Oil Creek FA 50K Final Update

6 months ago many of enjoyed the fall colors of Oil Creek State Park and 6 months from now, many of us will head out for another or for our 1st OC buckle!

This Saturday, the Oil Creek FA 50K is all set to go. Here are some details/updates:

Luckily, not much, if any, snow is scheduled for the rest of the week and temps are hovering in the mid to upper 20s. Hopefully, that'll harden up the trail a bit from the warmth of the 30s over the past weekend and the rain. Right now, it's looking mighty fine for running on Saturday. Be prepared for plenty of wet feet, muddy trails, and slushy snow. A 2nd or 3rd pair of socks wouldn't be a bad idea with plenty of lube already on. Weather Forecast

Start Time: 7am from the Titusville Middle School parking lot, the same location as race headquarters on race weekend this October

Google Map to TMS

This is a FA (fat-ass) and it will stay true to that. "No Fees, No Awards, No Aid, No Wimps" Carry what you need and be prepared. For me, I plan on wearing my Nathan pack filled with water and some Heed electrolyte powder to make up drinks along the way. I may drop some aid at Petroleum Center, 1/2 way around the 50K loop. There is a pavilion there that serves as a very patriotic aid station during the Oil Creek Trail Runs. For those of you definitely making the whole trek around, this is an option. Leave things there or stash/hide at your own risk. Here is a Google link to Petroleum Center...easy to stop en route to Titusville if approaching Titusville from the south.

FA defined

Oil Creek Course Description

Oil Creek Home Page

Recommendation: let's all stay together at least until we get to the trail. There are a few miles of asphalt in the beginning and those unfamiliar with the area may not find the trail if left behind. Once on the trail, just follow those yellow blazes. Leave nothing but footprints and take plenty of pictures!

Afterwards, please join us at Perk Place Cafe. Perk Place's owner was both a 50K runner in 2009 and sponsor of the event so please stop by, say "Hi!" and support this local restaurant! Link to Perk Place

Below is a message from the Oil Creek Trail Runs Race Director, Tom Jennings, that he sent out last week. Please review it again and thanks in advance for your cooperation and working together this weekend:

LIGHTING / DISTANCE - With this deep snow I am pretty sure I will have to take the hikers at 10 AM on one or two loops of the northern 5 mile loop between Jersey Bridge and Boughton acid works / suspension bridge. We can do the 5 mile loop in reverse after doing it once if we want more "fun." :-) But I've been in the park nearly every weekend the past two winters either taking GPS readings or training for the McNaughton Park 150 miler, and the trails can vary between a few inches deep and knee deep depending upon the slope you are on. It is typically a hike, not a run, in these conditions. The past two winters it appeared as though I was the only person in the park as the trails were pristine and I had to do trailblazing all of the time, but the interest in the race has gotten a few more folks out on the trails this winter and they might not be quite as bad. But they will still be very challenging with the limited traction in deep snow.

Therefore, those of you attempting the 50K, if we don't have a thaw between now and 2/27 and the snow is this deep and slow going, be prepared to do a lot of hiking and have lighting in case you go longer than you expected. It is very tiring to be trailblazing in loose and deep snow so you may not be able to go as far as you thought. Be prepared to have to return in the direction you came to or be with a group knowledgeable on how to get back the shortest route in case you tire out. It normally takes me 6.5 to 7.5 hours to make a loop in good weather and when I'm in 100 mile race shape. So in this deep snow, I suspect I could not even make the loop even once in that deep of snow, or if I did, it would take me a LONG time. Even the bike path is deep in snow and that is difficult to go miles on that... I've done it before and can tell you this from personal experience the past two winters.

Elite and local runners - please share your experience on the trail in the past few weeks so people are aware of the conditions.

If you have snowshoes they may be more appropriate than trail shoes / spikes if we don't get a thaw.

SAFETY - I recommend traveling in groups. There are still wild animals in the park so be mindful of that as well. Be careful as an emergency rescue will be next to impossible as the bike path is impassable in winter, as well as Miller Farm Rd is now maintained in the winter, it is the road that separates the north and southern half of the park. Bring a whistle just in case. Have a cell phone in case there is an emergency and one of your group members can get to a high point where there is cell phone service.

BATHROOMS (or lack thereof) - In addition, unless I rent a portable toilet, there will be no toilets in the northern half of the park. Wolfkiel Run bathroom near Miller Farm Rd is the northern-most restroom that will be available as the porta-john at the Jersey Bridge parking lot near Drake Well Museum and Titusville is removed during the winter. Plan accordingly with toilet paper / wipes. There are no restrooms at the middle school either. So before you arrive in the morning, you may want to stop at McDonalds or the like to use their restroom and get a hot chocolate. If people reply and let me know there thoughts, I could rent a portable toilet for the Jersey Bridge parking lot at the northern end of the park and about 1.25 miles from the middle school.

XC Ski trails - reminder to stay off to the side of the red loop XC ski trail on the east side of the park, it is the first several miles just north of Petroleum Center. You will see the ski marks and the red tree markings. A lot of work goes into these XC ski trails, please don't ruin them by running in their ski tracks.

Have a great rest of the week, everyone, eat some pasta on Thursday and Friday, and come out ready to have FUN!!!! When the fun stops, head on over to Perk Place!

Questions? Contact Nick

CVNP Trail Management Plan

The National Park Service is pleased to announce the kick-off of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Trail Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.

Attend one of the Public Open Houses hosted by the National Park Service to provide an overview of the plan process, identify issues, and gather ideas for the Trail Plan. All meetings will be held at Happy Days Lodge. Each meeting will be identical in objectives and format. Future public meetings will be in Summer 2010, Winter 2011 and Fall 2011.

Thursday, February 11, 2010 Time: 2:00 - 4:00 pm & 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Saturday, February 13, 2010 Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

For other ways to submit your public comments and more information about the planning process, go to http://parkplanning.nps.gov/cuva and click on "Trail Maintenance Plan." To receive newsletters on the Trail Management Plan, please contact Lynn Garrity, Cuyahoga Valley National Park's Trail Planner, at (440) 343-4803 or lynn_garrity@nps.gov.

Winter Buckeye Trail FA 50K

Nearly 20 runners braved the frigid temperatures today (10-15 degrees) to participate in this year’s edition of the Winter BT50K FA.  This low key fun run took place on the Buckeye Trail and followed the summer BT50K course from the Oak Grove Pavilion in Brecksville to Pine Lane and back.

Here are the “results” based on what everyone marked down on the finishing sheet following the run.  If you have any more information that should be added, please e-mail Brian at brian@neotrail.org

Kevin Martin (50K – 6:08)
David Peterman (50K – 6:13)
Brian Philpot (50K – 6:20)
Terri Lemke (50K – 7:20)
Michael Kazar (50K – 7:50)
Tanya Cady (23 miles – 5:30)
Dave Janosko (50K – 8:24)
Brian Musick (50K – 8:26)
Mark Anson (50K – 8:26)
Bob Combs (50K)
Jim Harris (13 hrs, 50 min)
Kim Boner (19 miles)
Mike George (19 miles)
Lloyd Thomas (Snowville & back)
Todd Hanks (finished at 9:12am)
Daniel Bellinger
Roy Heger
Sam Kragalott
Melissa Terwilliger
Corey Volz
Bill Wagner
Danielle West

2010 Winter Run for Regis Results

This past Sunday the Annual Winter Run for Regis Fun Run took place in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  Several NEO Trail Club members participated and achieved notable results:

50K
Lloyd Thomas – 5:21:41  (6th overall)
David Peterman – 5:43:35  (11th overall)
Ron Ross – 6:29:35  (28th overall)
Dan Bellinger – 6:31:57  (31st overall)
TJ Hawk – 6:59:47  (42nd overall)
Roy Heger – 6:59:48  (43rd overall)
Paul Lefelholz – 8:49:50  (71st overall)
Mike Halkovich – 9:20:19  (72nd overall)

Marathon
Bob Clark – 5:01:37  (2nd overall)

Other Distances
Doug Delahanty – 4:00:18  (18 miles)
Bruce McMurray – 4:32:36  (18 miles)
Nick Billock – 2:47:50  (13 miles)
Kurt Osadchuk – 2:52:28  (13 miles)
Teresa McCombs – 3:12:43  (13 miles)
Sam Kragalott – 3:19:13  (13 miles)
Peter Cahoon – 3:26:43  (13 miles)
Kim Love-Ottobre – 3:32:10  (13 miles)

For complete results – CLICK HERE

For photos – CLICK HERE

January 2010 WRTR Newsletter

The January 2010 Western Reserve Trail Running (WRTR) Newsletter has been published!

Highlights this month:

1. Burning River 100 selection as 2010 USATF 100-Mile Trail Championship and registration update

2. Gear Spotlight: Spring 2010 Trail Shoes

3. Local Trail Runner Spotlight: Badwater 135 and Western States 100 finisher Marie Bartoletti

4. Fools 50K and Bobcat Trail Marathon race registration updates

5. 'NEW' XTERRA Trail Race Series

6. Buckeye Trail 50K Update

View the online newsletter here.

Recover from the Holiday's 50K

Several NEO Trail members (Cam Baker, Bob Combs, Jim Harris, Andy MacGinnitie, Rich Vrboncic, & John DeWalt) participated in the 7th Annual Recover from the Holiday's 50K run yesterday. This fun run is organized each year by Rick Freeman, race director for the Laurel Highlands Ultra, and takes place in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania.

Click Here to view complete results and a recap of the run.

Freedom Park Ultra Recap

Click Here to read Mike Keller's recap from this year's Freedom Park New Year's Ultra.

Click Here for final results.

Freedom Park New Year's Ultra

NEO Trail Club member Mike Keller is currently running the 2nd Annual Freedom Park New Year's Ultra Run in Morganton, North Carolina with some others from Ohio. At 12:00 pm today Mike texted that he was 18 miles in so far. Good luck Mike and Team Ohio!

Save the LHHT bridge!

The Laurel Highlands Hiking/Snowmobile Bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike has been part of the current trail system for more than 30 years and is critical for the trail system to be complete. This bridge has been closed indefinitely due to structural deficiencies resulting in unsafe conditions.

Please support the repair or replacement of this bridge so outdoor enthusiasts may continue to have full use of the trails. The closure of this bridge limits tourism and greatly impacts local businesses and teh economy in this region.

This petition will be sent to the DCNR, Governor Rendell, Richard A. Kasunic (Senator), Mike Reese (Representative) and Carl Walker Metzgar (Representative).

Click Here To Sign The Petition

Merry Christmas!

The NEO Trail Club would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a very happy new year!

Huff 50K Trail Run

This past Saturday NEO Trail member Dan Bellinger finished the Huff 50K Trail Run in Huntington, Indiana with a time of 5:46:01, earning him 2nd in his age group. Congrats Dan!

Time to Renew Your Membership!

Just a reminder that your 2010 club membership fee is now due if you have not already paid. Click here to view a list of current members and to see if your membership has expired. If you do not renew your membership by February 1st your name will be removed from this list.

To renew your membership, please mail a $15 check addressed to "NEO Trail Club" to the following address:
1959 Lexington Ave.
Warren, Ohio 44485

You only need to complete an application form if you are a new member or if your information has recently changed. Also, if another person in the same household would like to join the club, it is $5 extra per person per year.

MMT 100 Lottery

The 2010 Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 lottery took place today and 180 individuals were selected through a random process involving the closing number of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Click here to read about this fair and interesting system that the Virginia Happy Trails Club uses to determine its starting field.

Of the lucky (or unlucky - however you look at it!) 180 runners selected today, there were 4 N.E. Ohio Trail Club members in this group - Jim Harris, Nick Billock, Tanya Cady, and Dave Peterman. Now, individuals out of this group of 180 must mail in their check by January 4th to become official. If not, individuals on the waiting list will take their spot.

4th Annual URINEO FA

The 4th Annual URINEO FA took place in Mill Creek Park today, with many N.E. Ohio Trail Club members in attendance. Unfortunately there was no snow for everyone to write their name in, but a good time was had by all! Click Here to view final results and reports.

2010 Dirty Dog 10K

The date for the 2010 Dirty Dog 10K has been set for Saturday, February 6th. The race application and more information can be found by clicking here.

Slim Pickins FA 100K

Yesterday the N.E. Ohio Trail Club hosted its 4th Annual Slim Pickins FA on the Laurel Highlands Trail in S.W. Pennsylvania. This free, low-key run is open only to club members and allows everyone the opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled weekend of trails together. This year's official distance was 100K but since this is an FA run everyone is allowed to run as much or as little as they wish.

This year the weather was unusually warm (low 50's for a high) and there were a record number of individuals who finished the entire distance.

Here are the complete results:

100K

Cam Baker

Bob Combs
Mike Dobies

Jim Harris

Brian Musick

-

40 Miles

Kim Love-Ottobre

Bruce McMurray

-

50K

Dan Belinger

Tanya Cady

Wilma Depiore

John DeWalt

Mike Halkovich

Mike Keller

Dan Kuzma
Joe Novicky

-

Click Here to view photos from the weekend

New YouTube Channel

Click Here to check out our new channel on YouTube.

On this page you'll be able to view videos that we upload from our races and fun runs, as well as other videos that we choose to call our "favorites". Enjoy!

Bobcat Trail Marathon

This past weekend several NEO Trail members participated in the 1st Annual Bobcat Trail Marathon which was run through Burr Oak State Park in Glouster, Ohio. Many said that this course was pretty challenging and had great scenery.

Mark Anson - 5:16:35
Courtney Baker - 6:08:28
Dan Bellinger - 5:03:00
Nick Billock - 5:37:17
Bruce McMurray - 6:01:04
Kim Love-Ottobre - 7:24:53

Brandon Russell - 5:11:09

For complete results - CLICK HERE

Blog report:

Kim Love-Ottobre

Human Body Meant to Run?

Click Here to read an article from the NY Times....