Welcome!

• Results as of 11/07/09 are posted on the right. See something wrong? Email Me.

• Couple of notes about the results: Those that cannot make the series (less than 5 races) have been removed. I have revisited every race to reallocate the points to those that have 5 or more races in the series.

  Example: Jeff M (10 points) outran Andy H (9 points) at the Frosty 14. However, Jeff was unable to complete the series Jeff's points are removed and Andy is given the 10 points.

About this Blog

This blog was setup to assist fellow runners in getting info for the ORRRC Dirty Dozen Trail Series. You'll find course descriptions and other little tidbits.

On the right of the page you'll find the current race schedule. Below you will find specific race descriptions and maps.

THE SERIES
Rules of the Series and how to signup are at the VERY bottom of Blog... past the race descriptions.

Happy Trails!

Narrows 5 Miler - Sunday, November 1st at 1p

In the Books!

Results and a few Pics

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This race has a bit of everything and is known for its 4 wooden stepped hills, one of them being in complete disrepair.

Starting at the top of an old road, you descend quickly to the river and your first uphill. Loop back to the start and travel along a 1.8 mile trail along the river and you'll then face the two hills at the "Big Woods" and "Sugarbush". Return by the same river trail to the Vista trail where the last and largest hill awaits. Finish .4 miles later on the old road.

'Trailogist' Mike Allen states that this course is actually 5.35 in length and will happily rake the leaves on the course for you!

Registration is at Nature Center: 2575 Indian Ripple Rd. Parking is located on the other side of Indian Ripple in the office parking lots.

Trail Scale: 6 out of 10
Best Time I know of: 30:41

John Bryan 10 Miler-Saturday Dec 5 at 10a

This trail run is flat... except for a climb out of the gorge at mile 3 or so.

First 3 miles of this race is straight and rocky. A very quick jaunt down Pittsburgh-Cincinnati, where we take a large bridge across the river. After following south trail, we cross back over another bridge and turn right into Clifton Reserve where footing is rugged to say the least. After passing Blue Hole and Steamboat Rock, the climb out of the gorge awaits you.

After 'bounding' up the steps out of the Gorge, you hit some wonderful single track along the top of the cliffs above the Little Miami. Around mile 6 you cross through the Wingo Parking area and onto the mountain bike trails where 4 miles of the Great Scott Mountain Bike Trails await you.

Map

Best Time I know of: 1:01

Trail Scale: 7 of 10 (rocky footing, but no climbs)

The Dirt Dawg 8 Miler-Sat, January 10 at 10am

NEW course for 2010... see image. Out and back with 1.2 mile lolly-pop turnaround.

The first two thirds of a mile has 2 sharp hills with a quick descent bringing you to the mile worth of flat meadow running to allow you to make your passes... then back into old growth forest.

The next few miles included: slippery bridge crossings, stream jumps, rooty footing, and off camber fun.

The first large creek crossing begins the the lolly-pop. It could be low, knee-high, frozen or a combo of both, just expect to get wet! The first section of the loop contains technical narrow single track, open meadow and another freezing creek crossing and the aid station. After the station, your heading back along the course that you just finished.

A perfect January trail run!

Parking: Normandy Elementary School in Centerville. (401 Normandy Ridge Rd)

Trail Scale: 7 of 10

Best Time: 47:03

The Frosty 14-Sat, Febuary 21 at 10a

Frosty Pics, Some More Pics (Thanks Mike) and Results 

Also a GPS Map  (14.35 miles, also shows why I believe in a measuring wheel!)

Another great run at CC. Thanks Gary and Mike (and their helpers). Every 3-4 years we have a clear course (6" of snow and mud is pretty great also) and moderate temps. That's what's great about trail running... you never know what you'll get!

Starting at the visitor center this is an out and back course. The course first leads us toward first the Day Lodge (about mile 3) then to SR73 (mile 7) at which point we turn around and do it all again.

This is a rolling course and 96.49343% single track. Due to the season, weather can be a factor making the Frosty a real challenge.

- The 2007 course was COLD and 4 inches of crusty snow made for sore and floppy ankles!
- 2008 was cold and muddy

Address of Vistor Center: 3980 Clarksville Rd, Waynesville, Warren, Ohio 45068

Trail Scale: 9 out of 10

Best time I know of: 1:35:11

Germantown 7/14 Miler - Saturday March 14 at 9

Results are HERE!

7 Miler

14 Miler

Special thanks to Jen and John for their help and those that submitted "select" times to help us put things back together again.

Mike Mee's Pics!

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One of the more difficult races in the series. Often wet and cool, the trail is fairly fast in the first 4 miles. Once passing the dam the UPs and DOWNs begin to nip at your heels.

Parking is at the Cottonwood, Morning-Glory and Goldfinch parking areas off of 6910 Boomershine Rd.

- 2008 had horrible flooding so an alternate course was divised.  About 60% of the course was rerouted.

Trail Scale: 8 out of 10
Best times I know of: 7m: 53:40, 14m: 1:39:41 (Non Flood Course)

Twin Creek 6 Miler - Saturday, April 11 at 10a

Results and a few Pics.

It was sunny and not too cold.  The course was definitely wet and muddy.  Almost 140 avid runners came to join the fun.  Special thanks to Mike and Cuba for a wonderful race.

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Twin Creek is a little more rugged than her sister Germantown in that her trails are not as 'refined'.

The race starts very quickly with a long sloping downhill through a large meadow. Soon you'll find yourself traveling undulating valleys. Once you reach the Aid Station you are through the hills... until you reach the (*huf*) the last (*huf*) quarter mile. As you struggle up that last hill, you'll see the top of a roof and you'll know your halfway up?!?!

This race was resurrected in 2005 to great applause from all. Thanks Mike! Moved to mid-April for more mud!

Last few years the course has been pretty fast because the mud has been on hiatus... hopefully the 2009 race will be 70F, sunny and pouring down rain!

Did you know that this race used to a have an award for the muddest and bloodest?

Trail Scale: 8 out of 10
Best time I know of: 38:19

George Rogers Clark 5/10k - Wednesday May 6 at 6:30pm

Few pics from 2008.

George Rogers Clark Park is the historical site of the largest Revolutionary War Battle west of the Alleghenies. Run thru the land where Shawnee Chief Tecumseh (1768-1813) was born.

5k record

Brian Klay 18:36

Melinda Leisure (2006) 22:02

10k record

Nathan Hauke 38:51

Zara Rhone 48:19.

The course is 1/2 trail and 1/2 road. MAP to Park

Trail Scale: 5 of 10

Sugarcreek 5/10k-Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30p

Some PICS for 2009... Results are posted.

Race was excellent... Great cool weather and no t-storms. Had some comments about the "easy" creek crossing. Some were thankful and others missed the knee-high rapids.

Thanks to Stacy for another great race!

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Sugarcreek is by far the most popular of the larger Metroparks. I have seen it grow leaps and bounds over the last 8 years. Because of the influx of usage, the Five Rivers MetroParks have made the trails very usable with new bridges, and wide graveled trail beds.

With this said, don't think this is a road race... I know of very few roads with hills like the ones here, but expect good footing and an excellent race. This is a great course for the budding trail runner to experience.

Counter-clockwise on the Green trail to the .2 mile mark and veer to the right onto yellow trail through the meadow. Then it's back on the green and through the woods and down the rocky stairs at mile .8 and over the first creek. At mile 1, you come to Gravel Hill and into the largest old growth trees in the park. At mile 1.4 and down HairPin Hill, you come the second creek crossing. After a few rolling hills to mile 1.8 where you come upon Sugar Creek proper. Starting at mile 2.1, the uphill climb begins and really steepens with Leg Burn Hill at mile 2.5. Rinse and repeat for the 10k course.

(Many ask: "Why not stay on the green trail for the entire race isn't it 3.1 miles?" Nope, the green trail is actually a little less than 3 miles.)

Parking is off Conference Rd.

Trail Scale: 5 out of 10
Best times I know of: 5k: 17:21 10k: 36:09

Possum Creek 5K - Wednesday August 5 at 7p

The Polly Farm house will be open for families for the 2008 season.

See updated route on the picture to the right...

If you pay close attention, you can see the remains of an old 1920s-era amusement park!

Trails Scale: 3 out of 10
Course Record: 17:14

Carriage Hill 5K, Wednesday, July 8 at 7p

This run is a pretty flat run for the trail series, expect a fast time. It stays clear of all roads, but you will run over the board walk for a short part of the run. If running on a rainy night plan on getting muddy and watch for the slippery boards.

This being a July run, the heat could impact you so look for the water station. Overall climbing is about 300 feet, and most of this run is in open area, so the heat is not reduced because of tree cover.

Course record: 17:27

Trail Scale: 3 out of 10

Horse & Man 25k - Saturday August 29 at 8:30a

Thanks for the kind comments. The results.

Putting on the race has been an interesting undertaking. From "efforting" to get the park involved, the local mountain bike community, and designing a course that was challenging and long.

I feared that the course was a little "dangerous" and it showed with all the falls by the hardcore trail runners.

Hopefully, next year we can return...

The inspriration (and the name) comes from long time trail runner Gary Hemmelgarn.

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New for the 2009 season.

This is a 15.5 mile lolly-pop.

Starting at the campground you'll travel through the tamest 3.1 miles in the course to the first aid station at Ward Rd. Be sure to stock up on liquid, 5+ miles to next aid!

From there you'll travel along the lake for 2.7 miles. This section is the most scenic with awe-inspiring views of the lake. Also the course gets much more difficult with the hills.

The turn-around loop is 3.4 miles with the 2nd aid station perched at the top. After the loop, your heading back on the 2.7 mile stretch at the Ward Rd aid station and 3.1 to the finish!

The course is the most technical of all the races and will be a real challenge.

Parking is at: 9000 Center Rd, New Burlington, Ohio

Best Times I know of: 2:12:25

Trail scale: 9.5 of 10

Taylorsville 8/16 Milers - Saturday, October 10 at 9:30a

Pics

Let me know if you what a highres version. Don't forget to tell me what picture numbers!

The 2009 season brings 2 distances of 8 miles (2 loops) and 16 miles (4 loops).

It's got most of the trail trimmings: dirt with a side of roots. It's a fairly flat course on 100% trails.

Best Times I know of:

6m : 0:39:40, 12m: 1:24:00, 18m: 2:14:03 (6/12/18)

Trail Scale: 5 out of 10

2009 Series-Rules and Regs

Rules and Regs:  (Verify your signup in last blog)

• Be an ORRRC member -- Membership Info
• Use this link to Sign Up before 5/31/2009, include your name, gender, age on 5/1/09.
• Complete 7 of the 12 races, only your top 7 finishes count in the series.
  
• For the 2009 season, there will be no Overall points just Age Group Competion.
• A One Time 10 Point Bonus for being a non-running volunteer at one of the races. This bonus counts as a completed race for the 7 needed. For non-runner volunteers (after the initial 10 bonus) ... all races that you volunteer at are marked as a completed race with 1 point toward the 7 needed to finish the series. (Yes, it IS possible to complete the series without ever running a race---if you support your fellow Dawgs at 7 or more races.)  You Must Email Me for volunteer points.
• In case of tie, head to head times win.

Position Points

1st 10

2nd 9

3rd 8

4th 7

5th 6

6th 5

7th 4

8th 3

9th 2

10th and over 1

Age groups: 10 & under, 11-14, 15-17, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+

FAQs:

Whats the deal with the volunteer points?

I would like to promote volunteerism. After all, this is a 100% all volunteers group. Plus, if you are injured you can still help out and get points. The last thing I want to do is to hinder someone from supporting the series.

What's the deal with me missing from the results sometimes? The biggest culprit is the name differences. You signed up one way and the folks doing the results at the race have you another way. It's by FAR the worst part of this job and is the most time consuming. Jeff S. Mcpherson, Jeffery Macphearson, Jeff McPherson... it'll drive you nuts. Please email me if your missing.

Why do I have to sign up before May? The results are based on the competition between the Dawgs. If I add someone in August, and they were in the Jan and/or Feb races I would have to completely redo the results for every race. (Approx 2 hours per race). Not only that, it's unfair to the Dawgs that thought that they were in 3rd place and after I add you, they are in 5th.