CTC Newsletter Ep. XI
- Kyle Klingler
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Quote:
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” —Arthur Ashe
Intro:
Remember when perfect fall weather was here for like 2 seconds? Yeah, that was cool. Sorry to those in Columbus who faced some brutal conditions on race day. A tough reminder that no matter how much training and preparation goes into this sport, sometimes you just face elements that you can't control. Nonetheless, you all powered through!
November is the conclusion to fall seasons (unless you're racing CIM) and brings in some rest/recovery and turkey trots. College and high school cross country championship season is underway. Congrats to all those who represented the Cincy area at the OHSAA state championship this past weekend. Many incredible performances from Cincy area teams and individuals, but here are some special shout-outs:
Division 1 Boys Champion - Dom Ellis (St. Xavier)
Division 3 Boys Runner-Up - Nathaniel Gockerman (Cin. CHCA)
Division 1 Boy's 3rd Place Team - Mason
All Ohio 1st Team Honors:
Campbell Coyne (Seven Hills)
Nathaniel Gockerman (Cin. CHCA)
Jagger Dollenmeyer (Cin. CHCA)
Callie Fox (Summit Country Day)
Anna Wiltshire (Summit Country Day)
James O'Driscoll (Indian Hill)
Ronan Wolfer (Loveland)
Caleb Anderson (Turpin)
Delaney Cilley (Loveland)
Havannah Long (Kings)
Dom Ellis (St. Xavier)
Ryne Reynolds (Little Miami)
Caden Winship (Mason)
Ian Patrick (Little Miami)
Aleah Coster (Oak Hills)
Ava Shepard (Lakota West)
Heidi Harmeyer (Seton)
Molly Deardorff (Lakota East)
Elle Campbell (Milford)
All-Ohio 2nd Team Honors:
Liam Woodward (Summit Country Day)
Vanca Pandey (Cin. Country Day)
Wyatt Gockerman (Cin. CHCA)
Lucy Folger (Madeira)
Emily Shea (Indian Hill)
Carson Spencer (Turpin)
Elijah Trickey (Anderson)
Lucy Marketos (Kings)
Caroline Murnan (Loveland)
Brock Grubert (Moeller)
Colin Schonsheck (Sycamore)
Justin Evans (Little Miami)
Luke Berkebile (Mason)
Henry Newman (Milford)
Atalia Hawkins (Mason)
Alyssa Browne (Lakota East)
Hope I didn't miss any! Great job to all the runner's this season.
Good luck to all those finalizing their marathon seasons in Indy, Philly, or beyond in the coming weeks! And consider come joining us at the Thanksgiving Day Race!
Cincinnati Running News:
Our Cincinnatus Coaching program is wrapping up another successful fall season! It's been awesome to work with so many amazing runners in the community and we're excited to continue. We cater to all experience levels! From day 1 beginners, first-time marathons, BQ hopefuls, and more! If interested in joining us, find more info here: Cincinnatus Coaching
The historic Thanksgiving Day Race is back for it's 116th running! Join in for a holiday tradition in the 10k or 5k and be a part of one of America's oldest races!
Also, a big addition to the Thanksgiving Day Race this year is the Elite program! Elite runners, find the info and application at the following link and let's make bring the race back to one of the fastest in the nation! Elite Program Info
Losantiville Run Club is a new club that derived from the Cincy Med Run Club disbanding after 3.5 awesome years! Great people still meeting up to run. Check them out at @losantiville_run_club on IG.
Check out Bird Bones Run Club for a 5k run, donuts, and coffee on 11/7 at 7AM! Info below.
"Go Farther. Go Smoother." Check out Move Smooth Athlete Cream, one of our sponsors of Cincinnatus Elite. Move Smooth contains only four all natural ingredients and helps prevent rubbing, chaffing, blisters, and friction. Find out more here: https://movesmoothathletecream.com/
Runner Spotlight: Don Wahle
My recent deep dive into the history of Cincinnati’s Thanksgiving Day Race sparked a deeper curiosity about one of the most influential figures in the city’s running community: Don Wahle. In that article, I explored his pivotal role in guiding the race through turbulent times, helping it evolve from a modest local event into the massive tradition it is today. But Don’s impact on Cincinnati running didn’t stop there. Thanks to the ever-reliable local running historian Bob Roncker, I was able to uncover even more of Don’s remarkable contributions to the sport and the city—many of which I’ll highlight below.
Don Wahle was a runner long before he ever took on the mantle of race director. Born in Bellevue, Kentucky, he moved to Cincinnati at the age of five. Despite facing vision challenges from an early age, Don never let that stand in the way of his athletic pursuits. He initially dreamed of playing baseball, but his path shifted when Coach Paul Reichert encouraged him to try out for the track team at Hughes High School. That decision proved pivotal—Don went on to qualify for both the state cross country and track meets during his high school career. He later walked on to the University of Cincinnati’s track team, where he made his mark by setting school records: a 4:27.6 mile and a 9:52.5 two-mile.
💡 Fun side note: In the 1940s and '50s, training knowledge wasn’t widely available or shared. Don crafted his own regimen based on the methods of Emil Zatopek, the legendary Czechoslovakian runner who won the 5K, 10K, and marathon at the 1952 Olympics. Zatopek’s approach—what we now call Fartlek training—involved heavy doses of interval work. Don adopted these techniques on his own and saw dramatic improvements in his performance.
Don's legacy in running didn't stop after college. He would fill a void in the Cincinnati running scene that existed pretty much everywhere in the 1950's and 60's. There really wasn't a running scene at all, in fact. The multitude of races that we see today were not around and there weren't really running clubs or teams to join post college.
Don and his friends, Kent Friel and Howard Hughes, would race eachother and compare their times to another friend, Bob MacVeigh who lived in Boston at the time. This competitiveness amongst friends blossomed into a series of all-comer track meets in the summer. Gaining popularity quickly, this unique place for all types of runners to race attracted people from all over the region. Eventually, cross country meets were added to the slate too.
Don also helped found and manage the Ohio Valley Track Club. This gave opportunity to runners no longer on a school team. A place to run against other clubs and colleges.
Don also presented running opportunities for women in a time before Title IX existed. He coached Marie Kastrup, who won the Thanksgiving Day 10k 5 times in a row from 1971-1975. In my other article, I mentioned his key role in keeping the Thanksgiving Day Race running as well.
Don continued to run through all these years of race directing and management. He ran a daily 6-mile route from Oakley to Amberley Village for work in the morning and returning in the evening. He was unable to drive due to the vision problems he dealt with, so this was his means of transportation.
When asked after 60 years of running what stands out most, Don replied: “It’s mind-boggling to see the number of people that are running today. Now there are over 10,000 people in the Thanksgiving Day Race. I recall that race having fewer than 10 runners one year. It is hard to believe.” He further commented: “When I first began organizing races, it was my goal to get everybody running. Now it is happening.”
It’s easy to look at the running scene today and take it for granted. Every weekend offers countless races to choose from. Running clubs and groups are just a click away on social media. Training advice is everywhere online, accessible to anyone with a smartphone. But it’s important to pause and remember the pioneers—like Don Wahle—whose vision and dedication helped shape not just the sport of running, but the vibrant community we have here in Cincinnati. I’m deeply grateful to Don and the other trailblazers of his era who laid the foundation for what Cincinnati running has become.
Cincy Running Historical Moment: The Pig returns on Halloween
Every year on Halloween, I'm reminded of the classic 2021 Pig that made it's long-awaited return from the pandemic. Maybe it's just because my race went well, but that Pig felt so special all-around. It felt like the city made it's return to life and the pleasant fall weather was a nice change for the race.
Not to mention, the race falling on Halloween felt super unique. People always show out in the pig costumes for this race, but there were all kinds of runners and fans dressed up. Always one of my favorite running memories to look back on. Shout out to the person in the alien costume in the pic above. And shout out to our CE guy, Alex Gold, for taking the marathon win on the men's side that day!
Strava Segment Highlight: Straight Street Climb
In honor of the Straight Street Hill Climb being this month, I'm highlighting the segment for the legendary hill. 200+ elevation gained in a third of a mile, sheeesh! This one is pure pain, but if you gotta make your way back to Clifton, you might as well get the hill done all at once, right?
Training Tip:
A helpful reminder, echoing the quote that opened this article: meet yourself where you are. This is especially important for beginners or anyone considering giving running a try. The key is to focus on your own progress and personal goals.
Running today is incredibly data-driven—far more than when I first started. GPS watches, phone apps, Strava logs, and a sea of running influencers have made metrics and comparisons more accessible than ever. But as another popular quote reminds us, comparison is the thief of joy.
Don’t get swept up in what everyone else is doing. Stay grounded in your own journey. Remember why you started, and commit each day to moving closer to your goals. In the end, whether someone runs faster or slower is secondary. Most of us are here for the same reason: to grow, improve, and make progress.
October Local Races:
11/1 - Gem of the Highlands 5k - Norwood
11/1 - Spooky Nook Fitness Pump and Run 5k - Hamilton
11/8 - DAV 5k - Great American Ballpark
11/8 - Run for Tourette 5k - Winton Woods
11/8 - The Angel Run - Kuliga Park
11/9 - Honor Run Half Marathon - Florence, KY
11/9 - Oy Vey 5k - Amberly
11/15 - Girls on the Run 5k - Yeatman's Cove
11/15 - St. Vicent De Paul Turkeyfoot Trot - Crestview Hills, KY
11/16 - Turkey Trails - Sawyer Point Park
11/23 - Straight Street Hill Climb - Clifton
11/27 - Meyer Brothers and Sons Hamilton Turkey Trot - Hamilton
11/27 - 8th Annual Living Well Fitness Turkey Trot - Walton, KY
11/27 - Fleet Feet's Mason Turkey Trot 5k Run/Walk - Mason
11/27 - Run Turkey Run - Burlington, KY
11/27 - 116th Western and Southern Thanksgiving Day Race - TQL Stadium
11/27 - West Chester Turkey Trot 5k - West Chester
11/27 - 24th Annual Young Life Gobble Gobble 5k - Swaim Park
11/29 - Hungry Turkey Half Marathon and 5k - Otto Armleder Park
Outro:
Thanks, as usual, for stopping by to read this. I'm closing out this series next month after having completed an article per month in 2025. It may return, but I'd like to focus on some other blog ideas for awhile. Feel free to comment or email us and let us know if you enjoyed them!
