Author: Coach Cari

The Rhino Trail Run on June 14, 2025 was the 3rd race in the Alpine Trail race series. This event held at the Mt. Airy Cincinnati Trails included 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon race distances. Races are advertised as being family-friendly, small events, and an awesome experience. I would describe this course as one of the most challenging trails I have ever run.

The race started at 8:15, due to a slight delay with event check in and bib pickup.

The race director welcomed runners to the trail series and described the course. He told the 10K and Half marathon runners that around the 7K point there was a section along the road that was approximately 100 meters that we should walk. You do not want to fall off this cliff. The wall along the edge of the road is at least 10 feet high. Runners were instructed to stay off the road, and walk along this section.

The Half Marathon was two laps of the 10K loop. Many sections of the course included slick, muddy, jagged stones. Wet trail conditions added a high risk of slips, trips, and falls.

The course included climbing up and down multiple steps and navigating over fallen tree branches.

We finished the first loop in 2 hours 11 minutes. I was running with Kara from Nebraska, who chose this race to represent Ohio on her quest to complete a Half Marathon in all 50 states.

Around 12.5 miles I was lost and alone in the middle of the forest when it started to rain. At that point I had missed the finishing cut off time by over an hour. I missed the final turn back onto the trail and had to use GPS on my phone to navigate back towards my car to the finish line.

I finished 8th out of 12 runners, but actually was the final finisher in the race. The other four runners did not finish. Fortunately, the race director waited for me to finish and the finish line had not been taken down yet by time I was done. Only two runners finished within the 3 hour course limit, which is a rather tight cutoff for such a challenging course.

Finishers received a Rhino medal, and snacks from the finish line aid station.

The tree house at the park is currently closed for maintenance, but it would be cool to see this sometime.

Check out alpine trail race for more information about upcoming races or series points.

The overall winners of the Alpine Trail Series, top male and female, will win a trip to compete on the trails in Nepal. To qualify for the trip, runners must complete at least one half marathon during the series. As one of two woman who completed today’s half marathon, I am now in the running to win the trip to Nepal. I am currently in 8th place out of 42 woman, but only 2 of us meet the requirement of completing a half marathon.

Rock the Monument is a 4 Mile race that took place on Friday, June 13, 2025 in Urbana.

The race started at 7pm, with packet pickup opening at 5:30pm at the Upper Shelter House on race day. Participants received a drawstring goodie bag with race shirt, water bottle, and snacks inside.

The race started and finished in Melvin Miller Park, with a small section of the course running through the streets of Urbana.

I ran the majority of the race completely alone. The race included a slight uphill after the first mile. At the 3 mile point I turned the wrong way, thinking I was headed back towards the finish line. Luckily the guy behind me said something and I turned around and got back on course.

I finished in 35:23 as the 2nd overall female and 1st in the super age group of women age 36-50.

I do not run very many 4 milers. In fact, this was only my second one. I chose this race purely to attempt a PR. I felt fairly confident I could improve upon my previous time. This ended up being a PR by 1 minute and 9 Seconds.

Overall this was a fun race, with great music and awards. I met a man that drove from Pittsburgh for this event. Unfortunately, he had to leave before the awards and missed getting his 2nd place age group medal.

I would definitely consider running this race again next year. I think there is still room for another 4 mile PR, especially if I stick to the course next time.

The Possum Creek 5K Trail run is an Ohio River Road Runners Club event. Members of ORRRC run for free and non-members can register for $10. Kids 14 and under run free.

The race was held Tuesday June 10, 2025 at Possum Creek Metropark, starting from the Sycamore Shelter.

The course ran through various terrain including dirt, gravel, meadow, and grass. This is a great course for beginners to trail running and included minimal elevation gain or loss.

Although trail shoes were not really necessary for this course I wore my Saucony Xodus. which means in the last 10 days I have run 3 trail races each wearing a different pair of trail shoes.

I finished in 72nd place with a time of 30:48.

I have not run an actual PR in almost 6 years, but since I have only run a handful of trail 5K, I just improved my trail PR and earned a PR bracelet. My previous 5K Trail PR was 31:45 at Dirty Dude Girl 5K in 2010.

This race is designated as a “small” club event. Small races are super fun, low key, minimal swag events, included in ORRRC membership, and typically timed by the club volunteer timing team. All finishers received a medal, and top age group winners received a small stuffed possum.

The Hueston Woods Trail race is another awesome Wolfpack Adventure Run. The event included multiple distance options including a duathlon.

The spring edition of this event was Saturday June 7th and Sunday June 8th. I ran the Saturday Half Marathon.

Races started at 10 am from the Hedgerow Picnic Area / Mountain Bike Trailhead. The course started with an uphill climb over 100 ft ascent through some tall grass.

Next runners ran through the Hueston Woods covered bridge.

This was a beautiful day and fantastic weather for a trail run. Temperatures started around 70° and climbed to mid-seventies through the afternoon.

The course ran along various trails through Hueston Woods Park and Campgrounds, including the Equisetum, Indian Mound, and Gallion Run Trails.

Sections of the trail were muddy, but overall I enjoyed the terrain. Total ascent for this course ended up being 1171 ft.

I finished the Half Marathon in 3:20. This is my first time running at Hueston Woods, and today I completed my 91st Half Marathon.

I busted out my new trail shoes, the ASICS Gel-Trabuco 12, for this race. They are now officially broken in and covered in mud.

The post-race party included a lunch consisting of hotdogs, potato salad, chips, and drinks. Great way to celebrate the end of the Spring race season.

The Caesar Creek Trail Race is part of the Wolf Pack Ohio Trail Series, that includes multiple race distances. The 2025 Spring edition of this event was Saturday, May 31st and Sunday, June 1st. I did the Saturday Half Marathon.

This was a super fun, muddy trail run.

Events started at 10 am from the Buckeye Way Camp Ground at Caesar Creek State Park.

5k and 10k runners followed the blue signs and flags, everyone else followed the orange signs and flags. Just ask yourself “orange you glad you’re running a half marathon?”

This is my 90th Half Marathon and my second time running this race. I have also officially joined the Wolf Pack.

I finished in 3:08:29, and 27th out of 32 runners.

Check out the Wolf Pack for more information about upcoming events. Run with The Pack!

The DLM Good Neighbor 5K was Sunday May 18, 2025. This is a family friendly event with proceeds given to the FoodBank to benefit the fight against hunger.

The race started at 8:30 am in the DLM Washington Square parking lot in front of Up and Running.

Participants received a killer brownie after the race, and awards for the first place winner in each age group.

I finished the 5K in 26:59 and 7th place out of 107 woman in the super combined age group 30-49.

The ORRRC George Rogers Clark Park 10K took place May 6, 2025.

This is a challenging 10K trail race through George Rogers Clark Park in Springfield, Ohio. This park is known as the site of the largest Revolutionary War battle west of the Alleghenies.

Instead of using the typical starting gun or siren, a cannon blast started this race.

I took home an award for finishing 2nd in my age group.

Thanks Ohio River Road Runners Club for another super fun race!