From September/October 2007 print RUNOHIO
Cooler fall weather will soon greet us as we go out for a run or race. After a number of hot and rainy humid days, the cool fall air is just around the corner. This cool weather combined with the colorful Ohio autumn will allow for some excellent running conditions over the next two months. Many athletes will be testing their summer training in an upcoming fall race. A number of runners will tackle a half marathon or marathon. Good luck!

Numerous high school and college runners will be running cross country and getting ready for their Championships. If you have never watched a cross-country meet, take a few minutes to enjoy one in your area this fall. Mark your calendar for the Ohio High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championships on November 3rd at Scioto Downs. There are three girls and three boys races with the Girls Division III starting at 11am and the boys Division I being the final race of the day at 2:50 pm. Perhaps you can lace up your shoes and get involved in cross- country and run the open race at the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Cross Country Championships on Friday October 5th. Ohio Wesleyan University will host the All-Ohio in Delaware and if you don't want to run yourself, be sure to be there by 2pm to watch teams from over forty Ohio colleges and universities race. Also, Ohio will host the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships on December 8th at the Voice of America Park in West Chester. Top clubs from across the United States will vie for honors and bragging rights as the nation's top cross country team. More than 40 clubs and 1,000 competitors are expected to compete. There will be fives races; a community 6km, men master 10km, women master 10km, men open 10km and a women open 6km. I hope to be at the three above cross-country championships.

As many of you know I coach high school cross-country and I am amazed at the growing popularity of the sport at our school and other high schools. Last year our school had 91 runners participate. This year it looks like our team could have 100 runners. Presently, we have over 90 athletes but I always welcome others to join the team once school starts. Without a feeder school program this is vital, in many years I have fewer than 5 freshmen boys and 5 freshmen girls participate. Usually, I have more and more upperclassmen come out for the team later in their high school years, which is atypical. Last year we had a senior girl come out for the team during the first week of school and she ended up being in our top five by the end of the season. A few years ago I had one girl without any background in running come out for the team during her sophomore year and ended up making it to the State Cross Country Championship her senior year and then finished 4th in the 3200 meter in the Division I State Track Championships. One of the goals I have as a coach is to try to get each runner in their best shape possible by mid October in a way that they enjoy the sport and want to do it again the following year. Then, hopefully they are still running many years after high school.

I will be helping my bother Jeff and mom with the 20th annual Circleville Classic 5 Mile run on October 20th. The race starts and finishes at Circleville High School and will be held the Saturday of this year's 101st Circleville Pumpkin Show, which is held in downtown Circleville, one mile from the school.

Registration for the eighth annual Arnold 5K Pump and Run will start November 1st with a limit of 700 athletes. Last year the limit of 600 athletes was reached in less than thirty days. There will also be a traditional 5km, a run only. Both events will be held Sunday March 2nd during the 20th annual Arnold Classic in Columbus.

Good luck to all of the men running the US Olympic Marathon Trials. Interviews with the Ohio runners are included in this issue.

Elaine Binkley's RUNOHIO Book Review looks at Barefoot Runner: The Life of Marathon Champion Abebe Bikila, Rod O'Donnell article Keeping Track looks at the DVD - Showdown, Richard Ferguson's article deals with Developing a Psychology of Success, Nancy Clark's article looks at website dealing with Nutrition for Athletes and Eric Fruth's second article for beginner runners are also included in this issue. Plus, there is a review of cross- country shoes and The Running Network Fall Shoe Review is an insert.

Race directors don't forget to send RUNOHIO your upcoming race information so it may be listed in the most comprehensive Race Calendar in the Midwest. Feel free to complete the form in this issue and return it or mail RUNOHIO a race entry form. Also, please list your race in The Running Network National Race Calendar, just go to - www.rncalendar.com/creator/login.asp and complete the information. Also, don't forget to send RUNOHIO your race results.

Don't forget to renew your subscription to RUNOHIO or subscribe for the first time. Take advantage of the Buddy for a Buck special where you can get a subscription for $15 and then add a friend for only one dollar.

The deadline for the November/December RUNOHIO is October 15th.

Good luck with your fall running and racing.

I hope to see you at a race.

Matt McGowan