Category: Hiking/Running/Caving

Running Team: Rosie Miller, Dave Miller, Matt Miller, Jacque Miller, Holly Miller, Shane Miller

Date: October 1985 – 1988, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005-2007

This was always a memorable, fun family race. This 3.1-mile race was always had 1,000 runners as a Halloween costume contest was held before the race and runners could also run in costumes if they wished. The race began at the Downtown Dayton YMCA (pre-Riverscape Metropark), ran north on Riverside Drive, across Helena Street Bridge and then back south on the luminary lite bikeway. On October 23, 2001, at age 10 this was Matt’s first 5K run ever. Matt ran 31:50. We would celebrate with twinkies after the race because Hostess Cakes was one of the sponsors. Holly loved this race, seeing runners in costume but her best memory was the free Dominos pizza and cookies after the race. Jacque remembers the race sometimes being cold and dark when she finished but the post-race food and hot pizza made up for it. In high school Jacque looked like movie star Angelina Jolie so several runners thought that Jacque was her or dressed up like her. Jacque and the kids remember one year that Rosie dressed up as an annoying clown and carried plastic clapper hands. Jacque said the clapping and moms annoying comments bothered everyone the entire race. All runners always received a nice warm sweatshirt as part of the entry fee. One photo shows Rosie (far left) in the pre-race costume contest. As for placing, we always treated this as a family fun run and jogged with the kids except in 1988 when Rosie finished as the 10th woman overall with a time of 57 minutes 31 seconds.

Running Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: July 4, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1995, 2002

This popular July 4th race started at Centerville High School and ran west down State Route 725 past the car show and craft booths and eventually turned around and ran back east on Route 725 ending along the track inside the Centerville football stadium. Runners had to finish before the Centerville Parade began. In 2002 I ran with Moraine Police Officer Denise Smith and a couple other MPD employees. Rosie and I ran it three times and Rosie once by herself.  In 1986 Rosie won a trophy finishing fourth in her woman’s 25-29 age group with a time of 35:29. In 1992, Rosie was the 5th Overall Woman and won her 30-34 age group with a fast 20 minute 30 second run.

Running Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller,

Date: April 6, 1985

This 3.1-mile race began outside Withrow Gymnasium and winded its way through the beautiful Miami University campus. It was a different course than the Red Brick Run and was the first time I got to see all the campus from dormitories to athletic facilities and educational buildings. Four friends joined us to run the race. Rosie was the third overall woman and won a trophy. Our friend Donna placed in her age group and won a medal. After the race we all enjoyed lunch at a popular local pub on High Street.

Running Team: Rosie Miller, Dave Miller

Date: 1982, 1983, 1984, June 8, 1986

We ran this 6.2 mile race several times. The course began downtown by Hobart Arena, ran north out of town and the halfway point was running through a picturesque, covered bridge. The best part was crossing the finish line and each runner receiving a free, freshly picked basket of delicious strawberries straight from a local Troy farm. Rosie placed in her age group in 1984 and 1986.

Running Team: Rosie Miller, Dave Miller

Date: 1978, 1982, 1985, 1986

Dayton Daily News sponsored this 8.6-mile race beginning in 1978. At the inaugural June 10, 1978, race I finished the 8.6-mile race in 1,111th place out of 2,151 runners. I had just graduated from college and was used to running 5K races so this was quite an increase in mileage, and I sure felt it in that hot weather. I ran with some Moraine kids who were in my Moraine Jogging Club. In River Run V in 1982 Rosie ran a nice 59:53 race and whipped me by about by about 20 minutes. In River Run VIII in 1985 which was now 9.2 miles, Rosie was the 29^th woman to cross the finish line with a time of 76:50.  Rosie’s great run placed her third in the woman’s 25 to 29 age group. Rosie ran in the 1986 race, and she finished 286^th out of over 1,000 runners who finished the race. The 1986 time of 1 hour 8 minutes gave Rosie fourth place in her 25-29 age group. The River Run started at the DDNews building downtown and was a big loop on the bike trail on each side of the Miami River. It was a fun race to participate in.  

Running Team: Rosie Miller, Dave Miller

Date: May 1986, May 1987

Competing in the 1986 race, Rosie finished 3^rd in her age group with a 42.48 time over the 6.2-mile race. Rosie received her award from USA Olympian Nancy Hogshead who won three swimming Gold Medals two years before. The following year we both ran the race and Rosie ran a 43:14 and I ran a 45:12. The race began at Good Sam Hospital and ran mostly on city streets through central Dayton and past the Dayton Art Institute.

Running Team: Rosie Miller, Dave Miller

Date: October 12, 1985

This unique 5 Mile Run started and finished in downtown Dayton. The race supported and raised funds for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Each runner received a coin shaped medal (photo #2) made from materials removed from the Statue of Liberty National Monument during its restoration from 1982-1992. We ran the race with friends Donna and Jim. It was a beautiful fall day and Rosie ran a nice 34 minute 43 second race. I must have had a couple of Stroh’s before the race (or had to go to the restroom really bad because of it) as I was close behind her for once at 35:29, a seven minute 6 second pace. Very good for me. We also ran, three years later in September 1988, the Stroh Light Night Run V. Rosie won her womans 25-29 age group with a blistering 19 minute 29 second run.

Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: November 15, 2023

Next to Graining Fork Nature Preserve we hiked on private land. The trailhead immediately climbed about forty feet which taxed my lungs since I was fighting an upper respiratory virus and wanted a more level, easier hike. Most of the leaves had fallen from the trees as the trail snaked through the quiet forest. A spur took us another .3 miles to the base of a sandstone cliff where the Lower Ancient Falls was bone dry. In the distance I could see Upper Ancient Falls was not flowing either. Sadly, Kentucky, like Ohio, had lots of areas that were close to being labeled a drought.

After the hike we had hot soup and pizza at the famous Miguel’s Pizza. Behind the building dozens of tents were pitched as rock climbers from around the country could camp here for free and climb the gorge cliffs.

Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: November 16, 2023

This trail was tough and descending from the trailhead into a deep gorge under towering cliffs. The trail wound through the trees until descending steep steps. We crossed another slope and descended more steps. The trail was lined with thick hardwood trees and rhododendrons.  Farther on is a cave depression that Daniel Boone allegedly used as a shelter. Next to it is another large rock shelter that was once mined for saltpeter. Since I was recovering from an upper respiratory virus, we did not proceed further along the trail since I knew I had a big climb facing me to return up the gorge. An opening in the trees gave me a look at a connector trail and a great view of the sandstone cliffs and two large hueco (holes) cut into the cliff.  

Running Team: Rosie Miller, Dave Miller

Date: May 1986

This 3.1-mile course took us through the college town streets of Oxford. Historically, several of the streets were made from red bricks long ago. I hit the finish line with a 22:25, a good time for me. Rosie had already smoked me and finished the race. She is standing second from left oblivious to me coming across the finish line.