Multisport Competition is Gearing Up

Summer is in full swing and with it, a calendar of north central Ohio multisport events. Many with the scenic backdrop of Lake Erie. Kick-start your summer with some friendly competition. Read on for event details.

Triathlon Information

NCN Racing is continuing the Rat Race Series starting this weekend. The Rat Race Series started in March and continues thru November.  It features running, cycling, and swimming events in eleven races. June 19, NCN Racing will be hosting the 8^th Annual Park 2 Park Half Marathon and 5K, it will be held at the French Creek Reservation in Sheffield. For event registration and information click here.  On July 10th the 25th Annual Summer Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon will be held at Lakeview Park in Lorain. The Triathlon will include a 1/4 mile swim in Lake Erie followed by a 14.3 mile bike and 5K run. For event registration click here. Following in August will be the 6th Annual Findley Lake Triathlon and Duathlon. Starting at 8am on August 6th, the course will feature a 1/4 mile swim in Findley Lake, a 16 mile bike course, and a 5K run through Findley State Park. Click here for Findley Lake Tri registration. End August with the 9th Annual Lorain Sprint/International Triathlon taking place on the 21st at 8am. The event will be held at Lakeview Park with a rewarding view of Lake Erie during the course. Click here for event registration.

HFP Racing is bringing their Wheelie Fun Triathlon and Duathlon Series to the beautiful harbor town of Vermilion. The Vermilion Harbour Triathlon will be held on Sunday August 14th at 7am. The course features a near shore Lake Erie swim, hilly bike ride along the Back Roads and Beaches route and run through the charming downtown Vermilion area. Finish along its breathtaking shoreline of Lake Erie. For registration and additional information click here.

331 Racing is adding adrenaline to the mix of events with the NEO Power Series starting this June. This cross country cycling race series is a test of true dedication and passion. Composed of six stages and featuring many different levels of competition, 331 Racing is looking for all ages to participate. On August 7^th, stage three moves to the north central Ohio area for the Thorn Time Trail. Taking place at Findley State Park just South of Wellington, the course is a nine mile loop traveling through mature wooded areas and past Findley Lake. The course features technical climbs, winding flats, and a unique coaster section all focused on pushing boundaries. For all NEO Power Series details click here. For Thorn Time Trail registration click here.

Don’t forget, the Back Roads and Beaches 5K Wine and Dine registration is now open. The run is set for Saturday, August 20, 2011, 5pm start. Registration will be open at 3:30pm. Start/Finish is at the Oberlin Inn, 7 North Main St., Oberlin, OH. The course runs through the funky little City of Oberlin, home to Oberlin College. Oberlin is unique in its ties to the Underground Railroad. This is a bicycle-friendly community that loves visitors. Enjoy Oberlin and this unique course followed by taste from local vineyards, local foods and live entertainment on the patio of the Oberlin Inn.

Paddle

Feel like adding a paddle to your multisport weekend?  Click here for Lorain County kayaking locations, times, rentals, and other information, or plan for the Black River Kayak-A-Thon on July 3^rd. 

Combine your multisport event with great lodging, wining and dining and make it a weekend. Check local lodging and dining listings and information.

Good luck hope to see you out competing around Back Roads and Beaches!

Beautiful, crisp, autumn day greets riders and runners

This morning found Oberlin to be packed with cyclists, marathon runners and well-wishers. Hundreds of cyclists came to ride the Red Flannel, the annual fall invitational sponsored by the Lorain Wheelmen and run the Inland Trail Marathon/Half Marathon & 5k Run/Walk. Red Flannel riders chose from either a 33 mile or 67 mile course. Part of the course was along the Back Roads and Beaches route, then headed west to Milan and Wakeman. Riders stopped at Mill Hollow, a Lorain County Metro Park and BRaB sponsor. Everyone seemed to be having a great time making the most of the awesome fall colors and cool weather. Below are some scenes from today's activity. Click here for more Red Flannel and marathon shots.

At left: Lorain Wheelmen register over 300 riders and pass out Lorain County Visitors Bureau bags, Back Roads and Beaches info and water bottles. Below: Riders wait to take off, scenes from the route, marathon runners and cyclists share the path. Click here for more photos of today's events.

Fall Splendor along the Back Roads and Beaches Bike Route

The colors of autumn are just starting to appear along the rural roads of the Back Roads and Beaches Route. The great thing about this time of the year is that riders can enjoy the beauty of the season while temps are still very pleasant. In fact, this weekend's weather promises to be absolutely beautiful with sunny highs in the mid 70s.

This time of year is also great for spectacular sunsets along the Lake Erie shoreline. The photo at left is the view from the Jackalope Restaurant.

On Sunday, September 23, the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Half Marathon will be taking place begins in Vermilion and heads to Lakeview Park in Lorain. Racers who feel they can't complete the entire 13 miles can enter with four friends and compete as a five person relay team.

Cycling through Underground Railroad History in Lorain County

"If I am dying for Freedom, I could not die for a better cause, I had rather die than be a slave."
-John Copeland

Lorain County proudly served as one of the final stops along the Underground Railroad. Slaves traveling to Canada often passed through this area until about 1861, following Frederick Douglass's advice to follow the North Star to freedom in Canada. Lorain County provided a direct route to Lake Erie as northern Lorain County borders Lake Erie's central basin. Some found the area so safe, they lived out their lives here. Oberlin is also honored to be known as one of the nation's most pioneering communities in equality and integration. Oberlin has been called "the town that started the Civil War" due to it's role in the fight for civil rights. Oberlin and Wellington were the sites of a famous slave rescue in 1858 that was said to have raised consciousness nationwide regarding the anti-slavery movement.

Lorain County's Underground Railroad history can be explored along the Back Roads and Beaches tour. Much of the Back Roads and Beaches Tour is part of Adventure Cycling Association's Underground Railroad Cycling tour that travels from Alabama to Canada. Cyclists completing the Adventure Cycling tour might want to spend some extra time here and explore our historical and cultural offerings.

Points of interest beginning in the southern end of the tour, near Findley State Park:

25600 SR58 (Huntington) Rev. Ansel Clarke Home. Not open to the public. Former home of abolitionist and Congregational Minister Ansel Clarke. Home is thought to have harbored fugitive slaves.

Oberlin College (Oberlin) Students and faculty were especially active in the Oberlin Anti-Slavery Society, others took part in the rescue and harbor of fugitive slaves. In 1835 the College trustees agreed blacks should be admitted to the College. Oberlin College was the first college to admit black women. Mary Jane Patterson, the first black woman in the world to receive a college degree (in 1862) attended Oberlin College.

181 E. Lorain St. (Oberlin) Station #99. Bardwell House. Not open to the public. Former home of missionary and abolitionist Rev. John Bardwell. Fugitive slaves hid under the eaves of the house where sliding panels opened into dark passageways.

First Church in Oberlin: Corner of Main and Lorain Sts. Built in 1842. The First Church was the meeting site for the Oberlin Anti-Slavery society and the site of the funeral for Lee Howard Dobbins, the four-year old fugitive slave buried in Oberlin.

Westwood Cemetery (Oberlin) Morgan St. Here lie former slaves, famous abolitionists and many who have become known as Oberlin's faces of change. Walking tour maps can be obtained by contacting the Lorain County Visitors Bureau.

Oberlin Heritage Center (Oberlin) 73 1/2 South Professor St. Oberlin has a powerful and nationally significant history that visitors can experience through guided tours at the Oberlin Heritage Center. Visitors will hear stories and see buildings associated with the founding of Oberlin, African-American history, the Underground Railroad, women's history, scientific discovery, and missionary, temperance, and other reform movements. Visitors will tour the 1836 Little Red Schoolhouse, the 1866 Monroe House, and the 1884 Jewett House.

Station 100, (Lorain) Said to be the mouth of the Black River and shores of Lake Erie. Many slaves departed here to freedom in Canada. New monument to escaping slaves erected in 2007 at Black River Landing, Lorain.

Upcoming Historical Events along the Back Roads and Beaches Route

The Lorain Port Authority presents A Taste of History along with the fourth annual Antique Show on the River presented by Black River Historical Society, August 18, 2007 at the Black River Landing. An all day event featuring music, shopping, food, boat rides, wine-tasting, and tall ship tours!

Walking Tours of Oberlin!
The Oberlin Heritage Center will be offering new guided walking tours of Oberlin, focusing on Oberlin's history through its architecture around Tappan Square. The tour will be offered three times this fall: Friday, September 14th at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 6th at 1:00 p.m., and Friday, October 12th, at 1:00 p.m. Enrollment is limited so reservations are required and may be made by calling (440) 774-1700 or by sending an email to tourinfo@oberlinheritage.org. There is a $6 per person fee ($4 for Oberlin Heritage Center members). The tours will be canceled and refunds will be made if it is raining at the start time. The tour starts at the Oberlin Heritage Center's Monroe House at 73 1/2 South Professor Street. The tour is also available by appointment for groups.

October 13 at Black River Historical Society, Valley Vagabonds are sponsoring a historical and beautiful architectural 10k or 5k walk. This walk will take you by interesting and scenic points in Lorain. The start is between 9 a.m. - 1p.m. finish by 4 p.m. In addition, the new President of the National Volkssport Association from Washington state will also be there to answer your questions on this international walking sport. Walk for free, credit, or award and credit. The award is a Linden leaf pin in our leaf series. The national website is www.ava.org and the club website is www.geocities.com/valleyvclv/. This walking sport is for the whole family since you do it at your own pace. If you have questions, please contact Deva Simon 440-572-1675.

Sunday events

Although the weather didn't fully cooperate for scheduled events in Lorain County on Sunday, it didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the triathletes who came out to compete in NCN Racing's Findley Triathlon. Dave Garrett of Fairview Park won the overall men's International race with a time of 2:21:17.5. Barb Hunter of Chippewa Lake won the overall International women's with time of 2:48:48.3. Female sprint winner was Angela Ridgel of Lakewood, OH with a time of 1:34:00.9 and male sprint winner was Jim Phelan of Pickerinigton, OH at 1:24:53.5. Congratulations!

Top left: Women sprinters take off for the swim. Left: Dave Garrett takes a commanding lead in the swim portion of the International competition.

Roast Your Buns

Photo by Rona Proudfoot


August is a busy time for cyclists and athletes in Lorain County. The following are scheduled events:

August 5: Local cycling club, the Lorain Wheelmen will be hosting their annual "Roast Your Buns" invitational. The 70-mile ride is free and open to the public.

August 5: NCN Racing will be hosting the 2nd Annual Findley Lake Sprint/International Triathlon at Findley State Park. Events will be swimming, biking and trail running.

August 11: Local cycling club, the Silver Wheels will be hosting a Dog Days Wine Tour.

August 26: NCN Racing will host the 5th Annual Lorain Sprint/International Triathlon at Lakeview Park in Lorain.

If you have an event that involves cycling, running, kayaking or swimming in Lorain County, please feel free to add it here.