With its cooler temperatures and colorful scenery, runners know there’s no better time to lace up their sneakers and head outside than autumn.
Don’t waste these golden days on a tired route. Ohio runners are blessed with a wide variety of running locations. Finding the one you prefer most, however, can be tricky. To choose a route that best fits your needs, check out the following websites:
SeriousRunning.com (www.seriousrunning.com) ranks Ohio’s 32 best running locations, from local haunts like John Bryan State Park to northen locations like West Branch in Ravenna, Ohio. Click on each location to find trail lengths, directions and a map.
MiamiValleyTrails.org (www.miamivalleytrails.org) provides a look at local trails, which are organized by county. Select a trail to view its background, maps, trail photos and other relevant information (distances, restroom availability, landmarks, etc.).
The Five Rivers Metroparks website (www.metroparks.org/GetOutside/RegionalTrails.aspx) houses information on trails within Montgomery County, as well as a link to The Recreation Trails in Montgomery County, created through a Metroparks/Miami Conservancy partnership.
BONUS: If you’re more interested in running a race in the next several months, here are a few dates that might interest you:
Oct. 2: Racing for Rylee, Piqua. 5K and 1-mile fun run.
Oct. 9: TEE Red Devil Roundup, Tipp City. 5K.
Oct. 10: Dayton River Corridor Classic, Dayton. Half marathon, 5K.
Oct. 16: Harvest Run for Hunger, Springfield. 5K, 1-mile fun run and 1-mile walk.
Oct. 16: Pace for Peace, Yellow Springs. 5K run/walk.
Oct. 26: Ghost N Goblin 5K Run/Walk, Dayton. 5K.
Oct. 29: Kettering Rotary’s Run for your Life, Kettering. 5K.
Nov. 6: Alex Ritchie Memorial 5K, Huber Heights. 5K run/walk.
Nov. 6: Free to Breathe Lung Cancer 5K, Dayton. 5K run, 1-mile walk.
To view more running events or register for an event, visit www.runningintheusa.com or www.ohiorunner.com.