This is a low-key but reliable race. I ran it back in '98 when it was in Bellbrook, and it's matured a bit since then. You get all the basics (water and electrolytes every 2 miles, gels, painted mile markers, nice SWAG), and for a good price. BEST THING: hot chili and chicken noodle soup at the end. Also, showers at the YMCA. WORST THING: monotonous course with heavy winds (paved bike path and roads through corn country). Although a mainly flat course, the strong headwind coming back is a detriment if you're running for speed. And the minimal crowd support is a letdown if it's your first marathon.

But if you don't need bells and whistles, or a fast time, or big-city excitement, it's a good race for the money (maybe hold your nose near the 14.5 mark).

If you are a Buddhist or Hindu marathoner then pray that you come back living in Ohio. This race is amazing! I wish more race directors in Canada followed these rules. I paid $25 for the race, got a medal, a shirt and had lots of food at the finish line. Free showers at the YMCA and paid $8 for the pasta dinner. The aid stations also had gummy bears and Smarties (okay - M and M,s eh). This race is very underrated. You can sign up for next year's race for $15!!!
More aid stations but that is a mild complaint. Well done! My 44th BTW.
PS - Congrats to fellow maniacs who ran their 231st, 204 and 80th marathon.
I will catch up with you all soon enough!

My comments are for the half. This is an 'old school' runners race put on by a local running club. I really enjoy finding these little gems in the running world to participate in. Super organization and hard working volunteers. Thank you so much!
The rating on the course is low because it's almost exclusively on a paved bike path with not much to look at. There are virtually no spectators so I felt like I was on a big training run at home with a super support group. I am not a fan of these bike trail courses because I run on them often at home. If you enjoy this kind of course for a half or full marathon then you'll love this one.
The course is not really fast or flat. First four miles are a hill climb with little give back but not over the top. The bike path is flat. The last five miles you get a full face wind because of the nature of the course and there's a slight grade to the last quarter or so mile to the finish.
Overall, it's a fun event, with good post race soups, drinks and awesome cookies. Best cookies I've had at a race. Again, big thanks to all the volunteers for all your hard work!

I drove 8 hours to run this race and did NOT regret it one bit!

PROS:
1) Where else can you enter a race for $25 and get a nice tech shirt, medal, chip timing, well-stocked aid stations, plenty of food after the race, post-race showers and close proximity parking?
2) Course was a nice rural, mostly flat course with only a few small hills.

CONS:
1) Start time was 8:30. I was told that it's usually very cold this time of year, so that was why it started so late. For people driving a long distance home, like me, a 7:00-7:30 start time would be much more reasonable.
2) Had it not been a cloudy day, the sun would've been tough to deal with, since the course has very little shade.

Would I recommend this race? Absolutely!

It's not a big race but they do a great job. It's low key which is great. I was able to drive in park with no problems. Packet pick-up the morning of was a breeze. Other runners were friendly and encouraging during the race. The half-marathon and the full start out together. It made it a bit hard to pace properly in the beginning and I started off a bit fast because of it but I still ran my best time yet.

Pros:
Start isn't crowded, able to walk up at the last second
Packet pick-up morning of race
Plenty of well stocked aid stations
Post race showers at the YMCA
Homemade food after the race including chili and excellent cookies
Easy to find your support crew and for them to find you.
Well marked course with guides at all of the turns.

Potential Cons:
If you like big crowds you won't find them here
Course isn't flat, but the hills aren't bad.

This was my first time doing this race. I drove 9 hours from Green Bay, WI to run this and would do it again! I absolutely love the 'back to nature, peaceful' feel of the course. It really is very beautiful, and the people most wonderful. Thanks for the great time!

This is my second year running the half and I was even more impressed than last year! There were around 400 more people than last year and the ORRRC did a great job to accommodate everyone. The course runs from the YMCA through a few streets in Xenia, out on a country road, and then out on the bike path for a few miles before hitting the turn around. The only hills of note are within the first four miles and they are very easy. The course is great for a fast time and I PR'd by over four minutes! Great New Balance tech shirt, finisher medal and great food at the finish. All of this for the preregistration price of $25! I've done some very small races and some larger ones (Air Force, Columbus) and this one is my favorite. Would not be surprised if it keeps growing.

This is a very nice little race for runners who appreciate attention to detail without a lot of hoopla. It is an amazing valuefor less than $1 a mile you get a technical top, attractive finisher's medal, well-staffed and supplied aid stations, and plenty of hot soup at the finish.

There is parking at the start/finish area if you arrive early, and showers available at the Y after the race. Everything is right there in one spot.

The aid stations (approx. every 2 miles) have water and Gatorade, and plenty of volunteers. The course is mostly flat (with a few hills) on country roads and a paved bike trail. It is well-marked, with volunteers to guide you at every turn.

One caveat is that the weather in Xenia is unpredictable, and the race takes place during tornado season. The wind is guaranteed to be in your face at some point, and there is not much shade on country roads if the sun is out. These factors can prevent you from running as fast as you might expect.

The hot soup and homemade cookies at the finish are wonderful!

Wow, I was VERY impressed with this race. If you are a small-scale, low-key, just running because-you-love-it kind of runner, then this race is for YOU! It was perhaps the most inexpensive race entry fee I've ever seen ($25!!!) - and we got great tech shirts, a very attractive medal, and hot homemade soup at the end! The course support was SUPERB! These volunteers were AWESOME! Not a lot of spectators, but I actually liked that. It was mostly on a bike trail through the woods and by old farms - very serene! Also, don't miss out on the $8 pasta dinner the night before  homemade spaghetti sauce  YUMMMY!!! :)
I definitely recommend this race. No complaints at all!! Glad I endured the 5+ hour drive to this race. It was more than worth it!

I ran the half this year and was more than impressed with everything! The course is actually very nice as the trail running out of Xenia is pretty scenic. Organization is top-notch for such an inexpensive race ($25 preregistration). The course is nice, and you get a great tech tee, nice finisher's medal, and hot food at the finish. Wouldn't be my choice for a first half or full since it's so small, but it's definitely one to add to the list. I'll be returning next year!