From mid September/October print RUNOHIO
This time of the year is many runners' favorite time to be able to call themselves runners. The fall weather is a welcome relief from the summer heat and humidity. The fall foliage and cool weather makes for some outstanding runs and races. Plus, many athletes are competiting in cross-country. Many call cross-country the purest of all sports. Cross-country athletes can challenge themselves on various courses and after the race they can enjoy the great weather and scenery.

If you are looking for some outstanding competition to watch, check out your local high school or college cross country team's schedule and attend one of their meets. High school teams will host the league championships the second week of October with the District and Regional Championships to follow the next two weekends. The Ohio High School State Cross Country Championships will be held November 4th at Scioto Downs. This is always an outstanding event as the parking lot and stands overflow with fans. This championship is looking for a new site in 2007, as this is probably the final year the State Championships will be held there. I hope you can make it this year as next year's location is up in the air. There are a number of collegiate cross-country meets to be held over the next two months. One race which has showcased many Ohio colleges and universities over the years in the All Ohio Intercollegiate Cross Country Championships. This meet will be held Friday, October 4th. After the varsity races there is also an open race for runners.

I coach the boys and girls cross country teams at Bishop Watterson High School and we have a record number of runners participating this fall with 39 boys and 64 girls on the team. Luckily, I have three assistant coaches. As coaches we try to train and race our athletes to run personal bests at the end of the year. Another goal we have as a team is to enjoy training and racing so that these young runners will continue running after high school and hopefully when they get older like many of us. Much of my philosophy in coaching, whether at the high school level or with the Miami University women's team, which I started in graduate school, is similar to Bill Bowerman's philosophy. Elaine Binkley review's the book Bowerman and the Men of Oregon in this issue.

There are also a number of outstanding fall races being contested in the next few months, including a number of half marathons and marathons. Please check out the RUNOHIO calendar for a race to test your fitness. Race directors please check out the new Running Network National Race Calendar. Go to - http://www.rncalendar.com/creator/login.asp to list your race. Also, please send me a copy of your race flyers when you have your date for 2007.

I will be helping my mom and brother Jeff with the 19th annual Circleville Classic 5 Miler on October 21st. The big news with this race is that this will be the 100th anniversary of the Circleville Pumpkin Show, which will be held October 18th - 21st. The race results will be listed with both age group and overall finishers. However, awards for this special race will be pumpkin shaped medals given to the first 100 men and the first 100 women finishers. Register online at: https://www.signmeup.com/882VJK7

Registration for the March 4, 2007 Arnold 5K Pump and Run will start November 1st. Last year the event reach(ed) it limit of 600 athletes before the end of the year. Check the RUNOHIO web site - for more information or in the next issue of RUNOHIO.

This issue is a mid September/October issue. Next year these two months will be combined and RUNOHIO will print seven issues a year. This year I had hoped to print a separate September and October issue but a month ago I came down with a severe case of vertigo and was unable to do much for over a week. So, I decided to combine the issues and print it two weeks later. Don't forget to renew your subscription to RUNOHIO. If you are not a subscriber I hope you will subscribe. RUNOHIO has a special where by if you subscribe for the regular price of $15 you can sign up a friend for only $1. Thus, you can get two one-year subscriptions for only $8 each. For a subscription form go to - http://www.runohio.com/media/ads/Buddy% 20Ad_1.pdf

With coaching it is difficult for me to get to all of the races I would like to attend. It is my hope to get to the Minster Oktoberfest 10K, Dayton Corridor Half Marathon, Columbus Marathon, All Ohio Intercollegiate Cross Country Championships and the OHSAA State Cross Country Championships.

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

I hope you are able to enjoy a number of great fall runs.

Good luck with your training and racing.

Matt McGowan