Running Through History: Cincinnati's Thanksgiving Day Race
- Kyle Klingler
- Oct 7
- 15 min read
Updated: Oct 9
Few days in the U.S. are richer in tradition than Thanksgiving—a day full of family, football, and feasting. In Cincinnati, there’s another tradition that's been added to the slate for over a century now: the Thanksgiving Day Race. This year marks the 116th running of one of the nation’s oldest road races, a testament to endurance not just on the pavement, but in the spirit of a city.
To complete the deep dive into a century old race, I scoured endless Enquirer and Cincinnati Post archives. Back in those days, race results were often posted in the paper. Also, had some help thanks to previous articles written Bob Roncker and Tommy Kauffmann which I will link at the bottom. It was quite the journey to trace how this event grew from a local novelty into a Midwest institution. What follows recounts a century of competition, innovation, and unforgettable memories.
Igniting the Flame
Let's start from the beginning. In July of 1908, the Olympic Games were taking place across the pond in London. That year, the marathon would make it's debut at the 26.2 distance we know and love today. And in dramatic fashion, it would be U.S. runner Johnny Hayes who claimed victory in the race in a time of 2:55, after Italy's Dorando Pietri was disqualified for collapsing and receiving aid to the finish. This win, although controversial, inspired many and ignited America’s interest in distance running. This was the first of two major running booms in the United States.
Five months later, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Thanksgiving Day Race would also make it's debut. While it's unknown if Haye's Olympic victory was related to the race's inception, the surge in running's popularity definitely helped garner local attention. That November morning, 21 trained athletes lined up at the Fort Thomas Armory Gym in Northern Kentucky. They set out on a roughly seven-mile course that wound through Newport and across the L&N Bridge over to Cincinnati. Eighteen men eventually crossed the finish at the downtown YMCA.
The race's first champion was amateur boxer-turned-runner, Lovell Draper, who stunned spectators with a 37:15 victory. His win would turn to dominance as he won the first five installments. In fact, Draper never lost a race over two miles in his whole career. After year 5, he retired from running. Trading in his running shoes for a manager’s cap with the Middleboro Baseball Club in Kentucky.
“Marathon races now promise to become an important and more frequent feature of the Cincinnati Athletic Club" declared the Cincinnati Post in 1908, following the city’s first-ever Thanksgiving Day Race (and the first ever road race in the city). Over a century later, it's amazing how much weight that quotes carries.
Early Trials and Transformation
In these early years, the race was dubbed a “baby marathon", a common nickname given to races shorter than the growingly popular marathon distance. After Draper's departure, University of Cincinnati freshman Frank Zuch took the win in 1913. In fact, he won so decisively that he was given the title as “scratch man,” prompting future handicaps to level the field. In 1916, organizers added a walking division—J.T. Evans won in 64:04—and, for one year, a boys’ 2-mile run.
World War I paused the race in 1918, but it returned in 1919 with a new rule: every entrant needed a physician’s seal of approval. Also, the route changed to start at the Fort Thomas Armory and finish at the Central YMCA. A year later, a wayward streetcar would famously interrupt the 1920 field, a good reminder that early course management was still finding its footing.
The primary organizer for the Thanksgiving Day Race in it's early years was Sebastian Linehan. He was also a competitor in the race, winning the walking division in 54:01, and eventually was invited to try out for the 1920 Olympic team. Sebastian was key in recruiting the high level runners and walkers to compete and increasing the races prowess as one of the best in the area.
The Collegiate Showcase
The Roaring Twenties transformed the Thanksgiving Day Race into a collegiate showcase. Teams from Cincinnati, Ohio State, Purdue, Miami, and more battled for both individual glory and team titles—so much so that in 1928 the Enquirer called it “one of the leading long-distance running classics of the Middle West.” Champions like Russell Payne (three-time U.S. steeplechase champ and 1924 Olympian) and Charles Shugert (NCAA two-mile winner and Miami Hall of Famer) lent their names—and their records—to the race’s growing prestige. The race's field size would hover from 20-50 elite athletes.
In 1933, the Central Y.M.C.A. abandoned the race and it would be taken over by Ohio A.A.U. officials. The course would also be shortened to 3 miles (Dan Merwin won in 14:42) then back up to five miles for the next two years and moved to a course by Xavier University. Eventually, a 1936 cancellation only reinforced local determination: the six-mile tradition returned in 1937, stronger than ever thanks to help from the Elks Club. From here, the race would stabilize to the 6 mile distance and remain there for the next few decades.
Running Legends take the Stage
The 1940s brought some of the race’s most enduring legends. Gilbert Dodds, “The Flying Parson,” won five times while also holding the world-record in the mile (4:05.3)—all as a working pastor (hence the nickname). Ted Corbitt, later known as the father of American long-distance running, competed in 1942–43 before helping found New York Road Runners and becoming the first African-American Olympic marathoner.
Arguably the most prestigious winner in the races history was a Miami freshman by the name of Bob Schul when he set a six-mile course record of 27:33 in 1957. Seven years later, he would go on to win Olympic gold in the 5K in Tokyo, still the only American to ever do so.
Tradition in Transformation
As trailblazers stepped forward, barriers fell. In 1958, Connie Blackburn became the first woman to compete in the walking race. She finished 11th overall and was honored with a trophy. For reference, the first woman didn't run the Boston Marathon until 1966 when Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb famously endured through a race official trying to pull her off the course. Also, Title IX for equal opportunity wasn't passed until 1972. The Thanksgiving Day Race was ahead of it's time!
The late ’50s also saw it's first tie—when Steve Takesky and Nick Kitt couldn’t be separated at the tape. The 1960s ushered in a slight decrease in the race's distance as it lowed to a 5.5 mile race for a decade. Race standardization was still in progress.
A few other local stars to mention from this time: Deer Park’s Andy Schramm set the Ohio high school mile record before winning the Thanksgiving Day Race twice. Jack Bacheler carried his Thanksgiving championship success into two Olympic appearances.
The race also faced some adversity in the 60's as long-time organizer Sebastian Linehan stepped down and the race would be in dire need of someone to carry the torch. This was a tough performance to follow as Sebastian was key in securing top runners and walkers over the years. Don Wahle would be the one to step up, with help from Kent Friel and Bob MacVeigh, and have his newly formed Ohio Valley Track Club take over. The Elk's Club would continue in assisting with the race and serve as the post-race hangout spot for the athletes.
Don’s quote above paints a vivid picture of that era. For many years, running was seen as a pursuit reserved for elite athletes. But his reflections capture a pivotal mindset shift—when running began to be embraced not just as a competitive sport, but as a personal journey and a widely accessible hobby. It marked the beginning of a movement where achievement was measured not only by speed, but by participation and purpose.
The 70's Running Revolution
1971 was a ground breaking year. 13-year-old Marie Kastrup finally became the first honored female champion. She was a local running star and would go on to win the next 4 times as well. She was coached by Don Wahle. On the men's side that year, Reggie McAfee would take the win. He was the first African-American man to break 4 minutes in the mile and is now inducted into the OATCCC Hall of Fame.
As the 70's progressed, so did America's interest in running, largely thanks to Frank Shorter’s 1972 Olympic marathon gold (an ode to the 1908 gold by Hayes). This inspiration hit home in Cincinnati as the Thanksgiving Day Race field sizes soared from under 100 to over 1,000. Start and finish lines migrated from Fort Thomas to Newport Shopping Plaza, Elk’s Lodge to Union Terminal, and Covington’s Latonia Plaza, each move reflecting a growing field and evolving logistics.
Midwest phenoms Duane Gaston and Tom Blumer accounted for multiple wins each through this transformative decade on the men's side. The race course's distance varied from 5.5 miles up to 10k through these years.
By the late 70's, Don Wahle's reign as race director had revolutionized the Thanksgiving Day Race. During his time, he used the race proceeds to help grow local running with a track series and Labor Day cross country race. As he made decisions to step down, Don Connolly and his wife, Carol, would take over.
The Rise of Cincinnati Greats
Lots of greatness made it's way to these Cincy streets, but it would be Julie Isphording who truly rewrote the record books and dominated the 80's. Racing on home roads, she claimed victory nine times, more than any runner in the event’s history. Her dominance in running exceled beyond the Thanksgiving Day Race and earned her a spot on the first U.S. women’s Olympic marathon team in Los Angeles, 1984, and set a standard that still feels untouchable. Julie was born in Cincinnati and started running at age 17 to help with tennis. She ran with the Xavier University men's cross country team, as there was no women's team at the time.
Karen Cosgrove notched several Turkey Day victories during that era and qualified for the same Olympic Trials as Julie. She also played a pivotal role in standardizing the race at the 10K distance. Hoping to submit her Thanksgiving Day Race times to other race directors for appearance fees—who required results from a certified 10K—Karen advocated for the change. Don Connolly adjusted the course accordingly, and it has remained a 10K ever since.
A few other notes from the 80's. Olympian Craig Virgin competed in 1986 but after dealing with an injury, finished in 11th. Also, there was another tie in 1983 as Dave Schaufuss and Steve Gosney crossed the line at the same time. Although, some formal results show Steve as the winner.
In 1988, the usual Thanksgiving morning calm gave way to a memorable dash across the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge. Eric Fillinger was cruising toward victory when a friendly German Shepherd bounded alongside him. “He was just running around my feet,” Fillinger laughed later, “and getting in front of me.” The dog crossed the finish unofficially, but his impromptu pacing guided Eric to victory in a time of 30:48.
Records Fall, Legends Emerge
The 1990s and early 2000s largely belonged to John Sence on the men's side. Hailing from Milford, he racked up six titles—more men’s wins than anyone else in the race's history—and set the current 10K record of 29:29 in 1998 (discounted only by a misrouted lead pack in 2001 that led to a short course). Sence parlayed those successes into berths at the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, cementing his status as one of Greater Cincinnati’s all-time greats.
UC Star, Jeff Johnson, also claimed a turkey with a trio of wins in this decade.
On the women’s side, Kelly Keeler traded in cigarettes for running shoes when she picked up the sport at 31 years old. She then went on to win three Thanksgiving titles and smashed the women’s 10K record at 33:43 which stands to this day. She also qualified for two Olympic Trials, proving that it’s never too late to start running.
Another fun story. In 1994, the field was misdirected and the race cut short. Don Connolly, being a math teacher, aptly sent out a calculation for runners to compute what their 10k time would've been! The world without Strava and GPS watches.
Tradition into the New Millenium
When the calendar flipped to the 2000s, nine-time champion Julie Isphording returned to leading the race, this time as director. The year 2000 was also the last year for a point-to-point course before changing to a looped course which has remained since. The following decade saw Christopher Reis claim four wins and dozens of other local race titles. Jen Alessandro celebrated three straight turkey-day victories on the women's side while two were claimed by Kathryn Krieger. Also, throw in Middletown star, Jeff See, for a win too.
The 2010's saw a majority of titles go to New Richmond’s own Eric Finan, as he racked up three titles, multiple UC records, and later on, a ticket to the 2020 Olympic Trials. The other male dominating this era was another local, J.J. Webber, who added his name to the honor roll with four consecutive wins. Meanwhile, Tina Muir and Tori Gerlach ruled the women’s fields. Gerlach eventually became the first woman to join the professional team, Tinman Elite, and also eventually punched her Olympic Trials ticket.
Post-Pandemic Revival
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced only the third cancellation in 116 years. Previously, only World War 1 and the 1936 race management issues had caused the race to miss a year. However the race roared back in 2021, driven by local collegians, club runners, and the community eager to reclaim lost ground.
In 2023, organizers introduced a 5K race to the event lineup. The addition wasn’t without its hiccups—during the race, the lead pack was mistakenly directed off course, resulting in the disqualification of the top six runners and an unexpected victory for the seventh-place finisher. Meanwhile, in the 10K, reigning champion Isaiah Kelly arrived late to the start line. Despite clocking a blazing 30:43 chip time, he couldn’t overcome the gun-time advantage that handed Max Hoffman the win. Since then, directors have smoothed things out!
It’s worth noting that since the addition of the 5K, blazing fast records have already been set—Ben Bayless clocked an impressive 14:40, while Katie Ruhlman zoomed through with a 17:15. Talk about setting the pace! On the 10k side, both Max Hoffman and Katie Hallahan will return eyeing their third wins in a row.
A New Era
Now, as 2025 approaches, the race enters a new era under the stewardship of FC Cincinnati. With Julie Isphording’s tenure as director coming to a close, the future with FC Cincinnati feels charged with possibility. FC plans to utilize their resources and facilities to continue growing the race and making it better than ever.
Runners and walkers alike have taken to the Cincinnati streets on Thanksgiving Day for over a century now. 116 years of tradition. From its “baby marathon” roots to its present status as a polished 10K spectacle, Cincinnati’s Thanksgiving Day Race has carried on through every changing stride in it's history. The holiday's added tradition of accomplishment with family, friends, and the community before partaking in the food and relaxation of the day is something that has transcended through era after era.
Exploring the history of this remarkable race has been a true joy. It’s rare to encounter an event with such deep roots and enduring legacy. Over the years, countless running legends have raced these streets, and visionary leaders have helped shape its course. What’s struck me most is how this race has served as a spotlight for some of the Midwest’s greatest athletes—an enduring stage for excellence. Even with all the ones highlighted in this article, there are countless more.
While I’ve focused much on the champions, it’s the heart of the community—and the spirit of Cincinnati—that have truly sustained and grown this race for over a century. Preserving any tradition through the twists and turns of history is no small feat. Cincinnati is, without a doubt, a special place. I think it's only apt to end with this quote from a former champ:
"To miss this race would be like having Thanksgiving without the turkey." - Tom Blumer (1980)
Thanksgiving Day Race Champions
Info and Registration for the Thanksgiving Day Race: https://thanksgivingdayrace.com/
Elite Program Information: Elite Program
Bob Roncker's article: https://gcincyrunhistory.blogspot.com/2016/11/v1-49-thanksgiving-day-race-during-20th.html
Tommy Kaufmann's article: https://running-shorts.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-brief-history-of-107-year-old-race.html
Credit to Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati Post for years of archives. Without them, we'd have no records of these stories and results.
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