Oxford to host a race through Oxford Area Trail System

The City of Oxford will host the O.A.T.S. (Oxford Area Trail System) n’ Honey 5K/10K race at 9 a.m. April 18 at Leonard Howell Park. 

The city encourages residents to enjoy the scenic route before they attend Oxford’s second annual Bee Festival. Anyone is welcome to walk or run the race and each participant will receive a medal at the finish line, along with refreshments. 

Alex French, vice mayor for the City of Oxford, has worked to organize the event over the past three years. 

“It’s meant to bring the community together and celebrate our beautiful trail system, all while building on the Oxford Bee Festival that also takes place that day,” French said. “So it’s a fun event for anybody who wants to run or walk on the trails and get a medal for it.”

Before the Oxford Bree Festival started two years ago, the race was attuned to the city’s Space Race, which was centered around the solar eclipse. As it was the same weekend as Oxford's Total Eclipse of the Parks festival it switched over to the O.A.T.S. n’ Honey race last year in conjunction with the Bee Festival. 

French planned the route for the race to ensure the right distance. She also hired a timer, created  promotional items, “swag” and coordinated volunteers.

Chelsea Meyers, associate teaching professor in the sports leadership and management department at Miami University, partnered with French to provide her students as volunteers for race day.

Bill Levenderis ran in the O.A.T.S. n’ Honey 10K race last year, and will participate in the 5K race this year as part of the Oxford Pub Run group. He plans to dress up in a bee outfit for the race.

“We’re here to have fun,” Levenderis said. “We can enjoy the trail, and know that this is a great place to run. Don't be intimidated. It's a super cool, laid back group of people. The run itself is also laid back… it can be family friendly, and there's gonna be a lot of people dressed up as bees. We had a lot of students last year that were dressed up also.”

Participants can pick up their packet from noon to 5 p.m. at the Enjoy Oxford Office on April 17, or before the race from 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Leonard Howell Park on April 18. 

When participants pick up their bib, they’ll receive O.A.T.S. n’ Honey gifts, which includes a water bottle and sticker. This year, the race also offers an optional shirt to the package, which can be added for $15 to participants’ registration.

Free parking is available for all participants and spectators, according to the O.A.T.S. n’ Honey website. 

“The finish line is so fun,” French said. “Whether somebody ran all out or walked the whole thing, when they get to the finish line, they’re excited. We're excited. It's so fun to give somebody a medal to celebrate their achievement. And just seeing people like the outside being a community, it’s such a great day.”

Attendees can then head over to Oxford Memorial Park afterward to celebrate the Bee Festival, which explores the history of bee keeping from 1-8 p.m. The event will include food trucks, refreshments, vendors and live music.