Welcome!

• Results are HERE! Look on right side bar... (Updated 5/13/08)
  
• May 18: Orienteering at Grant Park! Great Fun... See trails as you have never seen them before.
  
• New race on Aug 30th to replace the 8up 8 down. Check out the Crazy Turkey 9 Miler below for race map and updated description.
  

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About this Blog
This blog was setup to assist fellow runners in getting info for the ORRRC Dirty Dozen Trail Series. On these pages, you'll find course descriptions and other little tidbits.

On the right of the page you'll find the current training and race schedules. Below you will find specific race descriptions and maps. Please, be aware that I am not the race director for many of these races and I have never attended the Wednesday races due to church obligations. However, I will gladly pass on any comments or suggestions to the proper race directors.

THE SERIES
In 2008, we are continuing with the Dirty Dozen! 12 races... one per month.
No cost for participation in the series, however everyone is expected to be ORRRC members. See http://www.orrrc.org/membership.html for membership information and benefits!

The Cold, Muddy, and Dusty Facts:
- These are not road races
- Sign-up before 5/1/08
- You may get muddy
- Get your points - See the Rules and Regs blog entry
- Top 3 Overall and Top 3 Age Groups "awards" at the end of year

Final sign-up for the series is 5/1/2008. You can email your sign-up to trailsohio@gmail.com (Include your name, gender, Age as of 5/1/08, email address and shirt size.) There will be sign-up sheets at the first 4 races.

WEEKEND RUNS
Most weekends there are training runs at the area parks on Saturday Mornings or Sunday Evenings. Please try to be on-time since we start promptly understanding that many folks are on tight schedules. Weekly emails are sent updating everyone of these runs.

All skill levels attend so don't worry about being a pup!
Rain, mud, snow, ice, heat won't stop us so if your thinking the dawgs ain't showing because of weather conditions... your mistaken.

Happy Trails!

2008 Rules and Regs...

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.
• Why can't you spell my name right?! I am a runner... see second bullet. I do the best I can. :)



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Rules and Regs:

• Sign Up before 5/1/2008.
• Compete in 7 of the 12 races, only your top 7 finishes count in the series.
• 3 Point Bonus for these races: Frosty 14, Germantown 14, Taylorsville 18, and John Bryant 20k.
• 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. (You Must Email Me for these points)
  
• 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 these points)

Position	Points
1st	20
2nd	17
3rd	14
4th	12
5th	10
6th	8
7th	5
8th	4
9th	3
10th	2
11th and over	1

The Not Quite 5 - Saturday, January 19 at 10am

Race complete for the 2008 season! Next up... the Frosty 14... see next blog entry!

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Race Description:
"Hey, that wasn't a 5 mile race!".

In this case, your correct since I have it mapped out to be a stout 4.93 miles.

Plenty of single track, with 5 creek crossings (expect to get wet!), and challenging trails. Don't expect a great time here even though it's fairly flat. The snow may add another surprise or two.

- The 2007 race was muddy with high 30s temps... which made the course muddy.
- The 2008 race was below 15... which made the course rock hard but not icy due to dry conditions.

Parking is at Forest Field (2130 E Centerville Station Rd, Dayton, OH) on a chilly Saturday Morning in January.

Trail Scale: 6 out of 10

The Frosty 14 - Saturday, February 23 at 10am

Another Frosty complete! Weather was slightly better... overall times were about 7 minutes faster than last year, but it surely lived up to it's name!

Hope everyone had a great time. Be safe and see you at the Germantown races next month!

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Rumor has it that this race used to be a single loop around the southern half of the lake. A rope bridge is now out of commission forcing a new course. After running around the lake a few times, I prefer this new course! No Roads, more of a pure trail run in the throws of winter.

Starting at the day lodge (Nice and warm, plus coffee!), the course first leads us toward SR73 at which point we turn around at the aid station and returns to the day lodge, your not done yet... only 6 miles to go... head off toward the Visitor Center to a small loop turn around and head back to the lodge at which point the coffee awaits.

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!

Trail Scale: 9 out of 10

Germantown 7/14 Miler - Saturday March 22 at 9am

This one lived up to it's billing! Flooding forced an alternate course wth a little more road (Course estimates ranged from 6.89 to 7.1 miles). Thanks to all who came out! You can wear the Dirt Dawg name with pride!

Makes you wonder what the Twin Creek race has in store for us?

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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 3 miles. Once passing the first aid station the UPs and DOWNs begin to nip at your heels.

On the map, I have marked the course as it has been ran the last few years which is to route off the Orange Loop onto the Yellow at intersection 9 due to 'shoe sucking mud' near the river. However, depending on the dryness of the Orange trail the Race Director may route the course to the right down toward the river adding the hardest uphill (YAH!) on the course.

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

Trail Scale: 8 out of 10

Twin Creek 6 Miler - Saturday, April 12 at 10am

Complete! Quote from one of the runners:

"Just wanted to tell you this was our first year running the Twin Creek 10K. I have been running races since 1979 and have probably run in more than 300 "road" races.

This was more fun than I've ever had in a race! Can't wait for next year!"

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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 2008 race will be 70F, sunny and pouring down rain!

Trail Scale: 8 out of 10

George Rogers Clark 5/10k - Wednesday May 7 at 6pm

In the books!

Thanks Larry!

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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.

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

Sugarcreek 5/10k-Wednesday, June 4 at 6:30pm

NEW COURSE FOR 2008!

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 another great race for the budding trail runner to experience.

NEW course for 2008! Why, you ask? Safety! FLYING down that first hill with 210+ runners and the bottleneck it creates. Personally, I like this new course a little better.

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.)

• 2007 saw the race grow to over 210 runners!

Parking is off Conference Rd.

Trail Scale: 5 out of 10

Carriage Hill 5K, Wednesday, July 9 at 6:30pm

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.

Trail Scale: 3 out of 10

Possum Creek 5K - Wednesday August 6 at 7pm

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

The 2006 course was good,
The 2007 course was even better,
The 2008 course promises to continue the trend!

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

Crazy Turkey 9 Miler - Saturday, August 30 at 9am

We have lost access the last year's course at Grant Park (8Up 8Down), so I had to scramble for a replacement and the east side of Taylorsville MetroPark is the answer. Let me cut to the chase: This is the toughest course in the series... starting with the parking arrangements to the course itself.

PARKING: Please car pool if possible or bring a bike to ride on the road to the starting line. There is plenty of parking on the west side of the park, however it's over a mile to get to the registration. I will have a few folks 'busing' folks to the start line and back after the race. There a 30 car lot next to the registration and start however this just isn't enough.

Course: Single Track and rollin' climbs... (not hills). The course is 3 loops. All three loops go clockwise on the Orange trail... the first loop cuts the loop short by running up the yellow trail (approx. 2 miles). The next two loops are the full Orange circuit of 3.5 miles. I'll get exact mileage in a few weeks.

Main features: About 1000' of climb and 1000' of decline (about 104 floors for you road runners), off camber trails, a rock slide, a ravine with 60+ nasty stone steps, roots and rocks, bitting flies, and a crazy turkey.

Trail Scale: 9 out of 10

Taylorsville 6/12/18 Milers - Saturday, October 11 at 9:30am

I thought for years this was barely a "trail race"... I was told there was too much pavement so I avoid this race. Boy was this incorrect. I am adding this side of Taylorsville to my training!

It's got most of the trail trimmings: dirt with a side of roots. It's a fairly flat course with about a little less than .5 miles of bikepath per loop.

You got to love a race that offers 3 differing distances...


Trail Scale: 6 out of 10

Narrows Reserve 5 Miler - Sunday, November 2 at 1pm

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

John Bryan 20k, Saturday, December 6 at 10am

This trail run is flat to rolling... except for a climb out of the gorge at mile 3 or so. What makes this baby stand out are the twists and turns through the hairpins of the mountain bike trails. Plus the scenery is outstanding.

First 2 miles of this race is straight and fast down the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati trail until you hit the 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: Great Scott, Powerline and Abracadabra (You are constantly seeing the other runners even though they may be three or four minutes in front or behind you! It's like "magic").

Unless there is ice, expect wonderful footing due to the excellent trail upkeep by the MTB volunteers!

Trail Scale: 8 of 10 (The turns, turns, turns!)

2008 Trail Series Signups as of 04/26/08

Aaron Rourke	Heidi Franck	Mike Wells
Abigail McDaniel	Heidi Vaughan	Mitzi Henscheid
Adam Rowe	Holly Carson	Nathan Hauke
Allen Watts	Holly Fiora	Nikki Rogers
Andrew Sparks	Ingrid Honzak	Noelle Bartlam
Andy Helmick	Iris Mirelez	Paul Hoffman
Andy McGarvey	Jake Russ	Paul Pardi
Ann-Marie Williams	James Kniesly	Pete Reynolds
Barb Belluardo	Jennifer Larew	Pete Shafer
Beth Whitehead	Jennifer Montgomery	Randy Bukas
Betty Bassett	Jerry Swartzel	Robert Burke
Bob Covington	Jim Borgstrom	Rodney Halloway
Bob Henscheid	Jocelyn Piccone	Ronald Brower
Brian Snell	Joe Garland	Roy Jones
Brittney Franks	Joe Must	Russell Blanck
Bryan Bassett	Joe Smindak	Ruth Kohstall
Buckley O'day	Joey Stamper	Sandi Wethington
Butch Bolton	John Belluardo	Sarah Tebbens
Caleb Arnold	John Blackford	Scott Hala
Cassie Johnson	John Comeskey	Shalini McGarvey
Cassie R	John Grilliot	Stacy Silverstein
Chris Bassett	John Russ	Stevan Vaughan
Chris Lockhart	Jon Bradfield	Steve Jurick
Christine Tieman	Juanita Vordenberg	Steve Vordenberg
Christoph Cikraji	Julianne Weckel	Sue St. Cyr
Chuck Eweglarski	Julie Eisnaugle	Susan Harris
Chuck Reams	Karen Hamilton	Susanne Davis
Chuck Sherman	Kathleen Tiller	Tammy Swartzel
Collin Matt	Kathy Andrews	Teresa Borros-Kearney
Craig Slone	Kathy Shafer	Teri Ewert
Crystal Evans	Katie Must	Tim McDaniel
Cuba Allen	Keith Montgomery	Tim Schroeder
Dan Tieman	Kenneth J. Seidl	Tim Snyder
Dana Matt	Kevin Yost	Tom Glasscock
Daniel Crowe	Kirk Jones	Tom Tiller
David Apple	Kristina Ryder	Wade Siegal
David Bushroe	Larry Berna	Wesley Gregg
David N. Clark	Larry Gray	Zach Niezgodski
David Small	Larry Sunshein
Deb Marr	Lenna Kirby
Denise Mehall	Linda Barhorst
Doug Hamilton	Margaret Hurley
Doug Moore	Margaret Westlake
Evan James	Mark Niezgodski
Garry Blair	Matt Lewis
Gary Hemmelgarn	Matthew Connor
Gary Smith	Meagan Niezgodski
Greg Bell	Michael Huizingh
Greg Edwards	Michael Mee
Greg McCormick	Mike Allen
Harold O'Connell	Mike Browning