DiscoveringOhio

Fun before the Feast: Cincinnati's 105th Thanksgiving Day Race

Thanksgiving is a holiday meant for spending time with family, sharing in long-held traditions, and of course, feasting. However, if you’re looking for a way to offset the exorbitant amount of calories you will most likely consume this holiday, an excellent solution is to take part in one of Ohio’s many Thanksgiving Day Races!

This year, my family and I are starting a new tradition, by participating in Cincinnati’s 105^th annual Thanksgiving Day Race. The race has been an integral part of many Cincinnatians’ Thanksgivings for more than a century, though it has undergone an array of changes over its lifespan. This year, the 10K (6.2 miles) race starts and ends at Paul Brown Stadium, and passes many important Cincinnati monuments, including Fountain Square, Horseshoe Casino, the beautifully renovated Over the Rhine neighborhood, and the Bengal’s practice field, among many others. The race will kick off at 9:00am sharp, and participants are encouraged to sign in and be ready about an hour beforehand.

The Thanksgiving Day Race is also a great opportunity to give back to many of Cincinnati’s charities, including the Ronald McDonald House, Girls on the Run, UC Barrett Cancer Center, Neediest Kids of All, Literacy Network, Accounting for Kids, Roger Cacon High School, Clark Cougars, Kilgour Elementary School, Melanoma Know More, Goodwill, and the Alzheimer’s Association: Greater Cincinnati Chapter. Donations beyond the race fee are graciously accepted on the race’s website.

 

If running is not quite your forte, but you still want to participate in the event, don’t worry. The race also has a walking option so that families, younger children, or those who simply want to enjoy a brisk morning walk, can still join in on the fun! And the fun doesn’t end after the race – upon returning to Paul Brown Stadium, there will be drinks and snacks provided by Bruegger’s Bagels, Kroger, Sunny D, Dasani, McDonald’s, and many other sponsors. Be sure to save some room for you Thanksgiving Day dinner, too!

You can register online via the race’s website – it costs $36, and high-tech long sleeve shirts with the Thanksgiving Day Race logo are available for purchase online or before the race. So lace up your running shoes, bundle up, and head on down to Paul Brown Stadium this Thursday, November 27^th!

If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving Day race outside of the Cincinnati area, the following take place across the state (they are selling out fast so be sure to sign up soon):

Granville Turkey Trot in Granville

Cleveland Turkey Trot in Cleveland

Miamisburg Turkey Trot in Miamisburg

Aurora Turkey Trot in Aurora

Home Run for the Homeless in Akron

East Palestine Turkey Trot in East Palestine

Chagrin Falls Turkey Trot in Chagrin Falls

Smoke the Turkey in Toledo

Penton Memorial 10K Cross Country Turkey Trot in Elyria

Larry Cox Turkey Trot in Chillicothe

Thanksgiving Wattle in Grove City

Kent Turkey Trot in Kent

 

 

League Park becomes new home for Baseball Heritage Museum

At one point, League Park was the home field for the Cleveland Indians and the NFL’s Cleveland Rams. It was the practice field for the Browns.

And now, it’s the home of the Baseball Heritage Museum.

The museum was started downtown as a display in a jewelry store during the All-Star summer of 1997. From there, it moved into the Colonial Arcade on Euclid Avenue in 2006. Now, it’s in a building that used to house ticket offices and team offices for the Indians.

The museum, which displays artifacts relating to the Negro Leagues, is in a perfect location. In addition to the Indians, League Park served as home to the Cleveland Buckeyes, who won the Negro League World Series in 1945. In fact, League Park is the only stadium that can boast being home to Negro League world champions, a World Series champion and a winner of the Temple Cup, the trophy given to the National League playoff champions when there was only one major league.

The museum includes artifacts such as a trunk used by Hilton Smith of the Kansas City Monarchs, who advised the team to sign a multi-talented athlete from UCLA by the name of Jackie Robinson. Smith was a contemporary and teammate of Satchel Paige, the ageless wonder who helped the Indians to the 1948 World Series.

There are also exhibits detailing the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League – immortalized in the movie “A League of Their Own” – as well as pertaining to Indians history, a lot of which took place at the new musuem location.

League Park opened at the end of a streetcar line in 1891 as home to the Cleveland Spiders of the National League. After the Spiders folded at the end of the 1899 season, a new baseball team started play at League Park, ultimately entering the American League when it was formed in 1901. The team was known variously as the Blues, Bronchos and Naps before becoming the Indians. By then, League Park had gone from being a wooden grandstand with a baseball diamond on it to a steel-and-concrete stadium.

Construction of Cleveland Stadium downtown sealed League Park’s fate as a major league facility, and its location in the Hough made it less than prime real estate for redevelopment. But the city of Cleveland, which owns the property, spent more than $6 million to renovate it and turn it into a park – the first former Major League Baseball ballpark to be repurposed.

Now, Little League, high school and amateur baseball teams can pitch from the same mound where Cy Young did, hit in the same batter’s box where Babe Ruth hit his 500^th career home run, and field where Bill Wambsganss turned the only unassisted triple play in World Series history.

Adjacent to League Park is Fannie Lewis Park, which includes a walking path, a splash basin and a statue of its namesake, a Cleveland councilwoman who advocated the park’s renovation, but was unable to live to see the day when it happened.

 

Historical society celebrates Browns title

Being a Cleveland Browns fan isn’t for the faint of heart. In fact, it’s been 50 years since the Browns won an NFL title.

But at one point, the team was a power player of the National Football League, and the Western Reserve Historical Society is trying to recreate that with a new exhibit, “1964: When Browns Town Was Title Town.”

The exhibit opened the day before the Browns’ season opener in Pittsburgh, and combines multimedia exhibits with artifacts from the championship season, which saw the Browns go 10-3-1 for their first playoff berth in eight years, and then beat the heavily favored Baltimore Colts 27-0 in the NFL Championship Game.

Entering the exhibit means going under a set of goalposts like those at the Browns’ home field at the time, Cleveland Stadium, which also hosted that year’s NFL Championship Game. The exhibit includes other artifacts from the stadium, including a seat signed by various members of the Browns and a box for the collection of ticket stubs.

The entrance also features audio of former Browns sportscaster Gib Shanley calling the Browns’ final score of the game, a field goal by kicker Lou Groza. The 1964 Championship Game was the first to be nationally televised, but Browns owner Art Modell decided that the game wouldn’t air live in the Cleveland area, sending any Browns fans who weren’t among the 79,000 in the stands to their radios. (The game was replayed the following night on CBS.)

That Browns team contained five future Pro Football Hall of Famers – Running backs Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly, offensive lineman Gene Hickerson, receiver Paul Warfield, and kicker Groza. Replicas of their busts at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton are among the artifacts on display – as is a collection of Jim Brown football cards.

The exhibit also includes front pages from Cleveland newspapers of the day, presenting context for events in the world. Then – as now – the Browns were front-page news, but shared space with stories about the presidential election between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater (Johnson won), changes made in the Catholic Mass as a result of the Second Vatican Council and the escalating war in Vietnam.

One find for the historical society was more than six minutes of color home movies taken from the stands at Cleveland Stadium, which are played in the exhibit. And as a nod to modern technology, the exhibit feature interactive trivia questions – “extra points” – with answers available through QR codes read by a smartphone.

 

Playing a Round of FootGolf in Cleveland

I know exactly what you're thinking. You're thinking to yourself: what the heck is FootGolf?

It's a valid question, since FootGolf is relatively new when it comes to recreational sports.

I decided to round up some friends and give it a try recently at Shawnee Hills Golf Course in Bedford, Ohio. Shawnee Hills is part of the Cleveland Metroparks, and is one of two golf courses in the area to have installed FootGolf courses this year (the other is Mastick Woods in Cleveland).

What is FootGolf?

FootGolf is pretty simple in concept – it's essentially golf played with a soccer ball.

How do you play?

At Shawnee Hills, you play FootGolf on the golf course's existing 9-hole Par 3 course. The rules are the same as a regular game of golf: your goal is to sink your ball into a hole quite some distance away, and the person with the lowest score at the end of the game wins.

The only difference is that, when playing FootGolf, you're aiming not for the regular green, but for a 21-inch-diameter bucket-like hole marked by a yellow flag off to one side of the green. Oh, and of course you're kicking a soccer ball instead of hitting a golf ball.

We played our round of FootGolf like a regular game of golf, with one person tee-ing off at a time. But because we weren't carrying golf clubs – our rounds went by much more quickly than they would have in a regular golf game.

How much does it cost?

A round of FootGolf at Shawnee Hills is $9 for adults ($6.50 for juniors and seniors). At Mastick Hills, you can play an 18-hole course for $10 per adult ($7.50 for juniors and seniors).

What do I need to bring?

At Shawnee Hills, all you need to bring is yourself. You can rent soccer balls if you don't have one for $3 (FootGolf is played with a standard regulation #5 soccer ball). Just be aware that you can't wear soccer cleats on the golf course – I would recommend normal sneakers and comfortable clothing that you can kick in. (You only need to wear golf attire if going to an official American FootGolf League event.)

Who can play FootGolf?

Anybody! FootGolf is great because you don't need to know much about soccer OR golf in order to play. It's best played in a small group, meaning it's a great family-friendly activity, or a fun outing for the soccer team.

What else should I know?

Just like with regular golf, you'll need to book a tee time if you want to play a round of FootGolf.

Mastick Woods: 216-267-5626

Shawnee Hills: 440-232-7184

So what do you think? Will you try out FootGolf this year? 

 

 

Take Me Out to the Cleveland Indians Ball Game

There’s still time left this season to enjoy one of America’s favorite pastimes - a good old fashioned baseball game. And what better place than the home of Ohio’s own Cleveland Indians major league baseball team?

At Progressive Field you can enjoy an evening in the heart of downtown, along with all the sights, sounds and tastes that come with a night at the ballpark. Ample parking is located downtown and adjacent to the stadium. Expect to pay $10 to $12 per vehicle. Before or after the game, adults may want to enjoy some of Cleveland’s nightlife at the restaurants and bars on East Fourth Street and Euclid Avenue. Popular spots for sports-loving fans include Flannery’s Pub and Harry Buffalo.

Alternatively, patrons can enjoy all of their favorites at the ball game - hot dogs and hamburgers, fries, soft pretzels, popcorn, peanuts and more. Adult beverages and non-alcoholic drinks such as pop are also available at the stadium. And don't forget to try the ice cream on those warm nights!

During special themed nights guests may be eligible to receive freebies at the door such as a jersey, baseballs and more. And don’t forget that Fridays are $1 hot dog night, a deal that can't be beat! For families - at every Sunday home game children can run the bases after the game. Kids will also enjoy a chance to give the Cleveland Indians mascot Slider a high-five at games, so keep an eye out for this pink and yellow friend!

The regular season runs through the end of September. If the team makes the playoffs, a game schedule will be posted online following the regular season. Select games feature fireworks post-game. Please visit the Cleveland Indians online for more information, game start times and for details on special themed nights.

Want to make a weekend of it? Cleveland has so much to offer. Visit Positively Cleveland online for ideas on lodging, additional dining options and activities. See you at the ballpark!

Electric bicycles provide new way to tour Cincinnati

Not familiar with electric bicycles? You might be soon. While they are common in China, they are just started to be known in the U.S., growing in popularity on the west coast. However, they are still relatively unknown in Ohio. Egbert Powell, owner of Pedego Cincinnati, wants to change that. While his primary business is selling bikes, Powell offers sightseeing tours around Cincinnati to encourage people to try to them out.

Pedego Cincinnati is located in Clifton, on a hill where you can experience exactly what makes those electric motors so useful. I had to try it out. Have you ever pedaled up a hill and wished you had just a little more oomph? That’s precisely what these bikes provide. Pedaling up a steep hill suddenly becomes possible, or even easy, if you upgrade to a more powerful motor.

The standard tour offered by Pedego Cincinnati takes visitors through four parks in Clifton: Burnet Woods, Mt. Storm Park, Fairview Park, and Bellvue Hill Park. You’ll see beautiful landscapes, architecture, and scenic vistas of several Cincinnati neighborhoods. Because this tour travels on city streets, it is recommended for ages 15 and up. Safety first: helmets and an orientation are provided before heading out on the streets. This tour also includes a tasty stop at A Taste of Belgium in Corryville where you can try a Belgian waffle or crepes. A meal is included in the $50 price of the tour.

Because two of my children are under 15, Powell thought it best for our family’s bike tour to be off the streets, and proposed a ride on the Little Miami Bike Trail. The customized itinerary wasn’t a VIP perk of this job; Powell is happy to create a personalized itinerary for any group. We met him in Loveland where he helped adjust the bike seat height so they were perfect for each member of my family.

Before starting off on the trail, we took a spin around a parking lot to make sure everyone was comfortable with operating the throttle. With just a twist of the wrist, the motor turns on.

Then we were off. With electric bikes, you have the flexibility to pedal as much or as little as you’d like. It makes it easier to enjoy the scenery when you don’t have to work so hard to propel yourself. I found that electric bikes are a great solution for families in which some family members are more athletic than others. The motor gives the slower family members a boost so they can keep up with everyone else.

We headed north and rode up to South Lebanon before turning around and heading back to Loveland. Everyone in my family enjoyed the ride. The hum of the bike’s motor was strangely hypnotic and added to the relaxing ride. The faster-than-usual speed made the ride fun. I could get used to that.

Disclosure: Pedego Cincinnati provided a complimentary bike ride to my family so that I could research and write this article.

Western & Southern Open brings top tennis players to Cincinnati

Every August, the best tennis players in the world gather in Cincinnati for the Western & Southern Open, one of major tournaments leading up to the US Open. Tennis in Cincinnati is a long-standing tradition, with the first tournament going back to 1898. In fact, that’s longer than the US Open has been held in New York. (It was called the U.S. National Championships and held in Newport, Rhode Island, from 1881 until 1915.) Since 1979, Cincinnati’s tournament has been held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in the suburb of Mason, near Kings Island amusement park. In fact, roller coasters and other rides are visible from the tennis center.

Sock vs. Robredo

The Western & Southern Open includes both Men's and Women's competitions. This year’s tournament runs from August 9-17 with a qualifying round followed by six rounds of play for Singles and five rounds for Doubles. Tickets to the tournament provides spectators not only multiple tennis matches from which to choose, but opportunities to watch players practice.

19-year-old American Madison Keys

 

Practice Court at the Western & Southern Open

The timing of the Western & Southern Open relative to the US Open accounts for nearly all the top players in the world coming to Cincinnati. Top-ranked men’s players this year include No. 1 ranked Novak Djokovic (also current Wimbledon champion), Roger Federer (five-time Cincinnati champion), Stan Wawrinka, and Tomas Berdych. Women’s players include No. 1 ranked Serena Williams, the reigning champion of the US Open, and the runner-up of the 2013 Western & Southern Open.

Serena Williams

Other top women’s players in Cincinnati this week include Simona Halep (ranked No. 2), Petra Kvitova (current Wimbledon champion), Maria Sharapova (former Cincinnati champion), Angelique Kerber, Eugenie Bouchard, and Jelena Jankovic (former Cincinnati champion).

 

The facility, which underwent a $10 million renovation in 2010, now includes four stadiums, 16 tennis courts, a retail plaza, and food court. The well-planned food court means out-of-town visitors don’t have to leave the venue in order to try some Cincinnati favorites, including Skyline Chili, Graeter’s Ice Cream, and LaRosa’s Pizza. Some of the top-ranked players said they were looking forward to trying a Cincinnati Chili 3-Way (spaghetti topped with chili and cheese). A music stage, bars, chef demonstrations, special events, and a wine garden round out the experience.

Wine Garden at the Western & Southern Open

There are still tickets available for some of the sessions in this year’s tournament. They can be purchased through CincyTennis online or on Ticketmaster. Grounds passes (available through Ticketmaster) provide access to seven match courts (all but Center Court) and eight practice courts. Visitors to this year’s tournament might also want to take advantage of the final week of the Princess Diana exhibit at the Cincinnati Museum Center.

It isn’t too early to start planning to attend the Western & Southern Open in 2015. Take note that next year’s tournament will be held a week later: August 15-23, 2015. 2015 tickets will go on sale to previous buyers on February 1 and new buyers on March 1.

Get Dirty at the Warrior Dash Ohio II

Photo credit: Warrior Dash

Remember how much fun it was to play in the mud as kids? It was even better if you had challenges to go with it like swinging on a vine over a ravine, or racing a friend to the end of a sloppy puddle.

The Warrior Dash phenomenon that is sweeping the country is like a grown-up version of the muddy games we played as kids, only now, there’s big money and bragging rights at stake.

With more than 50 Warrior Dash competition locations around the world, Ohio is a major player – hosting a second tournament this year. The Warrior Dash Ohio II will take place in North Lawrence, Ohio on Saturday, August 09, 2014. While spaces are filled for this competition, Warrior Dash is as much a spectator sport as a competitive one, so cheering sections along the sidelines are encouraged.

State qualifying teams move onto the Warrior Dash World Championships being held October 18, 2014 in Esparto, California with a $100,000 prize purse. Who knew getting muddy could be so lucrative?

Photo credit: Warrior Dash

The truth is, the Warrior Dash competitors are comprised of the fitness elite facing a true test of physical stamina and endurance. Competitors take-on 13 obstacles along a 3.21-mile course enduring not just mud, but water, fire and extreme heights.

Obstacles include things like Goliath, which requires walking a narrow beam of wood over a deep pit without falling in it; Giant Cliffhanger, in which you pull your entire bodyweight up a steep incline and down the other side; Hard Rain, which requires you to climb over a high obstacle while gallons of water pour on top of you and Warrior Roast, which requires participants to leap over a wall of fire.

Photo credit: Warrior Dash

Warriors don’t just compete hearty, but they also celebrate hearty at the end of competition. Beneath the drying mud you will find competitors enjoying camaraderie with one another noshing on giant turkey legs, enjoying refreshing beer and live music. After all, they deserve it! Participants also receive a warrior helmet and medal. Spectators get to appreciate the competition sans the mud!

The Warrior Dash is about more than just mud, metals and muscles, which is one reason it has become so popular. Warrior Dash competitions have raised more than $7.5 million for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Even those who do not sign up for a team to compete enjoy watching the event that is free and open to the public.

For a sampling of a Warrior Dash competition, check out this video from WarriorDash: 

 

So return to your childhood roots by celebrating this growing muddy movement at the Warrior Dash Ohio II.

Ohio is for Lovers

Ohio is where my wife was born 29 years ago, where we met 10 years ago, where we went on our first date four years ago, and where we married last month. Despite our journey that included other states along the way, Ohio has always been at the center for Chelsi and me.

We met while we were attending one of the state’s oldest and best colleges – Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She was on the dive team and I was a lifeguard. After pursuing her and getting rebuffed, I figured that was it. We crossed paths again a few years later when she visiting  the Cincinnati area for the Flying Pig Half-Marathon. We connected and in just a few weeks, we were having a picnic on the fifth floor of the tower at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Mansfield where I was working and she was visiting family.

Our first real date – you know, at a restaurant – was at Cap City Diner in Grandview, a Columbus institution. Over great food and drinks, we figured out how to make a 750-mile gap work. Though there were trips back and forth between Ohio and New Hampshire (where she was in grad school). We spent most of our quality time in Columbus, packing a month’s worth of dates into one weekend at a time. Between Columbus Blue Jackets games, dinner at Hyde Park or The Rossi, nights out in the Short North or walking the dogs along the Scioto River, Ohio had plenty of great dates in store for us.

 She finally made her way back home to Ohio in 2012.

Over the last four years, we’ve experienced a lot – but definitely not all – of what Ohio has to offer: tons of sporting events, including the Cleveland Indians, USMNT games at Crew Stadium (right), Columbus Clippers, fishing at the Hoover Dam (above), hikes through Sharon Woods and Highbanks Metro Parks, the Air Force Museum, concerts at the Taft Theater or a tour of the Watershed Distillery.

When it came time to take another important step in our relationship, I visited the Ohio-owned Diamond Cellar on Sawmill Road in Columbus and made the most important purchase of my life. I knew we’d get married in Ohio – after she said “yes”, of course. We looked at wedding venues and settled on the Hilton at Easton Town Center. With family and friends traveling from all over the country, we wanted a place that could offer plenty to do before and after the wedding. The hotel staff were incredible and accommodating. There were touches of Ohio throughout the wedding, including a Miami University flag and donuts (in lieu of a wedding cake) from Westerville's locally famous Schneider’s Bakery.

Easton Town Center didn’t disappoint. Even our guests from Dallas, New York, Chicago and elsewhere were wowed at the stores and restaurants as well as the convenience and cleanliness. Ohio continued to be an important part of our big day and we were able to show our guests why it’s a place we love.

Despite moving to Indianapolis earlier this year for my job, we’ve maintained constant reminders of Ohio all around us, like pictures, art and apparel. We return to the state we fell in love in every couple of months and we’re always able to find new and fun experiences. 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro Football Hall of Fame Game - August 3, 2014

It may be the heart of summer, but football fans are counting down the days until kickoff. Ohio is home to football mecca, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Each year the Hall of Fame hosts the pre-season NFL inaugural game and this year’s game promises to be a good one.

On Sunday August 3, the New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills will face off in an up-close fan experience at Fawcett Stadium, a 22,000-seat venue. There is not a bad seat to be found!

The game series began in 1962 just after the Hall of Fame opened. It normally includes teams celebrating significant milestones or teams connected to the Hall of Fame’s most recent inductees. This year’s class of 2014 includes Andre Reed, the Bills all-time leading receiver, and Michael Strahan who led the Giants to a victory in Super Bowl XLII and is a popular television personality on Live with Kelly and Michael and now Good Morning America.

The Giants played in the very first Hall of Fame Game in 1962 and have played in three others since then. While the Giants have won before, the Buffalo Bills are looking to secure their first win in the Game.

Visitors will not only get a chance to see these powerhouse NFL teams up close, they can also make a weekend out of it!  Come to Canton beginning Friday, August 1 for the Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner. On August 2, enjoy the TimkenSteel Grand Parade and an autograph session with Hall of Fame legends. That evening, see the following football legends enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

• Derrick Brooks (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Ray Guy (Oakland Raiders)
• Claude Humphrey (Atlanta Falcons)
• Walter Jones (Seattle Seahawks)
• Andre Reed (Buffalo Bills)
• Michael Strahan (New York Giants)
• Aeneas Williams (Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams)

Make memories with the football fans in your life. Great tickets and ticket packages are still available to the induction ceremony and the Hall of Fame Game, as well as other festival activities.