Hyde Park Blast Opens Registration and Announces 2009 Event Schedule
Taste of Hyde Park and Sidewalk Sale Added to Day’s Events
(Cincinnati, OH) April 27, 2009 – The 8th Annual Hyde Park Blast will be held this year on June 27, 2009 with a full day of fun and exercise opportunities for adults, kids and cycling enthusiasts, followed by the Blast Block Party with the Rusty Griswolds, one of Cincinnati's most popular bands. "We're excited about our partnership with the Hyde Park Square Business Association this year," said Chad Sims, co-founder of the Hyde Park Blast. "All of our activities in 2009 will center around the Square and integrate the restaurants and shops into the Blast with the Taste of Hyde Park Square and sidewalk sale."
The schedule for this year's event is:
| 8 a.m. |
|
Run/Walk Race – the route will be the same 4-mile RRCA Championship loop that launched in 2008 – a scenic and challenging loop that starts just West of the Square, winds through Hyde Park, and ends East of the Square |
| 9:15 a.m. |
|
Elite Runners Race includes both international and top U.S. runners |
| 10 a.m. |
|
Kids running races will start |
| 11 a.m.–4 p.m. |
|
Hyde Park Square sidewalk sale with music sponsored by the Hyde Park Square Business Association including live music from the Faux Frenchmen |
| 11 a.m.–10 p.m. |
|
Taste of Hyde Park from restaurants on the Square |
| 5–10 p.m. |
|
Cycling Criterium races with the Pro Mens race at 8:00 p.m. |
| 6–12 p.m. |
|
Taste of Hyde Park with restaurants from the Square and Block Party with the Rusty Griwsolds performing |
All proceeds raised from the event are donated to the Wellness Center, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Cancer-Free Kids and Give Back Cincinnati. "We created the Hyde Park Blast as a way to encourage adults and kids to be active and have fun outside," said Cheryl Koopman, co-founder of the Blast. "We also wanted to give back to the community and help kick cancer to the curb."
This year, the Blast has joined forces with the Columbus Tour de Grandview Cycling Classic to create the biggest weekend of cycling races in the Midwest. Cincinnati's Hyde Park Blast and the Columbus Tour de Grandview Cycling Classic will co-promote the two-day cycling celebration on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, that is expected to attract top professional cyclists from the U.S. and around the world. A $13,000 prize will be awarded to the top-finishing individuals in each event's professional races, as well as bonus prizes for individuals and teams who post the best results over the two days of racing.
"The Hyde Park Blast is a unique cycling event – one of a few in the country that is held in the evening under the lights with a great crowd. By joining forces with Tour de Grandview, we will attract some of the world's top riders to Ohio, and allow them to compete in two top-tier events while they're here," said Hyde Park Blast organizer Greg Tankersley.
2008 Hyde Park Blast Pro Mens Criterium Champion Jeremy Grimm, RGF Solutions, says, "Hyde Park is my favorite race. I have done the Athens Pro 1 Twilight Race, Sommerville Pro 1 race, and many other NRC Pro races. Snake Alley Pro Race in Iowa was my recent favorite and now Hyde Park is number one!"
The schedule for the cycling races:
| 4:50 p.m. |
|
Junior Cycling Racers (10-12 and 13-14) |
| 5:15 p.m. |
|
Men's Category 4, 5 |
| 5:50 p.m. |
|
Women's Category 1,2,3,4 |
| 6:10 p.m. |
|
Junior Cycling Racers (15-18) |
| 7:00 p.m. |
|
Men's Category 3 |
| 8:00 p.m. |
|
MEN'S PRO Category 1,2 "Under the lights" with $5,000 cash purse |
Anyone interested in running or walking training for the four-mile race should contact Joe Brinkman at the Running Spot in O'Bryonville for training group information (321-3006).
Please register for the day's activities or to volunteer at
www.hpblast.org or check the website for more information and details about the Hyde Park Blast.
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