"Joe" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'll be there this summer from June to August and I'm looking for some
good
> routes and places to run. What are places to avoid due to traffic or road conditions? I'll be
> training for a marathon then so I'll need some longer loops or courses to do.
>
> Right now I live in Milwaukee so I can't imagine running there is too different?
>
> Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks, Joe
Joe,
A premature welcome to Cincinnati!
Try some of the local running groups. I have run with the Saturday Morning Running Group (SMRG) in
the past. Most of them are marathoners and will run 10-15 miles starting at 7am. See the SMRG link
here
http://www.runningspot.com/CintiRunning/RunningGroups.htm.
As for courses for long runs, your best bet is to stay off of the roads and stick to the paved
running/biking trails. Sharon Woods, Winton Woods, Miami Whitewater Forest all have paved loops. My
preference is Miami Whitewater. It has a 7.8 mile outer loop (Shaker Trace) and a 1.3 mile inner
loop path through forest, fields and marsh (not much shade). A horse trail parallels the main trail
so on an early morning run you are likely to be passing wild turkey, ducks, horses and deer. There
is a portable toilet about half-way around and you'll have to carry your own water although they
just installed a drinking fountain at the nature overlook, about 2 miles from the parking area. The
two drawbacks are that it is 15 minutes west of downtown just off of I-74 and there is a $1 entry
fee for this county park ($3 for an annual pass which covers Winton Woods, Sharon Woods and several
other parks).
Another favorite is the Little Miami Bike Trail. This is a flat 72 mile path that occupies an
abandoned rail line and follows the Little Miami River. It is primarily a Southwest to Northeast
route so shade is good for most of the day. It starts/ends about 15 minutes east of downtown, in
Milford. This Sunday I'll be competing in Morgan's Little Miami Triathlon which uses part of the
bike trail for the 10k run.
A little closer to town is the 5.5 mile path at Lunken Airport/Playfield. Just a few minutes east of
downtown, it loops around a small municipal airport, ball fields, and a golf course. Not very well
shaded. Water and restroom facilities are available at the golf shop and airport terminal.
Downtown, there is a riverwalk and pedestrian bridge that takes you over the Ohio River into
Kentucky. Not sure of the length of this route though.
Go to Bob Roncker's Running Spot
http://www.runningspot.com/ when you get into town. They would have
the most concentrated amount of local running routes/maps.
A premature welcome to Cincinnati!
Mike
Not so bad during the summer but hate the fall and winter. Anyone up for