Run With a Really Cool Group on Saturday

If you want to be part of a really cool group, you will come out to Veterans' Park Saturday at 7:45 a.m. and run with us. The current forecast is for single digits when we start, but it should be sunny with hardly any wind. So if you dress appropriately, it shouldn't be too bad.

Saturday's route for all groups starts with a 6 mile loop that includes a mixture of roads and some on the Midland Valley Trail. The first half mile is pretty hilly, and that will get our bodies warmed up for the rest of the run, which isn't very hilly. The route has been scouted out, and although there are a few patches of snow and ice here and there, the route is pretty easily runnable for most of the way. 

Here are the directions for the 6 mile loop:

Head east on 21st and turn right on Boston Avenue. Turn left on 26th and then turn left on the trail. Follow the trail to 3rd Street and turn left. Turn right on Greenwood and left on Archer. Turn left at Boston and cross over the tracks, passing the Center of the Universe. Turn left on 1st Street, right on Cincinnati, right on 3rd, and left on Boston. Turn right on 18th and return to Veterans' Park.

Here are the scheduled distances for all the groups:

Beginner Half: 6 miles. You are finished after the 6 mile loop.

Advanced Half: 8 miles. After the loop run on the River Parks Trail to the pedestrian bridge and back to add 2 miles.

Beginner Full: 10 miles. After the loop run on the River Parks Trail to about 41st and back to add 4 miles.

Intermediate Full, Zurich Marathon: 12 miles. After the loop run on the River Parks Trail to Hwy 44 and back to add 6 miles.

Advanced Full: 14 miles. After the loop run south on the River Parks Trail to where the construction begins (around 58th St) and back to add 8 miles.