Hey Derek: I love the Little Miami Bike trail. I often start at Grandin road and then if I don't care to run more then 13.1 and want some hills I run up to Countryside. That hill after the buisness sector is a Beast of a hill. I like that trail because it is in the sun light so it helps keep you warm this time of year but it is open so the wind will hit you. However, the best place to run hills is by far in the Hyde Park area. At least that I know of. I started running with a training group that runs in that area and every where you turn you find some great hills. If you don't want to do that it never hurts to run the first half of the flying pig course. It is a long way to go from Countryside down to downtown though and I really do love the bike trail. I am thinking of doing an easy 16 miler along the course this weekend from Grandin to Morrow. It will be my first 16 miler so I figure I will do it on a flat path. My training group is only doing a 7 miler as it is a step back week. We did a 11.5 miler this past week that was very hilly and very windy. I ran it at a good pace so I figure if I slow down by 30 seconds and don't have the hlls that I should be okay for 16 miles. If you start at Counrtyside then you must be catching the big hill on the way back!

I run with Meters and Miles. They most often used the Pig course for the training runs. Best way to train for a race is on the course, right??

Personally,I strongly prefer to stay off the roads and hit the trails for my training as much as possible. I pretty much agree with what Bearcat said. Last year I thought I was home free and the last short steep hill caught me off guard as did the run on Columbia Parkway. Knowing about that now, I will be better prepared and pace myself accordingly.