The Tie Dye 50K is a trail ultra marathon that took place at John Bryan State Park on May 16, 2026 at 7:30am. The course consisted of three loops of just over 10.5 miles each.
This was my third time finishing a 50K, and my second time doing so at the ORRRC Tie Dye race.
My last ultra marathon was in 2017 when I finished this race just under the 9 hour time limit. I was slightly concerned that the 9 hour cut off might pose a challenge for me this year going into this race slightly undertrained, and with a sprained wrist. However, I ran at an easy effort pace and managed to take 4 minutes off my previous time.
Overall this was a fun race and I was glad to push myself to finish. I should have worn shorts. It was too hot for long pants, but otherwise I had a great time.
The Cherry Blossom 10 miler is a premier road race in Washington D.C. known for having a flat fast course and passing many of nation’s iconic landmarks including the Arlington Memorial Bridge, the Kennedy Center, and the Washington Monument where the race starts and finishes. The race was held April 12, 2026.
I ran this race with Shannon and Jim, fellow board members of the Ohio River Road Runners Club.
As a quality engineer, I am Koala-ty too
Packet pickup on Friday Night was quite a fun experience as it was my first time riding the Metro in D.C.
The tenth annual Hilly Half in Brown County Indiana was November 15, 2025.
This was my third year pacing this super fun, beautiful, hilly race. The course starts out with an uphill climb for the first two miles, but the weather was perfect and the views from the top of the hills were spectacular. I ended up running the majority of the race a group of cross country girls as they finished their very first half marathon.
The after party included soup, breadsticks, drinks, and live music.
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 John Bryan Trail race is part of the Wolf Pack Trail series, which includes trail race distances ranging from 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, 20K Relay, and 6 Hours of Power. This edition of the race took place at John Bryan State Park on Saturday May 24th and Sunday May 25th. I ran the Saturday Half Marathon.
All races started at 10am. Same day check in and bib pick up was at the park starting at 9:15am. The race director, Chris Stout, made some race announcements prior to the start of the race, and then the national anthem was played.
This is a beautiful trail throughout the park, and course includes steps, uphill running, downhill running, and a bridge crossing. Many portions of the trail are single track. The course was well marked, with the 5K / 6Hours of Power following blue flags, and the 10K / Half Marathon following orange flags. The Half Marathon course was 2 Loops.
All event finishers received a Wolf Pack medal which was included in the bag handed out at packet pickup.
Finishers also received a Wolf Pack Sticker.
I finished 20th out of 24, with a time of 2:46:11.
Check out the Wolf Pack to get more information about upcoming races or to purchase a Pack Pass
Run Cari 