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Health & Fitness

Run Your City in 2012: A Mentor Patch Exclusive

Matt Borcas gives you an inside look at the upcoming road racing season.

In the standout track from his critically acclaimed mixtape “Money”, Cleveland rapper Chip Tha Ripper audaciously declares, “Ain’t nobody [messing] with me/I run my city daddy,” a sentiment I share with friends and family members upon finishing a race.  Indeed, “I run my city” is a great line, as it has stirred the denizens in Northeast Ohio to lace up their shoes and run. 

Between Achilles Running Shop’s relocation, Second Sole’s emergence, and the cornucopia of local road races, Mentor is definitely in the midst of a running renaissance.  However, sifting through the clutter-heavy race calendar demands patience, grit, and time that could be spent at FroYo Twist; which is why Mentor Patch Editor Jason Lea slipped me an unmarked envelope of cash to write this post—a comprehensive guide to the 440’s summer racing series. 


Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half-Marathon,
and 10k

Find out what's happening in Mentorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Date: May 20

Where: Erieside Avenue and West 3rd, near Cleveland Browns Stadium

Find out what's happening in Mentorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Skinny: As the longest-running marathon in Ohio, a certain prestige comes with racing the Cleveland Marathon, and to a lesser extent, the half-marathon and 10k.  A feverish crowd congregates along the course, easing the pains of runners as they weather the race’s final miles.  The 26.3 Mile Rock Party, systematically positioned near the finish line, is a guaranteed crazy time, though I cannot share any stories from the event—what happens at the Cleveland Marathon stays at the Cleveland Marathon.  Also, if you held any reservations about the purity of the drinking water, the race’s website puts these fears to rest: “The water we use on the course on race weekend is from hydrants that are flushed twice before race day.”  The health and fitness expo is essential if you’re into pintsized jam samples.

Registration: http://www.clevelandmarathon.com/Registration/

 

Father Kline Memorial 5k Run

Date: May 26

Where: Veteran’s Park

The Skinny: The inaugural Father Kline Memorial 5k is the most anticipated race to hit Mentor in some time, mainly due to its location.  Historically, Veteran’s Park has been a proving ground for up-and-coming runners who wish to assert their presence on the local racing scene.  An added bonus is the park’s exquisiteness, which is sure to conjure up images of Walden Pond as described by Thoreau.  The race pays homage to St. John Vianney’s late, great founding pastor, Father Robert Kline, whose name previously carried more cachet in the world of duck racing than road racing.

Registration: https://www.achillesracing.com/Race.aspx?RaceID=475

 

Lake Health Distance Classic Half-Marathon
and 5k

Date: June 10

Where: TriPoint Medical Center

The Skinny: A mere four years old, the Lake Health Distance Classic has firmly established itself as one of Northeast Ohio’s premier road races, boasting a strong lineage of former champions, particularly in the 5k.  Neither course is designed for setting personal records—Concord’s rolling hills keep the times honest.  Expect Greater Mentor’s foremost talent to attend for the long money offered to the first five placers ($500, $400, $300, etc.).  Sadly, no prize money is associated with the 5k.

Registration: http://www.northeastrunningclub.org/LakeHealth/Registration.aspx

 

Run for the Hills 10k

Date: June 24

Where: Roemisch Field

The Skinny: An online review from last year’s Run for the Hills states, “A crazy big hill on mile 3.  Not as fancy as some races I have been to, but there was so much human interaction.  I will totally run this race again.”  Totally! I find this appraisal tremendously accurate; everyone curses the undulating course as they are running, but once they’ve had the chance to cool down and devour inordinate slices of watermelon from the post-race spread, they laud the well-organized event and forget the toll it took on their quads—until the next morning.

Registration: http://www.active.com/running/willoughby-hills-ohio-oh/willoughby-hills-lions-run-for-the-hills-2012

 

Johnnycake Jog 5-Miler

Date: July 15

Where: Lake County Fairgrounds

The Skinny: The Jog, to use the slogan of a more obscure sporting event, is a tradition unlike any other.  Often a scorcher; the sun, beating down on the asphalt of Mentor Avenue, tends to separate the contenders from the pretenders rather quickly.  A hallmark of the Jog is its tee shirt, which always seems to polarize competitors— you’d think every participant was a fashionista by the way they nitpick the shirt.  But I guess that comes with the territory of being Ohio’s Finest Five-Miler.

Registration: http://www.johnnycakejog.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/entry2012.jpg

 

Friday Night Lights 5k

Date: July 20

Where: The JTO    

The Skinny: Has it already been two years since Friday Night Lights burst onto the scene?  Starting and finishing with a lap on the track, FNL boasts the most spectator-friendly course around.  The under-the-lights setup begets a charming
nostalgia, as the older crowd can relive their athletic glory days in front of a frenzied group of fans.  Toth’s Place is hosting the after-party, so things might get a little out-of-hand!

Registration: http://www.active.com/running/mentor-oh/friday-night-lights-5k-2012

You can read Matt Borcas's blog, Scrawl So Hard, at mattborcas.wordpress.com.

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