The Ashtabula Distance Runners Board is pleased to announce the start of the third year of an ADR-sponsored community running program named “Run for Your Life” to use running to help men and women in recovery from chemical dependence.

The fall season of the 2021 Run for Your Life program begins Tuesday, September 7 at 6:30 pm.

Run for Your Life is a Couch to 5K program involving participants assisted through the Lake Area Recovery Center (LARC) and staying at Turning Point and New Beginnings. The program consists of men and women group runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 pm and Sundays at 6 pm at the Donohue Center complex.

Each workout lasts for roughly 30 minutes, using a C25K app on mobile devices for guidance, with mostly walking in the beginning of the program and gradually replacing walking with some running during each workout until participants can run for about 30 minutes.

The goal for this session of the Run for Your Life program is for participants to complete the Bridge 2 Bridge 5K on Saturday Oct. 23 at no charge to the participants.

If that goal is met, the participants also will receive complimentary ADR memberships for the remainder of 2021 and for all of 2022 as a way to provide even more incentive to become part of a great and supportive group of people and to continue with an active and healthy lifestyle.

ADR is looking for volunteers to help lead the group runs. Can you help? During each session, the group runs are split into two groups during which time men run with at least two men volunteer leaders and women run with at least two women volunteer leaders. We complete laps that are almost a half mile each around the Donohue Center complex.

If you’ve been looking for a way for running to help you give back to others and make a difference, this is your opportunity. If you are interested, and we hope you are, please contact John Hutchison so we can get you on the schedule. We could use your help to continue to build this program!

The first two years of the Run for Your Life program have been a tremendous success with five different sessions completed and 45 participants finishing the program.

Run for Your Life alumni have been giving back to the program and help volunteer with the program.

Run for Your Life has also sparked an interest from others, not necessarily who were past program participants, but who are in recovery and have joined ADR as club members and have become a part of the running community and competing in races. It has been an amazing ADR program and we look forward to continued success.

Wanted to let folks know that the ADR Indian Trails course race on Saturday Aug. 7 will be about 2.8 miles and includes the water crossing!

So wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet and dirty!

– It will be held at 8:30 AM at the park next to the Smolen Gulf Covered Bridge in Plymouth Township.

– Sign ups will be on race day only from 7:30 am to 8:15 am. DON’T BE LATE.

– It is a free race for 2021 ADR members, $10 for non members. Cash or checks only payable to Ashtabula Distance Runners Club.

– No awards, no premium, no overall or age group places.

– All ADR members who finish will receive 8 Grand Prix points. The race also counts toward completing a race in the 2021 ADR Grand Prix Series.

Sign up for ADR membership for $20 ($25 for family membership) and your entry in the Indian Trails race is free. https://ashtabuladistancerunners.org/membership/

Join us in Ashtabula, Ohio, to run the 2021 Bridge 2 Bridge Half Marathon and 5K!

The Bridge 2 Bridge 5K will be on Saturday Oct. 23 and the Bridge 2 Bridge Half Marathon is on Sunday Oct. 24!

Race Start Time: (5K) 8:30 am Oct. 23, (Half Marathon) 8:30 am Oct. 24

Start: Harbor-Topky Memorial Library, 1633 Walnut Blvd., Ashtabula, Ohio 44004

Finish: Bridge Street in Ashtabula Harbor

Parking: Walnut Beach, West 1st, Street, Ashtabula, Ohio

The Half Marathon course will take you over the beautiful Gulf-Smolen Covered Bridge, which is the longest in the U.S., and the race finishes at Briquettes Smokehouse, just after crossing the Ashtabula Lift Bridge in the historic Ashtabula Harbor Area.

The 5K is flat and fast and (PR-attainable) finishes at Briquettes (before going over the Lift Bridge) with the last 1/4 mile all downhill.

Registration: Half Marathon is $45 through Aug. 31; $50 Sept. 1 thru Oct. 3; and $55 Oct. 4 thru Oct. 24. 5K is $20 through Oct. 3; and $25 Oct. 4 thru Oct. 23 for the 5K.

ADR Club members who register electronically automatically receive a $5 discount for the 5K, $10 for the half marathon or $15 for both events.

Race Day Registrations and Packet Pickups: 5K (10/23) 7 am to 8:15 am, Half (10/24) 7 am to 8:15 am, both at Harbor-Topky Library, Ashtabula, Ohio. Do not arrive at 8:15 am on either day and expect to register on the day of the event!

Awards: Finishers Medals for Half Marathon; plus Overall & Age Groups Awards for both races

Prize money will be awarded to the Top 3 overall men and women finishers in the 2021 Bridge to Bridge Half Marathon!

First place: $150

Second place: $100

Third place: $50

Plus, additional prize money will be awarded to the male and/or female winner, if either or both break the respective event records for the half marathon.

Male Record 1:14.50 by Kyle Griffith in 2014; Female Record 1:26:54 by Kailey Johnson in 2020

Registration available online at –> https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Ashtabula/Bridge2BridgeHalfMarathon5K

Due to unsafe river conditions, muddy terrain, and additional thunderstorms forecasted this weekend, the Indian Trails race has been rescheduled to Aug. 7 at 8:30 AM and will NOT be held July 17.

All other details will remain the same as originally scheduled except for the change of date:

– It will be held Saturday Aug. 7, 2021, at 8:30 AM at the park next to the Smolen Gulf Covered Bridge in Plymouth Township.

– Sign ups will be on race day only from 7:30 am to 8:15 am. Don’t be late.

– It will be a free race for 2021 ADR members, $10 for non members. Cash or checks only payable to Ashtabula Distance Runners Club.

Sign up for ADR membership for $20 ($25 for family membership) and your entry in the Indian Trails race is free. https://ashtabuladistancerunners.org/membership/

– No awards, no premium, no overall or age group places.

– All ADR members who finish will receive 8 Grand Prix points. The race also counts toward completing a race in the 2021 ADR Grand Prix Series.

– Course will be 2-3 miles depending on the weather.

If you’re interested in volunteering for this race, please contact Warren Dillaway.

Remaining awards for the Memorial Day Lift Bridge 5K race are in the process of being mailed or hand delivered to the remaining participants who did not have a chance to receive them at several of the local races during June. We appreciate your patience.

Four (4) scholarships will be awarded in 2021 by the Ashtabula Distance Runners Club for the 2020-2021 School Year to graduating seniors from schools within Ashtabula County.

One scholarship will be awarded to an individual for each of the following sports:

Boys Cross Country $500, Girls Cross Country $500, Boys Track $500, Girls Track $500.

Please mail completed applications along with a letter of recommendation to: Ashtabula Distance Runners Club, P.O. Box 43, Ashtabula, Ohio 44005

Application Deadline: 6/1/2021

Click here to download the application.

Awards for the Shamrock 2 Mile will be passed out Sunday April 11 from 2-4 pm at Point Park in Ashtabula. We are expecting to have the quarter zips done by that time and we’ll pass them out on that date too. Anyone who didn’t pick up their 2020 Grand Prix awards and 2021 ADR Membership tote can also get them on April 11 during this time.

The link below is the initial rollout of the 2021 ADR Grand Prix race schedule.

Click for the 2021 ADR Grand Prix Race Schedule: https://ashtabuladistancerunners.org/2021-race-schedule/

The first race is the Red Bow 5K in Geneva on March 20, followed by the Shamrock Kick-Off 2 Mile Race (ADR Club Race) on March 27 in Ashtabula.

Please keep in mind that this is a very fluid schedule and can change at a moment’s notice with additions and subtractions, especially as organizations continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Be sure to check back periodically for any updates. Once you sign up for club membership, member discounts will automatically be applied to ADR Club Races such as Shamrock, etc.

These races have (ADR Club Race) after their name. No need for discount codes anymore.

Click here to sign up for 2021 Membership: https://ashtabuladistancerunners.org/membership/

The ADR Board also is pleased to continue what started last year with having the Bridge 2 Bridge Half Marathon and 5K occur on separate days in late October. This way runners can do both races if they choose or volunteer for one day or the other.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Shamrock 2 Miler will be at the Harbor Topky Memorial Library in Ashtabula on Saturday March 27 with the first in-person wave beginning at 9 am. Parking will be at Walnut Beach. Registration for this event is now open! A virtual option is also available on the same day for those who prefer.

Registration for Shamrock is available here: https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Ashtabula/Shamrock2Miler

New this year: All ADR Club members who have signed up for membership in 2021 through our new Club page on RunSignUp automatically receive a $5 discount for this race during checkout. There no longer will be discount codes.

Here’s the link to sign up for 2021 ADR Club Membership: https://ashtabuladistancerunners.org/membership/

If you haven’t signed up for 2021 ADR Club membership and are planning to, then now is the time and do it before you sign up for the Shamrock race so you can get your discount at checkout. It’s $20 for individual membership, $25 for a family membership (people who live in your household).There will be a cap of 130 participants for the Shamrock race and we’ll be doing wave starts of 10 or fewer runners every 5 minutes until everyone has begun to run.

COVID-19 protocols remain in place. Masks must be worn during packet pickup. Masks must be worn at the start line. Masks can only be taken off once the race starts and you are clear of the start line. Once you finish, you will need to get the mask back on. This is non-negotiable per local health department.

If you earned a seasonal award for the 2020 Grand Prix, you may pick it up when you check-in for the Shamrock race.

Lastly, just a couple more small details need to be hashed out and then we’ll be able to post the Grand Prix schedule. Again, we appreciate your patience and we understand folks want to get race dates on their calendars!!!

ADR 2020 Members: Please join us for our annual membership meeting at 7 pm Wednesday Jan. 13!

We are excited to announce that WORLD RECORD AGE GROUP MARATHONER Jeannie Rice will be our featured speaker after a short business meeting!! You’re not going to want to miss this opportunity to hear from her and talk with her. 😍

This virtual Zoom event will take the place of our annual in-person banquet due to COVID-19 protocols.Our business meeting includes election of four officers to two-year terms and any potential bylaw changes.

Members: Please check your email as you should have received a PunchBowl invitation from the Ashtabula Distance Runners Club gmail account. Please respond and RSVP accordingly. Once you do that, you’ll receive a confirmation email that will contain a green button for you to click to join the video chat via Zoom at 7 pm Jan. 13.

We ask that you respond to this now because not only will you have an awesome time hearing from Jeannie Rice, but also you’ll help ADR fulfill our bylaw’s requirements by ensuring we have a quorum for this annual meeting and have an opportunity to see some of your running friends!!

Here are the credentials in case you didn’t receive the email:

Topic: ADR Annual Membership MeetingTime: Jan 13, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82636233811