Straight Street Hill Climb: 0.36 Mile Race - From Fermenting To Finance

Heed the warning at the Straight Street finish line

Early on, before the crawling

For those who like pain, this is a deceptively easy run that pushes the limits of your body. Run, bike, ruck, or crawl up the 35 degree incline; there are multiple choices of how to travel up the hill with varying levels of difficulty.

Location:

The Clifton UC college neighborhood.

Find parking around Hughes High School.

Meet at the top of the hill at the intersection of Straight Street and University.

Once you check in, be sure to allow time to run or jog to the bottom of Straight St. for the start of the race.

Map directions:

39°07’47.5″N 84°31’25.3″W

500 Straight Street, Cincinnati, OH 45219

Distance:

0.36 miles

Race details:

The official race is scheduled annually, the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Race begins at 9 am. Check in early to get your race tag.

Children and well-behaved dogs are allowed (a smart strategy if they help drag you up the hill.) Please stay to the back of the group, out of the way of serious runners.

Strollers and bike trailers to haul your kids are encouraged for the rucking category if you really want to suffer.

Check out the official Straight Street website for further details and read about the history of the race that started in the 1970’s. Follow on FB here.

After the run recommendations:

First and foremost, recover from the run with beverages provided by the race while you cheer on the bikers and ruckers who voluntarily continue the self-inflicted torture.

In 2023, attached to the back of my race number tag was a surprise ticket to Wiedemann’s Fine Beer, Brewery & Pub located at 4811 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45217 (St. Bernard)!

If you want to explore the area around the race, there are plenty of walkable eateries and bars along the Calhoun and McMillan’s one-way streets. Lunch recommendations include Adeep India, Thai Express, and Fortune Noodle House.

Race day images from 2023:

The fog beautifully rolled in overnight in the valley for the occasion

I scored parking along Clifton Ave, a few blocks from Hughes High School

Check in to the right

Film crews are set up as the fog is visible from above

Hiking down to the start line

Lining up

View from the start line

During the run

Personally feeling the 35% (!) incline at 632 Straight Street where I first began walking

This kid outpaced his co-biking partner and will definitely sleep well tonight

Hot chocolate and beer available after the run. Bring your own water, folks!

Cans of beer were distributed to replenish electrolytes

Missing at least 4 other Brink runners in this photo who also attended

View of the University of Cincinnati Campus nearby

The neighborhood is full of fraternities and rows of historical architecture

Shirts and stickers available for purchase

Brink runners finishing strong

Biking racers

Photo credit for 5 final images: Straight Street Hill Climb on FB

Respectfully, I failed to snap a photo of all the runners sprawled out flat on their backs at the finish line who pushed the race to the limit! The fastest time clocked in at 2 minutes 23 seconds while I strolled in at 112th place of 159 at a whopping 5 minutes and 40 seconds.

Clips of the fast pace race

Not your cup of tea? Interested in less pain? Perhaps, a kind and gentle jog…

Check out my list of Cincy trails here.

New to urban trail running like me? Check out my post on handy gear if you decide you’re ready to invest in your personal fitness.