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Ascension Summary

The Tale

The Year is 1516 A.D
The Western World has finally emerged from the Middle Ages with stronger economic and political systems, amid increases in agricultural output and urban stability
While not yet uniformly prosperous, City-States have expanded their trade networks
Recent exploration of the Orient, Africa and the Caribbean have accelerated these trends, whilst discovering new Peoples from many Lands

Tiring of constant and costly bickering and warfare between his Kingdom and various Fiefdoms in Europe, the current Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Maximilian I, crafts a Bold Plan for a more peaceful existence
He sends Emissaries to 60 powerful Nation-State across the globe
The Objective: To create an Order of Diplomats who can ensure a just Peace across the World
His Emissaries seek out those who are Noble and Wise
Candidates must display superior Stamina, Strength, Endurance, Bravery, Constitution, and Intelligence in order to be worthy of this Order
Maximilian names this quest Ascension, in the hope that humankind can rise up from the Dark Ages to a new Enlightenment
He begins plans for a great Conference of these Diplomats, starting first with a test of Skill to determine the Heart of those Chosen: The Ascension Challenge

The Call has now come: You have been named as Most Worthy to represent this Quest on behalf of the fine People of your Homeland
Will you Accept?

The Particulars

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025 A.D.
Time: 8:00 AM and every 15 minutes thereafter
Location: St Joseph Home Main Campus, Sharonville OH
Toll: $40 before 3/26--$20 age <18
$50 thereafter--$25 age <18

Park at: Evendale Elementary School
3940 Glendale Milford Rd, Cincinnati OH 45241
IMPORTANT: No onsite parking--you MUST park at the school
Shuttle service provided continuously--please allow EXTRA TIME for arrival
(4 minute Shuttle ride)
Limited handicapped parking available onsite

Ascension is a new road-based Challenge held alongside the Incline to the Finish Line 5K race
Both Events support Residential and Day programs at St Joseph Home for Your Neighbors with complex disabilities and their Families

The Ascension Concept is simple: you have 15 minutes to run down and back up a Paved Road with a 160 foot high Hill
If you make it in time and ahead of at least Five other people, you qualify for the Next Ascension, which starts 15 Minutes after the First One
Repeat up to 12 times--the choice is Yours
The 12th and Final Ascension will be an Outright Race, and the fastest back is the Victor

Each Questor represents a different Nation-State that has been assigned to them (in their Invitation email)
Their Quest is to bring Honor to their Homeland
The Challenge can be as easy or as hard as a Questor wishes to make it--all have earned Honor here

The Quest begins precisely at 8:00 AM
The Course Start is on the St Joseph Home Main Campus
The Course is entirely paved
From the Start, the Course takes an immediate right turn onto Wyscarver Road, descends 160 feet down the Hill, and turns left into a parking lot at the bottom, where the Turnaround is located
The return is the opposite, where an Ascension of the Hill is required to return to the Start/Finish line
The round-trip distance is 320 Rods (1.00 Miles)
Completing this loop comprises one Ascension

Automobile through traffic will not be permitted on the Course during the event
Any automobiles entering or exiting from local houses will be safely directed by on-Course Quest Sheriffs--this will be very rare
Questors are requested to stay on the right side of the road
From 9:15 AM until 10:00 AM, Questors will share the Course with Incline to the Finish Line 5K Participants
During this period, Questors should yield to the hill side of the road whenever possible

The road is well paved but does have abrupt edges in places--stay away from the edges
Run under control--running fast downhill is very stressful on legs
Be especially cautious if the Course is wet
The Hill grade is steady but not extreme (7.1%) and can be run easily if under control

One loop of the Course is known as an Ascension
The Quest consists of 12 Ascensions
Each Ascension is designated a different Color

To begin each Ascension, Questors are required to carry the Descent Artifact corresponding to the current Ascension Color
At the turnaround point, Questors must trade their Descent Artifact for an Ascent Artifact
Upon completing the Ascension, Questors must present their Ascent Artifact to the Timekeeper at the Start Line

Questors have 15 minutes to complete each Ascension
For each Ascension, the five slowest Questors will not be Permitted to Continue
This includes Questors who Refuse to Continue before, during, or after that Ascension

If they have completed an Ascension in less than 15 minutes, Questors are free to visit their designated Reflection Station, accept Aid and Comfort, and use the Privy, until the next Ascension begins, unless they announce their Departure from the Event

Each Ascension will begin immediately after the prior Ascension is complete
At 3 minutes until each Ascension, 3 Whistles will be heard
At 2 minutes until each Ascension, 2 Whistles will be heard
At 1 minute until each Ascension, 1 Whistle will be heard
At 30 seconds until each Ascension, an Announcement will be declared
At 10 seconds until each Ascension, a Countdown will begin
A Horn will sound when the next Ascension begins
Questors must be standing in the Starting Corral when the next Ascension begins or else They May Not Proceed

Questors must stay on the Course once the Horn sounds
Once the Horn sounds, continuing Questors may not visit their Courtiers or receive Aid from anyone except from the official Start/Finish and Turnaround Haven Stations to remain in contention

The Twelfth Ascension will consist of at most 5 Questors
The Ascension Victor will be the first Questor to complete the Twelfth Ascension

Ascension is not a race, but instead a Challenge for each Questor to Perform Their Best
Questors should make the best decision on whether to Continue or Retire

Questors must (PLEASE!) notify a Volunteer if they are Retiring before the end of the Event

All Questors completing at least one Ascension will be awarded Prize Shoelaces in the Color corresponding to the last Ascension Completed
The Top Three Questors will receive special Color Shoelaces

Course Aid at the Start/Finish and Turnaround Haven Stations will include water and an athletic drink
Privys will be available on-site adjacent to the Start/Finish Area
Reflection Spaces for each Questor, their Courtier, and any Aid material they wish to bring will be provided in the Start/Finish Area
More Aid and Assistance information

Be careful, and use common sense

The Spoils

• All Questors will receive an Ascension tech t-shirt
Note: late registrants may not be guaranteed their preferred shirt size
• All Questors successfully Ascending at least once will receive Shoelaces in the color of the highest Ascension accomplished
• Special Shoelace colors will be awarded for the top Finishers
• Food, Drink, and Mimosas available for all Questors
• On-course water and athletics drink available at top and bottom of the Hill
• Designated Reflection Spaces for Questor gear and their Courtiers
• On-site portable Privys, Medical Personnel, and Medical Facilities
• Many kind and sympathetic Volunteers
• Hordes of enthusiastic and less sympathetic Spectators
• After-party Games, Frivolity, and Entertainment
• A Festive--nay--Near-Riotous Atmosphere
• Continuous Shuttle transportation to Offsite Parking

Aid and Assistance

• On-course water and a sports drink will be available at the top and bottom of the hill
• Food and drink will be available to Questors before and after their Quest
• Questors will need to provide all other Aid and Accoutrements they feel necessary
• Crews are permitted but limited to just 1 crew member per Questor at all times
• Crews may leave and come back if needed
• There will be a designated "Reflection Space" next to the Start/Finish line for each Questor to set up a chair, cooler, and other small personal items
• Remember that the maximum distance is 12 miles--this is not an ultramarathon
• Any Questor completing their journey must immediately vacate their finish line Reflection Space to allow surviving Questors to move closer
• Anyone whose Journey is complete is encouraged to continue spectating Ascension
• Portable Privys will be located in the Start/Finish area
• Medical Personnel will be on site

Seek Out Lodging

Nearby Hotels
Wingate by Wyndham Cincinnati-Blue Ash
0.8 miles from Event Parkng

Embassy Suites by Hilton Cincinnati Northeast Blue Ash
1.3 miles from Event Parkng

Courtyard Cincinnati Blue Ash
1.5 miles from Event Parkng

MainStay Suites Cincinnati Blue Ash
1.9 miles from Event Parkng

Hampton Inn Blue Ash/Cincinnati
1.9 miles from Event Parkng

Nearby Rentals
airbnb
Vrbo

Camping
Winton Woods Campground
7.8 miles from Event Parkng

Support The Quest

Proceeds from Ascension support Residential and Day Programs at St Joseph Home for your Neighbors with complex disabilities and their Families
You can Support Ascension by:
• Becoming a Questor (Ascension Participant)
• Volunteering
• Sponsoring or Contributing to the Event
• Helping to spread the word to lands Near and Far
Not quite for you? Consider the Incline to the Finish Line 5K Run and Walk which will be held simultaneously with Ascension

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]

In conjunction with the St Joseph Home Incline to the Finish Line 5K

YOUR CART

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