CTC Newsletter Ep. VIII
- Kyle Klingler
- Aug 6
- 6 min read
Quote:
"Persistence guarantees that results are inevitable" - Paramahansa Yogananda
Intro:
Another month of relentless heat and humidity is in the books—though the past two weeks have brought a much-needed reprieve. Who would've thought 75 degrees could feel like a crisp fall morning? Shoutout to everyone who's been grinding through the tough conditions. As someone still undecided on fall race plans, I commend those of you starting to ramp up your mileage and long runs with marathons and other races fast approaching.
I did a separate article recap here of our big summer event, Cincinnatus Track Fest, but we wanted to say a big thank you one more time to everyone who raced, watched, or supported our event in any way. We had such a blast and hope you did too. This community rocks and we hope to see everyone next year!
August brings a lot of shorter races and exciting events before autumn settles in. Cross country season is kicking off soon, too. As the quote above reminds us: stay persistent. Training isn’t always easy—sometimes it’s even miserable in rougher weather. But every tough day builds resilience, and you'll appreciate the shift in seasons even more when we get there. Scroll down to see what’s happening this month!
Cincinnati Running News:
American distance running legend, Jenny Simpson, announced she is making her return to Cincinnati this fall at the Queen Bee Half Marathon! She ran the Flying Pig Half this past spring and is excited to be back! The Queen Bee is one of Cincy's best running events and features both a half and 4 mile race. Hop in a race or come out and support both Jenny and the rest of the amazing women out there!
FCC3 returns! This Saturday, 8/9, the Flying Pig and FC Cincinnati are bringing back the epic FCC3 race. A new point-to-point course from Nippert Stadium to TQL Stadium! Click the photo for more info.
Running is Player regularly meets on Sundays at 3716 Montgomery Road on Wasson. This Sunday, 8/10, there will be a free yoga class after by Zencinnati! Check out this awesome group.
The Tour de CROWN is back on Saturday, 8/23! It's a community bike ride open to everyone and highlights the existing and future trails of CROWN. CROWN has been a game changer for Cincinnati's urban trails. Check out this event by clicking the photo below!
Cincy Run Club is hosting CRC After Dark. A party to cap off a summer full of running! RSVP at the link here: CRC After Dark RSVP Link
Fleet Feet Cincy is teaming up with Nike tonight for the Loveland Race Series! Free event to try out the Vomero Plus or Vaporfly 4. Plus, Pata Roja is joining in with the best tacos in town. Check it out at 6:30PM from the Loveland Store!
Runner Spotlight: Bill Schnier
Last month, the legendary UC coach Bill Schnier passed away. He led the Bearcats for an incredible 33 years, from 1980 to 2013. His coaching legacy includes a long list of accolades: conference titles, NCAA championship qualifiers, All-Americans, Olympic medals, team championships, and numerous school records. But beyond the statistics, what truly stands out is the immeasurable impact he had on countless lives.
Dedicating your life to coaching is far more than handing out training plans. To bring out the best in athletes, you have to offer more than workouts—you need to help them see the potential within themselves and believe in their ability to reach new heights. Over three decades and beyond, Bill did exactly that. I've read stories and posts from friends who were coached by him, and the common thread is clear: Bill genuinely cared about the people first. He was a mentor in every sense, far beyond just athletic success. This is the core of being a truly great coach.
My personal interactions with Bill were brief, but they left a lasting impression on my running journey. As a high school senior committed to UC, I naively reached out to him about joining the team, pretty unaware of the level required for Division I competition. Despite my marks falling well short of D1 standards, Bill graciously offered me the chance to train over the summer and attend camp to try out. In our email exchanges, he was always honest about the work I’d need to do, yet kind and encouraging. I don’t think many college coaches today would offer a 16:30 5K runner that kind of opportunity. I’ve always appreciated how he saw me for who I was—a kid with aspirations—and gave me the chance to see what I was capable of. Though I eventually chose a different path before camp, his kindness stayed with me.
Visitation services for Bill will be held Friday, 8/8, from 4PM to 8PM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mt. Healthy. A second visitation will take place Saturday morning from 9AM to 10AM, followed by the memorial service.
Cincy Running Historical Moment: Avondale Running Club
Inducted into the National Black Marathoners Association (NBMA) Hall of Fame in 2015, the Avondale Running Club is the nation's oldest predominately black running club. This group has been running/walking the Cincy streets since 1984, when six runners officially formed the club.
Originally founded as a running-focused group, the club broadened its scope in the 1980s to welcome walkers as well. Today, it champions overall health and wellness through a wide range of activities, including running, walking, racing, biking, and more. The club is also deeply committed to charitable efforts—offering scholarships and contributing to numerous outstanding funds and programs. Since 1998, they've proudly supported Flying Pig runners by operating fluid stations along the course. Members have earned numerous accolades and NBMA honors, adding to the club’s distinguished reputation.
Avondale Running Club offers a supportive community for runners and walkers of all levels—whether you're in it for fun or focused on training for races. The club hosts weekly run/walk events at various locations, along with monthly meetings to discuss club updates and activities. So check out one of the area's most historic running clubs! It's hard to put into words just how much clubs like this pioneered the amazing running community we have today. The running boom in the U.S. began in the 70's, before then jogging for recreational fitness wasn't too popular here. Shout out to teams like ARC who paved the way and continue to do so to this day!
To learn more about ARC and how to become a member, visit their website: https://www.avondalerunningclub.com/index.html
Strava Segment Highlight: Alms Ascent
A common theme here of highlighting some monster hill segments in the city. Alms Park is beautiful spot for a picnic or summer walk. But I will admit, probably not the most enjoyable running route to check out the view at the top. But hey, it's fun to try something new (or just painful) every now and then, right?
Training Tip:
Might be a little cheesy, but don’t forget to have fun out there. Running can be tough—goals are hard-earned, chasing PRs can hurt, and progress isn’t always linear. But at the end of the day, we’re here because we love it. So try not to put too much pressure on yourself. If running starts to feel more like a burden than a joy, give yourself permission to take a breather. Whether that be by an easy run with friends or even a well-earned day off. I promise your best results come when you're having a good time out there!
August Local Races:
8/9 - Newtown 5k - Newtown
8/9 - FCC 3 Race - UC
8/9 - Ross Rambler 5k - Hamilton
8/10 - 5k Run and Walk for a Great Cause - Mason
8/10 - Madeira Cross Country Alumni Race - Madeira
8/10 - Wounded Warrior Project Carry Forward 5k - Friendship Park
8/16 - Bulldog Blast 5k - Batavia
8/16 - Cincinnati Dragons 5k - Hamilton
8/16 - KWF Fun Run 5k - West Chester
8/16 - Medpace 5k - Medpace
8/16 - Brain Run, Walk and Roll 5k - Fort Mitchell, KY
8/17 - Y'all's 5k - Florence, KY
8/23 - Deer Trail Run 5k/10k/Half - Mt. Airy
8/23 - Heartbeats for Life 5k - Lunken Playfield
8/23 - Powder Keg Trail Run - Kings Mills
8/23 - Summer Sizzler - Mason
8/24 - Mojo Triathlon - West Chester
8/24 - Ohio Brewery Running Series - Fifty West Brewery (Deerfield)
Outro:
Who is still keeping up with this? I'll admit I got a few days behind on this episode after all the work we put into Track Fest. I hope some people enjoy the quick read. I plan to keep these up for at least the 2025 year. Let me know if there's anything you want featured in an upcoming article! Whether that be an event or club you're a part of, a nomination for the runner spotlight, or even a historical Cincy running moment you may know about.
Anyways, good luck with your training as we head into the fall! See you in the next episode!
Dear Kyle,
I enjoy reading your newsletter and hope you are able to keep it up!
I'll nominate Johnathan and Jessica Jones for the runner spotlight. They are making efforts to charge up the running scene in Hamilton, OH. Let me know if you are interested in contact info.
Also, the Hamilton Run Club is somewhat newly established and seems to have some pretty good juice in terms of getting decent turnout for several runs a week.
Thanks again!
Joshua