Go OTR 5K & Summer Celebration

5th annual Go OTR 5K & Summer Celebration

Saturday May 21st 2011

So this is officially the 5th year of the Go OTR 5K and Summer Celebration.  Well it’s the 5th year for the 5K and only the 3rd year for the Summer Celebration but since it is now all one event we are going with the 5th anniversary descriptor.

This year promises to build on last years events and take advantage of all the new businesses in the neighborhood.  Race begins at 10 am and all the artists and food vendors will be open for business at 10 am.  Music begins around 11:00 am.  This year we will also have kids activities available.  There is a matinee of 25 The Musical at the Ensemble Theatre and Queen City Underground Tours will be in full operation mode.

I wanted to tell you about the people who work on the event as we talk about the event this year.  I will start with Matt Lafkas  (MRL  Capital Analysis) since he is coordinating all facets of the event and Adam Gelter (Vice-President of Development, 3CDC) who was one of the founders of the event  and is helping with the coordination and doing all the fund-raising for the event.  I will breakdown the Art & Craft, Music, Food, & Beer in future posts.

Here are Matt & Adam’s answers to a variation of the OTR/Gateway 5 standard questions:

1.    What is your role in the Go OTR 5 K & Summer Celebration? (Matt) – Managing Director – just keeping things organized.  Our team does an amazing job and we all take on different tasks.  I simply do my best to keep everyone connected, efficient, and happy. (Adam) – I am responsible for fund-raising and helping Matt with coordination of the event.
2.    Why/How did you get involved in this event? (Adam) – I worked with Bobby Maly, Jen Walke and Colin Groth to start the event five years ago. (Matt) – I am a resident and have been for almost 5 years.  Adam reached out to me and I was thrilled to be able to contribute in any way that I could.
3.    Anything new or different about this year’s event that has you excited about 2011 (or beyond)? (Matt) – so much this year!! The addition of the Timing Chips for the race has me very excited this year.  I believe that we have grown organically and this was the next logical step for us to take this year.  I am also extremely excited about the Triple Crown series that we have created with the Hyde Park Blast and Downtown Dash.  I hope that our runners will consider their races and theirs will come check out OTR. (Adam) – I think we have the best race course we have had so far and I really think the Summer Celebration will continue to grow in both size and quality.
4.    Tell me about a favorite place/activity in OTR? (Matt) – I love OTR because it is truly a community.  I get my coffee in the morning and run into friends. I swing by the stores, theatres, or Findlay Market and I have great conversations.  My favorite activity is simply being part of the community. (Adam) – I feel the same way plus I am very excited to utilize the renovated Washington Park.
5.    If you had a magic wand what would you do in OTR? (Matt) – I enjoy seeing all the new businesses coming to OTR.  We have seen many great additions in recent years, but if I had a magic wand I would bring even more businesses and residents to build up the capacity.  The Chamber and many other great organizations are working overtime on this and their efforts show. (Adam) – I agree if I had a magic wand I would use it to increase the pace of the redevelopment of vacant and blighted buildings.

Thanks Adam and Matt for all the work you do for Over-the-Rhine. I am really looking forward to the 5th incarnation of the Go OTR 5K & Summer Celebration. More info at the official website for the Go OTR 5K & Summer Celebration.