Happy 5th Birthday To OHventures

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY OHVENTURES!

OHventures officially turned 5 YEARS OLD on April 12, 2016! It's hard to believe that we've been around that long! This just proves that time really does fly when you're having fun.

It's been a blast sharing the unique, exhilarating and thrilling things that make Ohio a cool place to live or visit. Whether you are seeking extreme adventures, physical challenges, interesting excursions, or a good excuse to get off your couch and explore the Buckeye state, this blog is for you.

To celebrate this milestone, we sifted through the over 500 posts on the blog to revisit some of our favorite and most popular adventures! 

And now, some OHventures superlatives, as chosen by yours truly!

OHVENTURES SUPERLATIVES

Most Scenic OHventure: Explore Geneva-On-The-Lake

Honorable Mention: Kayak The Bay at PIB

Coolest OHventure: Stand Up Guys Paddle Boarding

Honorable Mention: Kalahari Indoor Water Park 

Coldest OHventure: Cryotherapy Plus

Honorable Mention: Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump

Dirtiest OHventure: Tough Mudder Ohio

Honorable Mention: Spartan Race Ohio

Craziest OHventure: Skydive Your Fears Away

Honorable Mention: Cupid's Undie Run

Scariest OHventure: Haunted Prison Experience

Honorable Mention: Local Music Meets The Walking Dead

Tastiest OHventure: Columbus Food Adventures Taco Truck Tour

Honorable Mention: Canton Food Tours

Wildest OHventure: The Wilds Open Air Safari

Honorable Mention: Meet an Elephant at Cincinnati Zoo

Booziest OHventure: Columbus Pedal Wagon

Honorable Mention: Rhinegeist Brewery

Most Unique OHventure: Float Tank at Bodhi Tree Guesthouse

Honorable Mention: Mohican Tree House Cabins

Most Challenging OHventure: Cap City Half Marathon

Honorable Mention: VeloSano 100-Mile Bike Ride

Here is to many more years of giving the world items for their very own Buckeye Bucket List!

Cleveland's "A Christmas Story" House

Photos by OHventures

A Christmas Story House & Museum
3159 W 11th Street
Cleveland, OH 44109
(216) 298-4919

Do you still have that Christmas itch? Did you find it hard to get into the holiday spirit due to the unusually warm winter Oho has had so far? Are you sad that all the festivities have come and gone so quickly?

Even though Christmas has technically passed, there is one place in Ohio where the sun never sets on Christmas: the “A Christmas Story” House & Museum located in the Tremont neighborhood in Cleveland.

Everyone is familiar with this insanely popular holiday film, in part due to the 24-hour marathon of the movie every Christmas season on TBS! Who could forget the film's central character, Ralphie - the boy who wanted nothing more for Christmas than a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle, but was repeatedly denied of his request by Santa, his teacher, and his parents - all warning him by retorting, "you'll shoot your eye out!"

The movie is iconic in so many ways. The movie scared me into not swearing so that I didn't get my mouth washed out with a bar of red soap, and to this day I still get freaked out when I watch the "tongue stuck to a flagpole" scene.

You may recall me participating in the annual A Christmas Story Run around this time last year. This was a 5K with a finish line at the unmistakable yellow and green house (pictured above) that appeared in the 1983 cult classic movie. It's such a popular movie that hundreds and hundreds of people run each year, many dressed in pink bunny suits and evil elf costumes to represent the colorful cinematic characters.

Goofing around in the gift shop!

This Christmas season, I visited the house once again (this time not in any running attire) with my friend from Toledo, Steve. Steve is a huge movie buff and so I knew this would be right up his alley when he visited Cleveland. The A Christmas Story House is open all year-long, 7 days a week! So even if it's not Christmas time, you can still get a taste of the holidays. Admission is just $10 for adults, and it gives you entry to the house itself, as well as the museum located directly across the street.

Tickets are purchased in the gift shop (also across the street from the house), and tours run every half hour, beginning at 10:15 AM. Tickets never expire, so you can bring it back again and again in order to visit the house over and over! 

Steve in front of THE house!

Steve and I easily found free street parking, but nearby houses also charge small fees if the streets are filled. Be prepared for standing in line outside, because this place is super popular! We had to wait in line about 15-20 minutes, but this gave us time to pose for photos in front of the house, and hear a few tidbits of trivia from one of the tour guides who was on the porch.

It's A Major Award!

The house was used for filming all exterior shots of the movie (including when The Old Man put the infamous leg lamp in the front window, and the backyard scenes with Ralphie fighting the robbers and shooting his gun). However, interior shots were filmed on a sound stage. Therefore, the inside of the house is merely a replica of what the film contained. The leg lamps found inside are also replicas (in fact, the original no longer exists, as it was broken after filming). The furniture, props, and Christmas decorations are all recreated to make it look like Ralphie's house. It's fun to walk around and feel like you are in the movie. We had a kick posing with the BB gun and leg lamp!

Steve and I inside the A Christmas Story House

Immediately after our self-guided tour, we went to the museum across the street where we saw some really awesome memorabilia from A Christmas Story. This included actual costumes (such as the maroon winter coat worn by Ralphie's little brother), vehicles (like the fire truck that came to help during the flagpole scene), scripts, photos, and memorable props (such as a piece of the classroom chalkboard and the actual BB gun)!

Before we left, I of course had to buy a miniature leg lamp Christmas ornament (which was just $11, versus the $500 for a large leg-size leg lamp)! Our visit to this landmark was one for the books. It's great to have such an important piece of American pop culture right here in Cleveland, Ohio! 

Happy Holidays From OHventures

Photo by OHventures

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all of my readers of OHventures! Thank you so much for your continued support in my quest to show everyone just how cool Ohio can be! May the next year bring you an endless thirst for adventure! See you in 2016!

Presidents' Day at McKinley Museum

Photos by OHventures

Ohio is known as the "Mother of Presidents," since 8 of our nation's leaders hailed from the Buckeye State. As such, there are several spots throughout the state where monuments and memorials dedicated to these presidents can be found. Canton (Stark County), Ohio, is the resting place of the 25th President, William McKinley.

Canton was McKinley’s “adopted” home, having been born in Niles (near Youngstown), Ohio, and later practicing law in Canton. He lived here when he became Governor of Ohio until he later had to, of course, move to Washington, D.C., to serve as president. History is rich here at the absolutely stunning and ornate monument, built for him after being assassinated in 1901.

Even if you’re not a history or political buff like me, you will still appreciate what this building holds and represents. You'll appreciate even more the adjacent museum dedicated to the historical leader.

The William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum is where education meets excitement. This learning hub has so much to offer visitors, especially school-aged children. So, I planned a visit this February with my good friends Jamie and Erik, along with their girls Ellie (6) and Kaiya (2) so we could see for ourselves all that was held within the museum walls.

We immediately realized that this was not your average presidential museum. While of course there were exhibits dedicated to William McKinley, there was also much more, including history exhibits, live animals, dinosaur fossils, a planetarium and plenty of interactive components to keep the kids (and even us adults) busy for literally hours.

Since our visit was in honor of Presidents' Day, we made sure to see the Second Floor of the museum to see the McKinley Gallery. This large room was organized to replicate the home of President William McKinley and his wife, Ida. There were artifacts from his private life, his life as an attorney, and his life in the White House. Animatronics of the McKinleys greet visitors and tell tales of his life.

READ MORE AT DISCOVERING OHIO

Great New Year's Eve Race Recap

Photo by OHventures

"What are ya doin' New Year's Eve?"

This question, appearing as a lyric in a popular song of the same name, often has an answer involving parties, confetti and booze. Of course, all of those things were a part of my New Year's Eve 2014-2015 celebration, but what if I told you that I also incorporated a 5K into the mix?

It's probably not surprising to most people that know me or follow my blog that I managed to find a 5K on New Year's Eve - of all days! However, the fact that I was able to actually find a race that took place on NYE in the area was a testament to just how popular the running craze has become in Ohio! I wouldn't even call it a "fad" anymore, folks. Running and 5Ks are here to stay - every day of the year, even holidays. We don't take breaks!

The event I signed up and showed up for was the Great New Year's Eve Race, a 5K that takes place in Stow in Summit County (the same city where the Birthday Bash Dash took place) and is organized and hosted by the Summit Athletic Running Club (SARC), of which I am now an official dues-paying member!

My great friend Anna from undergrad at OSU flew in ALL the way from Colorado to ring in the new year, and it was actually HER idea to do a 5K race on NYE (I may have a reputation for running races, but I suppose it's rubbing off on my friends). 

Given that the race was to take place at 4PM, it meant that it would be done and over with early enough that it would not interfere with our celebratory plans later that evening in Canton. It also meant that the sun was out in full force (maybe that's a bit of a hyperbole). It was indeed warmer at 4PM than it would have been if the race was early in the morning, but it was still frigid as F!

Photo by SARC

The course was an "out-and-back" design, which I have not seen too often nor run much. But, I found that I actually really enjoy that type of run. The course was also really hilly. It's nice that we ran DOWN the hills on the first half, but became treacherous and grueling when we had to run UP the same hills on the second half (when we had less energy).

We did choose to walk a couple of times on the course. One reason for this was because the extreme cold was affecting our breathing! Secondly, those damn hills. 

There was no shame in walking at portions of the race and thus clocking in at just over 30 minutes. It was nice to be active and cap off a fantastic 2014 with a 5K. I think it made the midnight champagne taste THAT much better!

Selfless Elf 2014 Recap

Photos by OHventures and the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank

"It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving." - Mother Teresa

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank has done it again with their 2nd Annual Selfless Elf 5K run in downtown Akron! 

The Selfless Elf 5K is quickly becoming one of my favorites, mainly due to how much I care about the local foodbank, which has recently been named as the BEST foodbank in the entire country. The theme behind the run is, on the surface, lighthearted and whimsical, with people of all ages decked out in holiday garb (most of which were elven in nature of course). 

However, there is a much deeper and more meaningful underlying theme of the race, which was to think of the less fortunate during the holiday season, and to give selflessly (get it?) to help fight hunger in the area. 

The race took place at 8AM on Saturday morning, December 20, 2014. The good thing was that there was no rain, but the bummer was that there was no snow. Like on Christmas Day, snow adds lots to the excitement of a holiday themed run!

Unfortunately, I misplaced my elf ears that I wore in last year's run. But, thankfully, all runners receive elf socks for registering. I threw those on, along with my Santa hat, to get in the festive spirit. I also wore a t-shirt from work, to match the others in our "Young Professionals" group that just started this fall. Being the Volunteer/Service Board Chair of the YPs, I organized our group to get together to help the cause.

Some members of our YP group gathered for a quick photo (below) with "Olaf" (of Disney's "Frozen," of course), and we gathered at the start line located on Opportunity Parkway in downtown Akron.

In addition to current co-workers, I was also treated to seeing former co-workers from Columbus, like my friend Mike (photo below) at the race. We had been wanting to do an event together for a long while, and finally got the chance to do so, since he is from the Akron area and was home for the holidays.

Mike & I kept a very gentle pace of approximately 9 minutes/mile (at my pique, I was doing 7:30 minute/miles). Lately I have been taking it rather slowly in my races (Gobble Wobble, Christmas Story Run), because I have not been practicing as much lately in between official races. My theory is: "no matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch." 

Mike & Mike - Elf Selfies!!

The event was a HUGE success - with hundreds and hundreds of selfless elves flooding the city streets all to raise money and awareness for the hungry in Northeast Ohio. Hats (and ears) off to all of those at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank for making this a reality!

A Christmas Story Run Recap

Photos by OHventures

A Christmas Story House

3159 W 11th Street
Cleveland, OH 44109
(216) 298-4919

We all know the tale of little old Ralphie - the boy who wanted nothing more for Christmas than a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle, but was repeatedly denied of his request by Santa, his teacher, and his parents - all warning him by retorting, "you'll shoot your eye out!" 

We followed Ralphie throughout the cult classic movie "A Christmas Story" on his quest to convince others he should get his prized BB gun. Along the way, we are introduced to such iconic scenes and images, such as the pink bunny suit, the tongue frozen to the flagpole, and of course the infamous leg lamp!

The movie is played every year during the holiday season - including a 24-hour repetitive showing on TBS on Christmas Day. If you haven't seen this 1983 movie (set in the 1940s), then you are certainly missing out on a huge piece of American culture!

What some people might not realize is that a large portion of scenes from A Christmas Story were filmed in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. The home of Ralphie and his family can be found at 3159 W. 11th Street, still standing in all of its yellow and green glory - gawdy Christmas lights and tacky leg lamp still visible year 'round. The house is open to the public for tours 7 days a week, except for major holidays. The house was reconstructed inside (since most of the interior shots were filmed on a sound stage) to resemble the interior from the film.

To celebrate the film's popularity, and to raise money to galvanize the neighborhood and provide upkeep for the landmark for years to come, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance and A Christmas Story House Neighborhood Restoration Project have created the A Christmas Story 5K/10K in 2013. 

The race starts in Public Square in downtown Cleveland, with the 5K finish line located directly in front of the A Christmas Story House (and the 10K finish line located where the race began). Race participants receive great swag, including a movie-themed medal and t-shirt, and loads of post-race fuel, the most important of which being "rich chocolate Ovaltine," as enjoyed by Ralphie himself. 

Best of all, runners receive a ticket (located on their bib) to enter and tour the house for free! 

Of course, I had to jump on the bandwagon to run in this race on December 6, 2014. It contains so many elements of the things I love: running, Christmas, and a healthy serving of childhood nostalgia!

I was certainly not alone in the nostalgia department, as many folks were decked out in costumes inspired by characters in the film - there were burglars (from a dream sequence in which sheriff Ralphie "shoots" a bunch of intruders), pink bunnies, elves, and even leg lamp costumes!!

Because I decided late in the game that I would make the trek to Cleveland to run, I had to settle with an ugly Christmas sweater and a Santa hat. They did the trick for sure! I met up with my fraternity brother Jason (who now lives in town) and we ran at a leisurely pace in the chilly lakeside air. We completed the run in approx. 28:36, retrieved our swag, and gawked in marvel at the A Christmas Story house (photo above).

Discover Zoo Lights In Ohio

Photo by Discovering Ohio

The following is a post that can be found in its entirety on Discovering Ohio, the Ohio Division of Tourism's official blog. OHventures partners with Discovering Ohio and contributes monthly articles. This post was written by Discovering Ohio blogger Anietra Hamper. We wanted to include it here due to our love of "zoo lights" in Ohio!

There are few holiday traditions that can compete with strolling through the Wildlights display at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on a chilly December evening.

The smell of fresh kettle corn in the air, my cup of hot coco to keep me warm and the sounds of holiday music and excited children provide a festive backdrop.

This is a winter wonderland of three million colorful, twinkling lights that whisks me away to that magical place where Christmas comes to life.

I set out to North America to look for Santa’s reindeer and stop along the way to marvel at how fascinating is to see the zoo in such a different light - literally. Zoos throughout Ohio are giving visitors lots of reasons to bundle-up and head out in this winter.

Holiday experiences can be found at:

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Cincinnati Zoo

Toledo Zoo

Akron Zoo

READ MORE AT DISCOVERING OHIO

Happy Holidays From OHventures

Photo by Green Elephant Photography

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all of my readers of OHventures! Thank you so much for your continued support in my quest to show everyone just how cool Ohio can be! May the next year bring you an endless thirst for adventure! See you in 2015!

Gobble Wobble 5K Recap

While most people have turkey and football to look forward to on Thanksgiving morning, my family also has running on that list of holiday traditions!

With hundreds of 5Ks taking place on Thanksgiving Day across the country with hundreds of thousands of participants, we are certainly not alone in this growing trend!

Since 2012, the Evans family has thrown on our compression clothes and laced up our running shoes to take part in the Warren Kiwanis Turkey Trot. However, this year, we switched it up a bit and signed up for the  Shenango Conservancy Gobble Wobble 5K located in Buhl Farm Park in Hermitage, PA.

Yes, I know. I realize that this race is not in Ohio, and therefore it doesn't technically make it an OHventure. I myself was none too pleased with our change in venue for this reason alone. But, truth be told, this turkey trot is closer to our house in Hubbard than the one in Warren. And, everyone else wanted to give it a shot, so, majority rules.

But - just because this wasn't in Ohio doesn't mean there aren't a cornucopia of turkey trots that you can choose from if you do decide to take part in this tradition in years to come. Check out a list of some of those turkey trots at this link.

The Gobble Wobble is pretty popular! There were over 1,500 runners present on Thanksgiving morning, despite the blustery conditions. It was in the 30s with snow flurries and gray skies overlooking the icy pond, Lake Julia. Folks were crowded in the beautiful park, many with Thanksgiving-themed attire, such as pumpkin pie hats, turkey sweaters, Native American garb, and fall-colored tutus. There were even people braving the weather showing some skin

We met up with my friends Matt and Jess and we all decided to make it more of a leisurely run than a competitive race. This was perfect, since we all had a long day ahead, and it allowed for us to take in the scenic views of the park's gardens and landscaping. Even in the winter, Buhl Park (one in which I have frequented over the years) still looks beautiful and serene.

The Casino

Our pace was set at a very steady 9-minute mile, partly due to our choice, and partly because of the large crowd we were stuck behind. We started by the "Casino" (the large white building which is the focal point of the park, regularly housing social gatherings and park activities) and circled around Kite Field for Mile #1. Mile #2 continued past Lake Julia, the baseball diamond, the Julia Buhl Memorial Gardens, and the Wilderness Area. Finally, Mile #3 made its way past the Acker Gazebo & Becky's Garden, finishing by Kite Field and the Casino.

Along the way, we had some fun by goofing off and catching snowflakes on our tongues, and pushed ourselves to conquer the giant hill near the end of the course. It was great to go at such a gentle pace that we were able to talk and catch up, taking our minds off the cold! At the finish line, hot chocolate, coffee and popcorn awaited us in the pavilion.

While I still had hoped we trotted and wobbled in Ohio rather than Pennsylvania, it was still a refreshing and exciting 5K with family and friends. And, thus, the tradition continues!

Haunted Prison Experience

Photos by OHventures

There’s no setting more perfect for a haunted house than the famed Ohio State Reformatory located in Mansfield in the heart of Richland County. The decaying walls and rusted cells of this 19^th century prison make for an authentically spooky backdrop for the countless shrieks and screams of those passing through.

Even without being filled with grisly monsters and decked out in ghastly decorations, this historic landmark provides an eerie and bone-chilling visit. Add the expertise of award-winning haunted house specialists from Toledo-based Haunted X Enterprises, and you’re in store for one unforgettable Halloween!

For the past 13 years, the Ohio State Reformatory has been offering the Haunted Prison Experience during the fall for anyone brave enough to enter the creepy castle-like structure. In recent years, there have been approximately 32,000-35,000 visitors during the six-week span that the haunted house attraction is open.

This year is no different! Haunted X Enterprises has teamed up once again with the Ohio State Reformatory to present the Haunted Prison Experience: Supernatural II on selected dates from September 26 through November 1. The hours of operation are Thursdays from 7-11 PM, Fridays & Saturdays from 7 PM – Midnight, and Sundays from 7-10 PM. The gates open at 6:00 and the box office opens at 6:30.

Because of the large amount of thrill seekers, it is advised to arrive early and prepare for potentially long lines (which are most definitely worth the wait). You can also consider purchasing tickets online ahead of time (including “speed passes” to help you avoid the wait)! It is important to note that you must be 13 years or older to enter, and that the prison is not handicapped accessible (due to the old age of the building).

Once you are led into the doors of the prison, brace yourself for everything creepy, freaky, and gory to get your heart rate pounding. The smell of fumes from buzzing chainsaws and the sounds of blood curdling screams can be made out through the sometimes pitch black interior of the prison! Stay close to your group, because you never know what will be lurking around the dark corners of this twisting maze. 

Actors, animatronics, and much more is waiting for you at this haunted attraction inside of a real prison (it has not been used as a real prison since it closed in 1990). Because some people believe that the prison is actually haunted by actual ghosts, you might even encounter some real paranormal activity (if you believe in that stuff).Hurry and check it out before it's gone for the year!

If you need your fix of fear during the off-season, you can also consider taking part in a ghost walk or ghost hunt! You can hear the stories  that cause many to believe the prison is haunted and even stay overnight to experience it for yourself. Most ghost hunt admissions are $70 per person, which includes access to the building and a late dinner of pizza and soda. Check out their website for more information on ghost hunts.

READ MORE AT DISCOVER OHIO

Happy National Running Day!

Why do you run? 

If you visit our blog often, you'll find that we run constantly, and we share all of our experiences here in hopes to encourage you to get involved in the best sport on earth as well! There are plenty of reasons we love running, and National Running Day is dedicated to expressing those reasons for all to hear! 

We run to explore Ohio. 

We run to make new friends.

We run to stay healthy.

We run to challenger ourselves.

We run to live longer.

We run to feel alive.

We run to make memories.

We run to complete our bucket list.

We run for those who can't.

We run for charity.

We run for camaraderie.

We run for the after party.

We run for the hell of it.

And the list goes on! In honor of National Running Day, OHventures has created a brand new page on the header of our blog that will serve as an archive for ALL of the races we have participated in, and for all of the tips and tidbits we have shared along the way. Visit our new running page and be sure to let us know why YOU run!

VISIT THE BRAND NEW OHVENTURES RUNNING PAGE

St. Patrick's Day in Cleveland

Photo by OHventures

The luck of the Irish reigns supreme in the streets of Cleveland year 'round, and especially during the St. Patrick's Day holiday! There is no better place to be in Ohio than in the good ol' CLE during the shamrock shenanigans, and I had the chance the experience it for myself.

The 147th Annual Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade began at 1:04 at the intersection of Superior Avenue and East 18th Street and had approximately 13,000 marchers on the two-mile, two-hour route around town!

But the adult fun was more up my speed - loads of green beer, Irish car bombs and shots of Jameson paired with feet-stomping Celtic punk and folk jigs complete with bagpipes, fiddles and bodhrans! The strip of bars and pubs tucked away in the East 4th Street Neighborhood (pictured above) was definitely THE place to be for all the March madness. And the best place in the 4th Street Neighborhood on St. Patty's Day is the Cleveland House of Blues. I was bouncing around in a crowd full of gawdy green garb while bands like Boys From The County Hell and the Prodigals played.

Next year, take it upon yourself to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Cleveland. You won't be disappointed.

Cupid's Undie Run Photo Blog

Who: Hundreds of brave and brazen friends & strangers.
What: Cupid's Undie Run
When: Valentine's Day Weekend (February 15, 2014)
Where: Cleveland, Cincinnati, and 28 other cities worldwide.
Why: To raise funds to benefit the Children's Tumor Foundation
How: Strip into your undies, raise some cash, and lace up!

View more photos on Cleveland Scene

Cupid's Undie Run Recap

Photos by OHventures

If there is one thing I learned this Valentine's Day, it's that there should be an undie run every weekend.

I threw out my inhibitions and set aside my clothing in order to participate in Cupid's Undie Run on Saturday, February 15. Hundreds of fellow scantily clad runners joined me in the frigid streets of Cleveland, while thousands and thousands of others joined in 30 other cities across the globe: from Atlanta to Washington, and everywhere in between (including two cities in Australia)!

I had the time of my life bringing the hilarity to charity, individually raising $150 to benefit the Children's Tumor Foundation, which is seeking a cure for neurofibromatosis (a genetic disease that causes tumors and chronic pain). This was a part of the greater total of nearly $250,000 raised by Clevelanders, and just under $2.7 million raised worldwide!

Donning my "bedroom best," which consisted solely of the red "I'm With Cupid" boxer briefs I received in my swag bag, I made my way to the neighborhood of Tremont with my pal Nadine (she was not running, but merely there for some much needed moral support)!

This event was certainly not for the timid or modest, so luckily I had no problem dropping trou and joining the rest of the ridiculously dressed personalities in the heated party tent (located just outside of the South Side bar). In fact, wearing clothes into this tent would make me feel more awkward than wearing just my under guchies!

For those who were a bit more reluctant to practically get naked (even though they should have known what they were signing up for), there was thankfully plenty of liquid courage available inside the tent - loads of Mich Ultra, Shock Top, and Valentine-themed cocktails! In fact, you could not be under 21 years of age to participate in the Cupid's Undie Run - that's how hardcore this party was!

Nadine was definitely a bit shellshocked by the spectacle of exhibitionists drinking, dancing, celebrating, and gearing up to run (see her priceless reaction in the photo above). I, on the other hand, was having a BLAST, making new friends and running into old friends from the dorm days of college (which, ironically, this reminded me of).

Seeing all of the crazy costumes - cupid wings, suspenders, hats, boas, capes, masks, accessories, body paint, and - ahem - creative undergarments, made me feel UNDERdressed (if that is possible!). and had the wheels turning in my head to come up with a better get-up for next year. I mean, there was even a dude wearing an American flag mankini, for cryin' out loud!

As you can tell, the party itself was the main event. The "run" portion of the Cupid's Undie Run was just a small interruption to the excitement taking place inside the tent. Had it been just a smidge warmer, that might not have been the case. But, then again, the "freezin' for a reason" aspect of the event was part of the challenge! While the skies were a bright blue, it was still extremely cold outside (maybe 15 degrees and very windy).

Because of this, the run organizers opted to cut the course seemingly in half. The funny part about this is that we had no idea that the course would be significantly shorter than the 1-mile run we were expecting until we found ourselves at the finish line! If I had to guess, I would say that the course was roughly 0.5 miles - at MOST! It was a pleasant surprise, to say the least! The cold was pretty unbearable, even for those in more than just their undies.

Thus, the party continued! And I have to say, this was one of the most fun parties I have been to in a LONG time! Maybe it was the fact that we have all been couped up indoors for so long, maybe it was the freezing weather that has made us all so slaphappy, or maybe it's the joy of knowing we have raised so much money. Whatever the reason, I know for certain I will be doing the Cupid's Undie Run again next year - and you should too!!

Cupid's Undie Run

On February 15, 2014, nearly 20,000 scantily clad runners in 27 cities across the United States and three cities in Australia will be raising awareness of Neurofibromatosis (NF) and donations to the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) through Cupid’s Undie Run. Sponsored by MeUndies and recognized as the world’s largest organized underwear run, the event requires participants to strip off the usual workday wear and show their support for research of NF in just…their undies.

“Kids with NF have to overcome challenges on a daily basis,” says Chad Leathers, Cupid’s Undie Run co-­founder. “This event puts people in an uncomfortable situation while putting some hilarity in charity.”

The idea for Cupid’s Undie Run was born in February 2010 with the desire to help a friend in need. In 2009, Drew Leathers became paraplegic during his battle with NF, spent 183 days in the hospital and was bedridden for the remainder of the year. Determined to help Chad’s brother, friends Brendan Hanrahan and Bobby Gill rallied alongside Chad to create an event that would support research efforts to the CTF. After just 30 days of planning, the first Cupid’s Undie Run was held in Washington, DC with more than 650 runners in six-­‐feet of snow.

“What started as a small event to help a friend has grown into a national effort that includes the support of the entire NF community with a mission to end NF,” said Gill, Cupid’s Undie Run co-­founder.

The event’s success in raising awareness and funding research culminated in December 2012. After giving a speech at the CTF Gala, and with the assistance of Chad, Drew lifted himself out of the wheelchair that he had been restricted to for nearly four years. To date, Cupid’s Undie Run has donated nearly $2 million and is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) non-­profit, operated by dozens of volunteers throughout the country. This year, Cupid's Undie Run will be held in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boise, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Louisville, Mason City, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Omaha, Orland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Seattle, Silicon Valley, St. Louis and Washington, DC.

Join OHventures as a runner, spectator, or supporter of Cupid's Undie Run!!

Selfless Elf Recap

Kyle and Me after the Selfless Elf!

On December 21, 2013, I participated in the Selfless Elf, the inaugural 5K run orchestrated by the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank.

 

This event was meaningful to me in a number of ways. First and foremost, the race was a benefit for the Foodbank, where I have gone to volunteer along with my fellow coworkers from Akron General Medical Center.

Getting the opportunity to help area folks in need of food and sustenance is a great way to spread holiday cheer. It was also wonderful getting the chance to run again in my new stomping grounds of Akron. I previously ran the Akron Marathon and was on such a high zooming through what I am now calling home.

Additionally, the fact that the Selfless Elf was a holiday themed race made it even more fun. I love Christmas SO MUCH, so anything that involves me dressing up in striped elf socks (provided to every runner), an elf hat with elf ears (provided by my mother), and a bright red jacket (provided by myself) is a winner in my book. Best yet, this attire was adorned by nearly every single runner - some elaborating on the elf/Christmas theme by wearing Santa hats, elf beards, elf shoes, reindeer antlers, wrapping paper, garland, blinking tree lights, and the list goes on!

 

Also, the Selfless Elf was my 20th (and final) running event in 2013, and my 30th race in 2012 & 2013 combined. That in and of itself made this particular event that much more exciting, as it was a milestone in my running career.

 

Funny enough, out of all 30 races in 2012 and 2013, the Selfless Elf was the ONE AND ONLY race that rained. That is quite an accomplishment for running in Ohio's sporadic climate. It is pretty funny that the only rain occurred on the very last race of the year. It's as if Mother Nature did not want me to be able to brag about not having a single race with rain. Alas, the raindrops (which were plentiful), were in my book much better than sub-zero temperatures, which would be typical for this time of the year. Instead, it was in the 50s, which is better than the temperature for a lot of other events.

 

The course, although wet and peppered with puddles, was very easy-going with hardly any hills! Even though it was overcast, there was a lot of scenery. We started at the Foodbank (of course) and ran northeast on Opportunity Parkway, connecting to Bowery Street. We ran on Bowery until we reached Main Street and turned right by the Akron Civic. We then ran from Falor Street, to Bartges, to Dart Ave., where we crossed the finish line. I completed the race in 24:16 (placing 65/695), which was not too shabby considering the rain and early start time of 8AM.

 

Another cool factor of the Selfless Elf was getting to run as part of Team Compass, which is led by the founder of Compass Media, Doug Kish. Compass Media was a sponsor of the event, and is also the publishers of a number of articles I have written for the Akron/Canton area. Finally running an event with Doug and Compass Media was long overdue!

 

My friend Kyle, who I have met through working with the Akron Chamber, was also present, and he completed the race in an impressive time of approximately 20 minutes! He ended up winning first place in his age group with that lightning speed!

 

The event was a huge success, with over 750 elfish participants, and an impressive $30,000 raised for the Foodbank. I am very happy to have participated in such a fantastic event that enforces the spirit of giving and selflessness. Many thanks to Stephanie and everyone else at the Foodbank for making it possible!