The competitive, timed race started at 8:45a. After about 3 minutes, I turned around and saw the 16,000 or so walkers and realized that there was probably 3,000 "I'm-gonna-run-this-thing-without-training" folks and decided that we should get going. I was pacing at 12:30/mile for two of my team members and we decided to have our own 8:50a start time. Other people had already decided to do the same, so it was relatively crowded. I can't imagine what beginning runners must have felt back in "the pack".

The first uphill is brutal for beginners. It's at the part in the race where you feel like you are the master of your domain (first 1/2 mile). I made sure that I tried to help my team members reign in their inner Usain Bolt, and we Chi-ran the hill.

After that, the downtown portion of the run is quite nice. 5th street is wide and was closed. There was a live band on the Square, and all was well with the world. As we rounded the corner of Eggleston onto Pete Rose Way, we came to the first (and as it turned out ONLY) water stop. Not only was it poorly manned, the supply of water was minimal. I felt for my wife and the rest of our team who were back in the masses and would not get any water.

We mounted the ascent to the peak of the Purple People Bridge, descended and rounded the corner to run past Newport-on-the-Levee, and started the final uphill of the race: the Taylor-Southgate bridge. It's a beautiful run, going over two bridges. However, the beginners were getting pummeled with long, steady inclines.

I slowed to help one of the two team mates to reach the peak of the bridge and fight back some nausea (successfully...), then sprinted up to finish with the other. He did a great job and, in his first 5K, finished with a time just under 40 minutes.

I turned, ran back to the other team mate, and helped to motivate her to a 43 minute finish.

There are few things that I would do differently, other than enter the competitive race. At the least, it would have thinned out the traffic on the course.

Walking around the nearly-empty expo...bummer.


My decision to pace for my trainees. Best...decision...ever. I had a wonderful friend do that for me on my first 5K and my first 10K. This was a favored returned.


This is the biggest, and one of the most-organized, charity run/walks in Cincinnati. The only improvements I'd make are:
(1) require expo vendors to stay longer. Many people were excited to talk/shop/sample, but everyone was gone.
(2) Have a separate non-competitive run start instead of with the walkers.
(3) Add one or two more water stops. Most charity races have one at each mile...they should do the same.