Dayton River Corridor Classic The 43rd Annual Dayton River Corridor Classic was run on Sunday October 13th, starting at the Welcome Stadium.

The DRCC is one of the oldest half marathons in Ohio, and included a Half Marathon, followed by a 5k race.

Having previously finished this event in 2016, was my 2nd time running the Dayton River Corridor Classic.

I finished my 30th Half Marathon in 2:00:22, and 4th in my age group.

Air Force Marathon 10K

September 21, 2019

The United States Air Force Marathon is held on the third Saturday in September at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio. The Marathon was established in 1997 to celebrate the Air Force’s 50th anniversary.

The 23rd annual Air Force Marathon weekend kicked off on Friday evening with a 5K race at the Nutter Center. Saturdays events included a 10K, followed by the full and half marathon.

Fireworks on a dark and rainy morning preceded the 10K start at 6:30am. The 10K started on time just ahead of stormy weather which forced a delay to the full and half marathon start.

The Air Force Marathon is special to me because it was my first full Marathon. I am proud to live near the Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and participate in this race.

This year I completed my first Air Force 10K. I finished in 54:23, and placed 5th in my age group.

Patterson Park Church 5k

August 17, 2019

The 5k race took place on Saturday August 17th at Patterson Park Church, with proceeds supporting local mission projects.

The race features a relatively flat 5k course through local neighborhoods. Afterwards finishers received a full breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit, bagels, juice, milk, coffee & tea. Awards were presented to the top three finishers in each age group.

I finished third in my age group with a time of 24:10.

Columbus Half Marathon The Columbus Half on Sunday August 11th is Columbus’ original and oldest half marathon.

The race started at 7 am at Three Creeks MetroPark in Groveport, and ran along a fairly flat bike path.

This medal represents facing my fears and getting back out there after three disappointing Half Marathon attempts so far this year.

The last time I ran a Half Marathon in Columbus was at Brokeman’s Undiscovered where I literally tripped and fell on my face. In June I burned my Half Off. And in July I passed out after finishing 1/2 Way to Christmas Half.

The Columbus Half was my 4th Half Marathon of the year, my 28th Half overall, and my 2nd fastest to date.

My official finish time 1:52:42 missed a Half Marathon PR by 4 seconds, but according to Stava it was a 4 PR run. The other PRs are legit.

1/2 Way to Christmas Half Marathon

The 1/2 Way to Christmas race is a super fun July Christmas themed event with multiple race distances that celebrates the most wonderful time of the year as participants run through Christmas themed music and decorations.

The race was Saturday July 21st, with the first races starting at 7 am. The course is a relatively flat an out and back run on the Great Miami Recreational Trail with athletes running from Miamisburg towards Franklin and back for the ½ Marathon. The 1-mile, 5 and 10K runs are also out and back along the same path.

Due to extreme heat, this year’s course was shortened to two loops, out and back. Runners were given the option to stop after just 1 loop if they preferred.

Aid Stations throughout the course supplied Christmas music and cookies. Finishers received Christmas ornament medals, post race catered breakfast including Eggs, Meat, Fruit, Juice, Coffee, Milk, Craft Beer, Cider, Soda, Christmas Cookies, and an opportunity to pose for a photo with Santa.

I have run this race the past three years. In 2017 it was hot, sweaty, and slow, and I finished in 2:11. In 2018 it was rainy, but nice enough for a PR of 1:53. And in 2019 it was unbearable and after walking to finish in 2:29, I passed out before I even made it inside for the post race festivities.

I finished my 28th Half Marathon on an extremely hot and humid day, with a heat index over 100 degrees.

Due to the heat, I ran approximately 40 minutes slower than otherwise could have, I carried TailWind in my Camelbak, took ice at the aid stations, and even walked during the race. Shortly after finishing I was transported by ambulance to the ER and treated for sever dehydration.

I missed the post race celebration, but runners are the best and my running friends came to visit me in the ER.

Check out my previous post “Tips for Heat Exhaustion” for more details and lessons learned from this experience.

I shared this story on the RunBuzz podcast, Episode 125. Here are my tips for Heat Exhaustion.

Last month after finishing the 1/2 Way to Christmas Half Marathon in Dayton, Ohio, I passed out and was taken by ambulance to the ER for very serious dehydration. This was my 28th Half Marathon. I am an experienced runner, certified running coach, and had run this particular race twice before. This year I ran nearly 40 minutes slower than usual due to the heat. I wore my hydration pack that I don’t normally like to wear, took ice packs at two aid stations to stay cool, and even walked during the race. I thought I was being careful because I wasn’t pushing myself too hard. I had TailWind in my Camelbak and put ice in my bra. I finished in 2:29 and right in front of a friend of mine who was pacing the 2:30 Half. As the pacer, he had pushed himself to stay on pace, and once he finished he was struggling to stand. I stayed with him at the finish line tent as he received emergency medical attention and watched as he was slipping out of consciousness and could barely mumble his own name. Eventually, he was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Following this, I realized I was not okay myself. I quickly told a medic my name, apologized and told her “I am going to pass out.” She immediately sat me down and put ice on me. The last thing I remember telling her was “I can’t see you.”

I am unclear exactly how long I was out of it. The medics did not confirm whether I ever fully lost consciousness or for how long. I just remember repeating myself and saying “I can’t see, I think I am going to pass out.” Eventually after being cooled down with ice, my vision returned and I started to feel better. I sat with the two paramedics in the truck and had something to drink. My vitals were great and the paramedic said I am obviously a runner because my heart rate and oxygen rates were fantastic. Initially they weren’t planning to take me to the hospital but then I started cramping, and realized I must be dehydrated. I ended up taking an ambulance to the ER for an IV too. 🚑

Here are few things I learned from this experience.

1. Wear Road ID. I own a Road ID bracelet, but did not have it on. It has my name, birthday, and emergency contact information on it which could be useful to have in an emergency.

2. Take a picture of your insurance card. In an emergency you are more likely to have your phone on you, unless you carry your insurance card while you run. This is also useful for non-running emergencies.

3. In extreme heat take off your shirt. I am not always comfortable running in a sports bra, but I should have immediately removed my completely sweat soaked shirt that was only trapping in heat.

4. Drink water and electrolyte drinks slowly. The medics told me to sip my drinks and replenish slowly. Guzzling sports drink at the finish is more dangerous and can do more harm than good.

5. Take care of myself first before I can take care of anyone else. I was with my friend who was in much worse shape, but I was so concerned about him I forgot to take the best care of myself. I should’ve gotten myself inside, out if sweaty clothes, started re-hydrating, and taken off the camelbak as soon as I was done with it. This was a Christmas themed race, but I never made it inside for the post-race breakfast with Santa.

6. Hydrate before racing. I typically run four days a week and try to stay well hydrated every day not just on race days. Given the heat index I should have pre-hydrated a little more.

7. In emergency heat situations put ice under your armpits. I was putting ice in my bra too while I was walking. When I passed out the medics put bags of ice under my armpits and in my lap.

8. Get help quickly. I was fortunate I was in a good place to get the help I needed quickly, and I spoke up right away. This type of heat exhaustion comes on quickly, often with little warning.

9. Sweat testing. I am working with another coach, Jill Mongene, to go through sweat testing. She will calculate my personal sweat and sodium levels. This is useful for knowing my own rehydration needs.

10. Stay home. The race course was shortened to 2 loops and runners were given the option to only run 1 loop if they felt unsafe completing a 1/2 marathon in a heat index over 100. I should have only run 1 loop, or better yet not run at all! As runners it is hard to skip a race, but our health isn’t worth it. I had no idea just how bad I was feeling until I had to tell the medic I couldn’t see her! That was nearly 20 minutes after I finished running.

11. Leg cramps are a sign of dehydration. My legs started cramping and bulging like never before. They were not just sore from running a half marathon, but extremely painful.

12. My shirt and shorts were soaked. I sweat worse than I have sweat in 30 years of running. At the hospital (at least 45 minutes after I was done running), the entire bed was soaked! I lost so much sweat it look like I’d had an accident in the bed. I had to ask the nurse to change the sheets.

13. Rehydrate with Body Armor or other natural sports drink. I also like to drink TailWind or coconut water for rehydration. My doctor told me to drink 64 ounces of Body Armor for the electrolytes.

14. Stay inside during a heat advisory. I ran this race 40 minutes slower than usual which meant I was out in the heat that much longer, and way longer than was safe. I have run marathons in 85 degrees. It was most likely the heat index over 100 and humidity that were the difference here, and simply being outside too long.

I am feeling better today. My friend Joe, who was also taken to the ER, has no memory of finishing this race, but he is doing much better now too. We are both recovering.

I share all of this in case it helps anyone else. This heat is serious! Please be careful. I am grateful to be ok and be reminded to take care of myself. This is long reminder to all my runner friends to take care too.

Americana 5K

July 4, 2019

Kick off your 4th of July celebration with one of the biggest 5Ks in the area, then stay for the Americana parade and festival afterwards.

The race started at Centerville High School at 7:30 am. Participants were to arrive before 7am to avoid the road closures on Franklin Street.

Packet Pick Up was at Up and Running either July 2nd or 3rd. Late registration and packet pickup were also available on race morning starting at 6:30 am.

This was my second year running this race, and both times I PRd.

I finished in 23:27 with a new 5K race PR. Jaina finished in 23:57.

Shake Shack Shuffle 1, 2, or 3 miles

June 29, 2019

The Shack Shack Shuffle is a brand new event this year for the ORRRC. Participants choose either a 1, 2, or 3 mile race when registering on race day.

The 1 mile untimed fun run started at 6:00pm, and ran along the bike path behind the Rip Rap Roadhouse and Shake Shack.

The 2 and 3 mile races began together at 6:30, and ran in the opposite direction along the path.

I ran the 2 mile with my daughter Jocelyn. We finished together in 24:59.

My other daughter Jaina also ran the 2 mile and finished well ahead of us in 15:19.

This is a great summer family event. All finishers received a voucher for an ice cream cone at the Shake Shack.

Over all top three finishers by gender received awards.

Congratulations Jaina for finishing as the 3rd place overall female in the 2 mile race.

Despite being over 90 degrees, all three of us placed top 3 in our Age Groups. Jaina and I finished 1st and Jocelyn finished 3rd in each of our respective ages.

Upon returning to the car afterwards, it may have been over 102 degrees.

Burn Your Half Off – Ohio

June 29, 2019

The Burn Your Half Off Race Series made it’s debut in Ohio in June 29th at the Eastwood MetroPark. The race started at 8am, with an out and back multi-loop course along the paved bike path passing one main aid station with drinks and snacks multiple times.

The aid station setup included Gatorade, water, tons of snacks (including, but not limited to, chips, pretzels, candy, pickles, fig newtons, and cookies), as well as towels and ice for cooling off.

Finishers received an Awesomesauce Beach Towel for the race swag, and a finisher medal for all distances.

Shirts were not included in registration but were available for purchase on race day.

This was a super fun and very well organized event. Participants passed each other multiple times on the out and back loops and were encouraged to give each other high fives.

It was another race over 80 degrees, and I finished the Half Marathon in 2:11.

Race results did not include ages, so I am not sure where I placed in my age group. I finished approximately 22nd out of 77 finishers, and 13th overall female. My time in the results is off by over 2 minutes.

Jenna Strong 5k – Run with Your Legs Win With Your Heart

June 23, 2019

This was the 4th Annual Jenna Strong 5k in Miamisburg in honor of former Miamisburg High School XC runner Jenna Parlette. Jenna was a runner at Wilmington College when she passed away in 2015. Many of her former Miamisburg and Wilmington teammates came together at this race to celebrate and remember their friend Jenna.

The race started at 8:15 am in downtown Miamisburg at the Riverfront Park, and ran along the bike path beside the river.

I did not know Jenna, but I am proud to run strong today in her honor. It was not a PR, but I finished 1st in my age group with a time of 24 minutes flat.

As an age group winner, I received a medal and $15 gift card to Runners Plus.

My 5 Rivers Teammate, Stephanie, was the first Overall Female at today’s race, in honor of her friend and high school teammate Jenna.