Oberlin Earth Day Run 2011

Lisa Shomo (257) and Oberlin City Council President Ken Sloane (263) happily cross the finish line at the Oberlin Earth Day Run. Usually Lisa and Ken are on their bikes.

 It turned out to be a beautiful day for the 2011 Oberlin Earth Day 5k Run. And it was a record turnout, according to race organizers. Check out our Facebook page for an album of photos of the day. Did you run? Don’t forget to tag yourself!

Sure signs of spring!

All the rain we’ve had lately has really served to green things up. Spring is here and our weather is steadily getting warmer. This will kick-start a healthy and active season:

Run

Saturday, April 23, 2011: Oberlin Earth Day 5k Run. Celebrating the 38th year! Run start is 10am at the Memorial Arch, Professor St (on Tappan Square). First 100 registrants get a free tshirt. For information, contact the City of Oberlin Recreation Department at 440.775.7254 or email recreation@cityofoberlin.com

Bike
The Lorain Wheelmen have a full calendar of rides scheduled. For more information and to join the club, click here.
 
Eat

Friday, April 29, 2011: Optimal Health on Raw Foods. Dr. John Felder from Australia to speak. Light snacks will be provided.  6:30pm at the Wayside Wellness at Our Lady of the Wayside, 38135 Colorado Ave., Avon, OH. For more information, contact John MacDonald at 440.458.5551


Sunday, May 1, 2011: The Path to Raw Food. 2–4pm. Guest speaker Joseph Maiville will talk about his health walk at the Raw Living Foods Potluck. Oberlin Public Library Community Room, 65 S. Main St., Oberlin. Bring plant-based raw living foods. Bring your own plates, cups, eating utensils, and serving utensil. Don't forget to stop by Yesterdays Ice Cream Shop for your raw, vegan desserts and snacks while you’re in town. 

2010 Oberlin Earth Day 5k and Kids Fun Run pics posted

First, second, third place. Photo: Ben Bickel

Check out the Back Roads and Beaches Facebook fan page (photo albums) for photos of today’s Oberlin Earth Day 5k and Kids Fun run.

Active spring events begin another great outdoor season

The weather this spring has been more like summer and cyclists have been out in droves! Businesses along the route are buzzing, wineries are busy and eateries are starting to serve outdoors again. Here are a few upcoming 5k runs, walks, competitions and other outdoor active events around north central Ohio.

Earth Day 5k Run/Walk and Children’s Fun Run
Saturday, April 17, 2010
10am (Children’s fun run at 9:15am)
The Oberlin Earth Day 5k Run is celebrating it’s 37th year. Please bring a non-perishable food and/or household item to donate to Oberlin Community Services.

Spring into Action 5K Race for Haiti
Saturday, April 17, 2010
9am at the Lorain County Metro Parks Bridgeway Trail-Days Dam
E 31st St. and East River Rd., Lorain, OH
The Course will begin and end at Days Dam. All proceeds will go directly to Habitat for Humanity International.

5th Annual Sandy Ridge Half Marathon & 10k
Sunday, April 18 7am registration, 8am race
Lorain County Community College
1005 Abbe Rd. North
Elyria, OH
This is a fast, flat looping course in and around the Sandy Ridge wetlands area, a spectacular birding hotspot.

NHA Walk/Run for the Homeless
May 8, 2010
Registration begins at 7am
Lorain County Community College
5k run, 1 mile walk to benefit homeless families. Each registration fee will cover the actual cost to feed and shelter one person for one night at the Haven Center.

Lorain County Heart Walk
May 15, 2010, 8:30–11am
Avon Commons
1-3 mile walk to benefit the American Heart Association

Kayaking Symposium
May 22, Lakeview Park, Lorain
9am–2pm
Lorain County Metro Parks is teaming up with the Backpackers Shop to provide a chance to test out a variety of kayaks (weather permitting). Other outdoor recreation related demos and info will be available throughout the event.

Spring is almost here-get ready!

Sunny days are now becoming the norm and the snow is melting. Are you ready? Here are a few upcoming semi-competitive fun events that are perfect for an early spring kick-start to another great season of biking, swimming, running and kayaking! We’ll be adding more as dates are set.

1st Annual Sole to Sole 5k

Saturday, March 27, 8:30am

Schwartz Road Park

34741 Schwartz Road

Avon, OH

Keel-haulers 2010 Vermilion River Race

Sunday, March 28

This annual race is appropriate for novice to expert racers. Families and small groups are encouraged to participate.

Indoor Triathlon

Sunday, April 11th at 8am

Splash Zone, W. Hamilton Rd., Oberlin

Individuals and Relay teams do 30 minutes each of swimming, cycling (spin) and running. All levels welcomed and encouraged to participate! Registration fee of $20 goes to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. $10 for t-shirt.

Register in person at the Splash Zone or call 440.774.5059.

25th Annual Lorain Wheelmen Bicycle Club AFROST ride.
Sunday, April 11th
Registration: 8–9:30am, beginning at Shupe School in Amherst
A flat, early season tour to kick of the season and test your fitness. Routes visit many historic towns and villages in Lorain County. 25/50/64 mile courses.

Earth Day 5k Run/Walk and Children’s Fun Run

Saturday, April 17, 2010

10am (Children’s fun run at 9:15am)

The Oberlin Earth Day 5k Run is celebrating it’s 37th year. Please bring a non-perishable food and/or household item to donate to Oberlin Community Services.

Spring into Action 5K Race for Haiti
Saturday, April 17, 2010
9am at the Lorain County Metro Parks Bridgeway Trail-Days Dam
E 31st St. and East River Rd., Lorain, OH
The Course will begin and end at Days Dam. All proceeds will go directly to Habitat for Humanity International.

5th Annual Sandy Ridge Half Marathon & 10k

Sunday, April 18 7am registration, 8am race

Lorain County Community College

1005 Abbe Rd. North

Elyria, OH

This is a fast, flat looping course in and around the Sandy Ridge wetlands area, a spectacular birding hotspot.

2009 Oberlin Earth Day 5k run

It's like a sign of spring. The 5k Earth Day run in Oberlin. And what a beautiful day it was. It appeared that there were about 50 runners for the race. The overall winner was Brett Barkacs with a time of 19:25. Second overall: Jim Galloway with a time of 21:03. The first female runner to cross the line was Alexa Sharp with a time of 21:54, and second place women's was Marty Stuedle with a time of 23:16. Some photos from the day:

Runners take your mark, get set, go!

And they're off....

Brett Barkacs takes first.

Alexa Sharp across the line..

Proof that spring is here. The daffodils and magnolias are in full bloom.

Time to plan for 2009 North Central Ohio Adventure

Kayaking on the Vermilion River. Photo courtesy of Shawn Newsome. Shawn is the owner of a new campground along the river—Vermilion River Cliffs Marina. (website coming soon)

It's that time of year again. Spring! We're starting to see cyclists and kayakers out and about on our rivers and back roads. Now that the weather is more cooperative we want to give you some tools to plan your visit. First off, a few upcoming events around Back Roads and Beaches:

Kayaking:
Sunday, March 29 will be the annual Keel-haulers Vermilion River Race. Check out the website for information including rules, maps and start times. The Keel-haulers is an organization headquartered in Northeast Ohio with 400 families that share an interest in outdoors and all kinds of boating including whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, rafting and racing.

Run
Oberlin’s 5K Earth Day run will start and finish on Tappan Square on Saturday, April 18 at 10am. Entry fee is $10 per person and the first 75 registrants will receive a t-shirt. For more information, contact the Oberlin Recreation Dept. at 440.775.7254.

Cycling
Seems like it hasn’t been that long since the Lorain Wheelmen’s traditional end of season ride-the Red Flannel that capped off a great 2008 cycling season. Now, it’s time for the Wheelmen’s annual tradition to begin the cycling season-Afrost. The ride will be Sunday, April 19 and begin at 9am. For details check out the Wheelmen’s Afrost Page. The weather this week looks to be great for an early spring ride. Updated Back Roads and Beaches maps are available and can be obtained here and online maps here. See you out there!

Earth Day in Oberlin

Today is Earth Day in Oberlin and what a perfect day for it.
Temps in the 70s and all the trees in bloom.
There's nothing like the smell of magnolias in bloom on Tappan Square!

Cyclists and runners are out and about.
This morning was also the annual Earth Day 5k run in Oberlin.

Here, the first runner across the finish line accepts his award.

Allen Memorial Art Museum

Oberlin College Finney Chapel, Oberlin College Campus

Earth Day vendors and participants enjoy the spring weather.

Oberlin is a great place to hang out, take a break from the bike
while you get a bite to eat along the Back Roads and Beaches Bike Route.
You never know what you'll see!