Monthly Archives: November 2019

11/28/2019 Scott Orlando Lexington Mansfield Turkey Trot 10K Lexington, Ohio

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11/28/2019

Lexington Mansfield Turkey Trot 5K, 10K and Half Marathon

Lexington, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  44:36

Overall Place:  4th Place

Division Place:  1st Place

Race Recap By Scott Orlando

The Lexington Mansfield Turkey Trot is a new race held for just the second year.  The race give runners the distance options of 5K, 10K, and a half marathon.  Last year this race had a total 70 participants but the word quickly spread of the quality of the race and over 300 people ran or walked this year.   The entire course (for all distances) is on the paved bike trail.  Race conditions were cold and windy.  All three race distances started and finished at the same location, but did have different turnaround points on the out and bake course.  The course itself is very flat and fast.  The only thing that slowed runners down was the headwinds gusting at 13 – 15 mph on the way back after the turnaround points.  The most popular distance was the 5K with a lot of families and dogs taking to the course.  The Lexington Senior Center was the host location for the race which made for a nice warm place for pre and post race activities.  I chose the 10K course.   I started a little bit slower then what I had hoped for my first 2 miles.  I was looking to be at under 14 minutes at the 2 mile split and I was very close averaging a 7:02 mile pace.  At the turnaround point I was at an even 7:00 mile pace and saw that there were 4 people in front of me.  I decided not to worry about the other runners but instead to challenge myself to see if I could finish with a sub 7:00 minute average mile pace.  The heavy headwinds had me increasing my efforts to maintain the same pace.   At the finish my GPS had me just missing my goal with a 7:03 mile pace for 6.33 miles.  I though I had secured 5th overall but I was surprised to learn that the overall winner who clocked a blistering 38 minute finish time wasn’t registered for the race.  He was a bandit!   This moved me up to 4th overall still maintaining 1st place in my division.  The race directors were very engaged and friendly with all of the participants and did an outstanding job.  All participants received performance hoodies, finisher medals, and individual pumpkin pies.  Post race snacks were plentiful with most of the offerings of muffins, cookies, and cupcakes being home made by volunteers.   I have no doubt this race will continue to grow.  I certainly plan to return next year!

11/9/2019 Scott Orlando Hot Cider Hustle 5K Gates Mills, Ohio

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11/9/2019

Hot Cider Hustle 5K

Gates Mills, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  21:06

Overall Place:  34th / 916

Division Place:  3rd / 21

Race Review By Scott Orlando

This was my first time competing in the Hot Cider Hustle. The race was held at Gilmore Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio.  Race morning temperatures were a very cold 24 degrees but with little wind the running conditions were actually pretty good.  The race field was rather large with just over 900 runners and walkers.  The course was fast and mostly flat and featured a lap around the Gilmore Academy track at the start and near the finish of the race.  I got off to a fast start clocking a 6;30 first mile.  After my second mile which was a 6:40 mile pace I decide to challenge myself to see if I could complete the last mile and finish the race with a sub seven minute mile pace.  I slowed down a bit to a 6:50 mile pace in the third mile but kicked it back into high gear for the final lap around the track and to the finish.  My finish time was 21:06 which with an average pace of 6:49 per mile.  This was my fastest 5K in many years.  I ended up 34th overall and 3rd in my division.  Ohio Runs did an excellent job producing the race.  Participants received quarter zip tech shirts, finisher mugs, caramel apples and hot cider.  Awards were presented quickly after the race and results were immediately posted.  Ohio Runs even provided shuttles to offsite parking.  If you are looking for a fast fun course and great swag, add this race to your schedule for next year.

11/3/2019 Scott Orlando And Christine Churpek Buckeye Half Marathon And 10K Peninsula, Ohio

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11/3/2019

Buckeye Half Marathon And 10K

Peninsula, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Buckeye 10K

Finish Time:  46:36

Overall Place:  17th Place

Division Place:  4th Place

Christine Churpek

Buckeye 10K

Finish Time:  50:45

Overall Place:  33rd

Division Place:  1st Place

Race Recap By Scott Orlando:

It was a chilly start to the 2019 Buckeye Half Marathon and 10K.  This year’s race field included just over 500 runners with a fairly even split between half marathon and 10K participants.  The completion of several road construction projects allowed for the original all paved road course to be used.  10K runners completed 1 loop of the course while the half marathoners ran an additional loop before heading to the finish.  The course is fast and flat with only one hilly area near the end.  Although air temperatures where cold, running conditions were pleasant with little to no wind.  This was my third time running this race.  I ran the half marathon a few years ago and the 10K last year.  I prefer the 10K for this race as I personally find the second loop of the course to get a little boring.  I started out faster than I expected clocking a 6:45 first mile.  To my surprise my second mile was also just under 7:00 minutes.  At the 3 mile marker I was at 21:04.  I actually couldn’t believe how comfortable and efficiently I was running at that pace.   I continued the next few miles at just over a 7:00 mile pace and slowed down a bit on the hill in the last full mile.   I finished with a time of 46:36 which was about 90 seconds faster then last year.  My GPS had the race distance at 6.55 miles as did a few other people I talked to after the race.  According to my GPS I averaged a 7:07 mile pace which I am very happy with.  Team ER Member Christine Churpek also ran the 10K and was awarded a box of delicious chocolate buckeyes for winning her division.  The race was very well organized by Summit Athletic Runners Club.  Team ER’s Mickey Rzymek expertly handled the MC duties for the race.  Team ER member Chris Brown donated her time to the race and handed out chocolate buckeyes as part of the post race snacks.  All runners received awesome performance hoodies which I think are my favorite piece of race swag for 2019! All runners also received custom finisher medals.