CTC Newsletter Ep. XII
- Kyle Klingler
- Dec 3
- 6 min read
Quote:
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle
Intro:
Whenever someone asks me for running advice, my number one answer is always the same: consistency matters most. Every day of effort builds into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. If you stay committed to showing up consistently, the results will follow.
Winter has arrived! The snow rolled in overnight, and once again we face the choice: hop on the treadmill or layer up and head outside. It's been a great year for Cincinnati running. As races wrap up and training cycles wind down, take time to rest, and recharge. The new year will be here before we know it, bringing new goals and plans on the horizon.
To close out the season, check out some of the December events happening around town, catch up on recent news, and don’t miss our feature on Cincinnati’s own ultrarunning legend, Harvey Lewis.
Cincinnati Running News:
Fleet Feet Cincinnati is bringing a festive series of 12 events to the month of December. Shopping events, group runs, and more spread across all of their locations. See the info on all the events here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/fleet-feet-cincinnati-106979987331
The 33rd annual Egg Nog Jog is back on 12/20 at 10AM. Come out for this annual holiday tradition. A scenic and challenging course through Mt. Adams and Eden Park. Find more info here: https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Cincinnati/EggNogJog
Nickson Kogei (18th, 28:52) and Ann Lemirisho (79th, 19:47) finished out their seasons for the Cincinnati Bearcats Cross Country Team at the NCAA XC Championships. Nickson's result puts him at All-American status.
Roebling Runners is hosting a trail tune up at Tower Park in Fort Thomas on 12/10 at 6PM. Hitting some trails in preparation for the Winter Night Owl ultra in January at Ceasars Creek!
The Bockfest 5k is now set for March 7th, 2026! Register now for one of Cincy's fastest races! https://raceroster.com/events/2026/105016/2026-bockfest-5k
The Heart Mini is also open for registration and set for the following weekend on March 15th, 2026! Stay tuned for a full feature article I'm working on about the history of this awesome race! Register here: https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/HeartWalk/TR/HeartWalk/MWA-MidWestAffiliate?fr_id=12692&pg=entry
Shout out to the winners of the 116th Thanksgiving Day Race!
10k - Brooke Wildermuth (36:25) and Maximilian Hoffman (32:15)
5k - Katie Ruhlman (17:49) and Natnael Weldemichael (15:12)
Thanksgiving Day Race (Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer) Cincy Run Club is hosting their holiday party this Saturday at Flora & Flair Cincinnati from 7-10PM. Check out their IG @cincyrunclub to RSVP and for more info!
Wild Pace Society is hosting a Pop-Up Run this Saturday at Proud Hound at 8AM. Come out for a festive run! See more info on their IG @wildpacesociety
Runner Spotlight: Harvey Lewis
If you’re connected to the Cincinnati running scene, chances are you’ve heard his name. As ultrarunning—and backyard ultras in particular—has surged in popularity over the past few years, Harvey has established himself among the very best in the world. He’s also claimed victory at the legendary Badwater 135, one of the most grueling ultramarathons across Death Valley. Success in races like these demands a rare combination of endurance, mental toughness, and sheer strength.
Yet when you meet Harvey, you find someone remarkably humble and grounded. I couldn’t help but wonder how a runner like him climbed to the very top of the ultrarunning world. So I asked him to share his journey—from his first steps in the sport to the achievements that now define his career. Dive into his story below.
"I am Harvey Lewis. I'm a high school social studies teacher at the School for Creative & Performing Arts and also an accomplished ultrarunner.
I described myself as Chunk from Goonies growing up but discovered running through my sister. I ran track in middle school and high school. While I never scored for the team, I enjoyed the camaraderie and adventures running around town or to the park. On a whim, at 15 I signed up for the Cleveland Marathon about a week before the race. The Cleveland Marathon became an annual tradition. It took me 5 years to break 5 hours in the marathon but I went on to faster and faster times eventually getting to 2:45:58 in 2019.
At 20, I jumped into the FANS 24 hour race in the Twin Cities while I was in college at the University of Minnesota. My goal was to just keep moving the full 24 hours (running or walking) with exception of small stops for aid stations or the restroom. I finished with 81.3 miles and felt my strongest the final hour of the race, finishing with my quickest pace the final half hour and a sprint. It changed my perception of what is possible. I also really enjoyed the vibe of the race and the camaraderie amongst the runners.
The 24 hour race led to many more ultras. It would take another 16 years before I won the FANS 24 hour race running over 140 miles. I went on to represent the USA at the 24 hour World Championship, qualifying 5 times and leading the 2019 men’s team to a gold finish running 160.319 miles, nearly doubling my original distance in the 24 hour race.
I have also won the Badwater 135, the world’s hottest race running in Death Valley with temperatures into the 120 degree plus range. I have finished the race 14 consecutive times and it is my favorite race because the desert is serene and spiritual.
I have also endeavored into the Backyard Ultras, a race format where runners must run 4.167 miles every hour on the hour, covering 100 miles every 24 hours. Runners must complete their loop in the 60 minutes. If they complete it in 50 minutes; they have 10 minutes to take a nap, eat, stretch, and change clothes but if they are not in the corral at the start of the hour they are out. I have won the Individual World Championship in 2 of the past 3 competitions. This October, I was 3rd with a new American record 466.5 miles. I broke a couple ribs and strained my hamstring on the 5th day but I'm looking forward to adapting his strategy and returning.
My other passions are education, travel and the outdoors. I've taken on many other ultras from Big Foot 200 to Marathon Des Sables. I have commuted to and from work for the past 12 plus years human powered, mostly run-commutes. I've been an avid vegan for the past decade and vegetarian for 30 years, and I believe it's been key to my quick recovery, and race day fueling. My favorite marathon is the Flying Pig, to which I am a streaker, running every Pig marathon since 1999. You may see me on a run through Eden Park likely on my commute or catch me on the trail in one of Ohio’s state parks."
Shout out Harvey for taking the time. You'll be sure to hear his name more as he continues crushing the ultra running scene. You can follow him at Harvey Lewis Ultrarunner on most social media platforms.
Cincy Running Historical Moment: Ronald Reagan Highway 5k
A 5k on Ronald Reagan Highway?? Yep, you read that right! The one and only Ronald Reagan Highway 5k was held in July of 1993 on a closed section of the road. The run was held as part of the renaming and completion of what was formerly known as Cross Country Highway.
Some notes from Bob Roncker on the event: It was a very hot evening. Race options were a 5k or a downhill mile. The race started near the Galbraith avenue exit and headed east. In classic Cincinnati fashion, it was a very hilly race! The race was primarily downhill in the first half before a U-turn and going back up to the finish.
Strava Segment Highlight: Wasson Way Phases 1-2
Nothing better than Wasson Way. Shout out to the great work that Crown Cincinnati has done and continues to do! Phases 1-2 are the perfect, uninterrupted stretch of path for an out-and-back easy run, workout reps, or just a nice walk.
Training Tip:
Start building a shoe rotation. I get it—running shoes aren’t cheap, so this might feel like a big ask. But rotating between different pairs exposes your muscles and joints to varied loads and stresses, which helps build strength and reduce injury risk. It also extends the lifespan of each pair, since you’re not wearing the same shoes down every single run. Even if you invest in a second pair now, you’ll save yourself from having to replace them as quickly. Swing by Fleet Feet, try a few options, and add another pair into your mix!
October Local Races:
12/6 - C3 Santa Trot - West Chester
12/6 - Jingle Bell Run - Covington, KY
12/6 - Ohio Brewery Running Series - Mason
12/6 - Santa's 5k - Independence, KY
12/6 - Springdale Santa 5k - Kuliga Park
12/7 - Topo Trail Marathon - East Fork State Park
12/13 - Candy Cane Course - Hamilton
12/13 - Das Holiday 5k at the Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt - Riverfront Parks
12/13 - Newtown Winterfest 5k - Newtown
12/20 - Egg Nog Jog - Mt. Adams
12/21 - Winter Solstice Run - Mason
Outro:
Concluding a year long saga of my monthly newsletters for now. I've enjoyed writing them and hope you enjoyed reading them! I want to direct my attention to more focused articles for a bit. Thanks as always for tuning in and please consider subscribing to get alerted on future posts!
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