places I have run recently. Last week I was back home in Cincinnati trying to squeeze in my training runs while visiting my family and friends. While looking for a place to run near my Gpa's, my stepdad asked if I'd ever run the Loveland Bike Trail.

The Loveland Bike Trail is part of the Little Miami Scenic Trail which makes up 78 miles of the southern leg of the Ohio to Erie Trail. Like many of the trails near where I live in New Hampshire, the Little Miami Scenic Trail follows an old railroad bed.


There are many trailheads, but we decided to access the trail from Miami Riverview Park because there would be easy parking and restrooms available. We were not disappointed. The park was empty because it was a rainy morning, but the restrooms were open and clean.


A path led us right out of the park and across the road connecting directly to the trail. Most of the trail was a paved flat path through lush green vegetation. Every so often we caught glimpses of the Little Miami River,  or passed by smaller play areas, and picnic areas.


The trail passed through downtown historic Loveland where we found restaurants offering outdoor seating along the trail, bike rentals, and shopping. There was also access to public restrooms and smaller parks.


We ran an easy paced out and back 8 miles on the trail. After changing into dry clothes in those incredibly clean park restrooms, we made our way back to downtown Loveland to have brunch at Paxton's Grille right of the trail. You know you're in a good place when they go ahead and serve you breakfast even though it's technically now lunch. I'd love to go back and sit outside on a sunny day.


After lunch we walked across the street to my favorite running store in Cincinnati, The Running Spot, set up in the old train station. We made some small purchases at their sale and grabbed a copy of the trail map.


Most of us have seen nicely paved bike trails as a great place to run. What makes the Loveland Bike Trail so brilliant is the way the local businesses and community embrace it and make it part of the everyday culture. Who wouldn't want to stop for an ice cream cone or read up on an infamous train robbery?

This is the kind of trail where you will find something new and fascinating each time you go.

#WhereIRun Link Up!!

Join the link up by adding a link to your own post below:








Thursday, August 1, 2013

Sweaty Challenge 2013

Back in June, Anne - a member of the Chilly Challenge - asked if anyone wanted to do a Sweaty Challenge. Instead of doing teams, it was to be a fun individual challenge. Twenty-nine participants signed up and for the month of July we have been logging our miles running and walking, outside and on the elliptical or treadmill too.

When everyone signed up it was simply for PRIDE, not PRIZES. People just wanted to be active, stay active, and find encouragement. None of these people knew that they would in fact be rewarded.


As the month started winding down, Anne offered the winner a crocheted beanie to the person with the most miles! On Monday, I was thrilled to let the Sweaty Challenge group know that someone would be winning a pair of Mizuno's brand new running shoe, the Wave Sayonara.


Today I am announcing that winner.

Using the random.org widget to select a Sweaty Challenge winner, congratulations to: #21 Elle!! Please email me your running shoe size and mailing address so that I can get your prize to you asap!

Thank you to Anne for getting this summer challenge started and Mizuno for sponsoring a prize.




Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Hula Hustle 10K

Over the years I have learned that running races in the summer heat is not that much fun. This summer Millennium Running changed all that with promises of a post race luau poolside at the Executive Health and Sports Club. There's something very appealing about grass skirts, leis, and a dip in the pool.


So, to celebrate turning another year older, I treated my birthday-boy husband to a 10K at the Hula Hustle 5K/10K. The Hawaiian themed event benefitted New Horizons for New Hampshire.

We arrived at the event about 30 minutes before start time and found that parking was much further away from the festivities than we thought, but we still had plenty of time to pick up our bibs, race shirts, and grass skirts and head back to the car to get ready and drop off the shirts.


As usual I did not look at the course earlier and learned on race day that the 10K was two laps of the 5K. I'm not a big fan of this kind of course, but it allowed me to see my amazing friend Ellen, who was volunteering at the water stop, multiple times!


After weeks of sizzling hot weather, we had a break in the temps, but with the sun shining it was still a hot day for running. The race started at 10AM, which is nice because you can sleep in, but earlier starts in the summer are better. So, even though it was an super fun race, we were ready to cross the finish line and receive our leis.

Photo by Keith Tharp

After the race, we grabbed our swim suits and headed to the pool for the post-race luau at Sizzle's poolside tiki bar. We were able to rinse off and change in the locker rooms of the club even though we aren't members (but boy do I wish we were!). We found some lounge chairs and then grabbed some food: burgers, chips, and watermelon.


This was the best summer race I have ever done. If you are going to try to run in the heat, it's nice to know that you can jump in the swimming pool to cool off afterwards.



Do you like to run races in the summer?



There's still time to enter my Reebok Spartan Race entry giveaway! 



Monday, July 29, 2013

Training Truths: ZOOMA Week 3

Even with the best intentions, it is hard to keep to a half marathon training schedule while you're on vacation.


As I packed my bag for the trip to Cincinnati, I included three running outfits and my Wave Creation 14s. I was hoping to squeeze in three workouts and stay as close as I could to my weekly goal of 20+ miles.

I scheduled the first run for Tuesday morning at East Fork State Park so we could run 5 miles and then hang out at the beach. It was a gorgeous sunny day and there were beautiful views of the lake.


Run #2 on Thursday did not happen. Blame the travel or the comfy bed, but not the weather. It was a perfectly beautiful, no humidity, mild temperature kind of day. Instead we spent the day driving to Columbus, stopping for a light lunch and some shopping, and hanging out with good friends.

On Saturday we took the long run to Loveland and jumped on the Little Miami Scenic Trail from Miami Riverview Park. Every trail should look like this one: paved, maintained, and beautiful (look for my review later this week). Despite the first mile in pouring rain, we ran 8 solid miles and enjoyed every minute of it.


So my week of vacation and training didn't exactly turn out the way I'd hoped, but I'm ok with that. I had a great time visiting family and friends, and I didn't miss my long run.

If you are in the Boston area and training like me for ZOOMA Cape Cod in September, Social Boston Sports and Muscle Milk are teaming up with ZOOMA to host a training event tonight at 7PM at the Washington Square Stop in Brookline. There will be a 5 mile run with a 3 mile option.



Friday, July 26, 2013

Fitness Friday: Are You SPARTAN Strong?

Happy Friday everyone! It's time for another race entry giveaway. Aroo! (not something I would normally say, but completely appropriate today!)

I've been in Ohio visiting family, but I couldn't resist signing on and letting you know about another great race taking the country by storm. You have probably heard about the Reebok Spartan Race Series. 



From the website:

Spartan Race is on a mission to get you active, healthy, excited about change, and return to our ancient roots where running through woods, getting dirty, and facing adversity was part of everyday life. Our events are all about challenging today’s perception of normal.

Our events challenge the familiar, today’s perception of normal living and getting you out of your comfort zone! At Spartan Race, we do this everyday and it shapes everything we do.
Having experienced many different racing events, we wanted to make adventure racing more accessible to everyone, but do not be fooled by the word ‘accessible’, as our events have a challenge for everyone’s needs.
Spartan Race now introduces a level for everyone beginning with the entry level Spartan Sprint, intermediate level Super Spartan, the advanced Spartan Beast, and the ‘99.9% need not apply’ extreme level Death Race. 
Whatever your level, Spartan Race will test your strength, stamina, and sense of humor.
There are Spartan events taking place all over the US in 2013, which means that there is probably one near you!


Use this url http://bit.ly/spartanwarrior to access a discount code that will give you 15% off any Spartan Race.



Ready to find out if you are Spartan STRONG? Founder of Spartan, Joe De Sena, is traveling around the country giving free Spartan workouts in local gyms and facilities.

Reebok Spartan wants me to give YOU a free race entry to any open heat event in the continental US during the 2013-2014 event calendar. Use the rafflecopter below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I was asked to help promote the Spartan Race Series. I have not been compensated for this post.


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