05/24/2020 Tallmadge Memorial 5K Virtual and Hybrid Race.

5/24/2020

Tallmadge Memorial 5K Virtual and Hybrid Race

Tallmadge, Ohio

Due to the COVID-19 crisis this year’s Tallmadge Memorial 5K was offered as a virtual 5K where participants could run the race virtually on their own course, treadmill, or a track or choose to run the Hybrid marked course on the Tallmadge Freedom Trail with the start and finish line at Ritchie’s Sporting Goods.

Team ER Member Results:

Roy Miller

Finish Time:  20:10

Overall Place: 3rd Place

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  20:41

Overall Place:  4th Place

Division Place:  1st Place

Asad Khan

Finish Time:  21:59

Overall Place:

Division Place:

Christine Churpek

Finish Time:  22:15

Overall Place: 9th Place Overall   1st Overall Female

Division Place: 1st Place

Amy Stumpf

Finish Time:  22:39

Overall Place:  12th Place

Division Place:  2nd Overall Female

Russ Neubert

Finish Time:  23:52

Overall Place 15th Place

Division Place 1st Place

Mike Williams

Finish Time:  23:55

Overall Place:  16th Place

Division Place:  1st Place

Steve Zenar

Finish Time:  24:58

Overall Place:  19th Place

Division Place:  2nd Place

Loretta Harland

Finish Time:  27:18

Overall Place:

Division Place:

Mike Pastva

Finish Time:  33:46

Overall Place:

Division Place:

Jill Bidwell McCauslin

Finish Time:  38:30

Overall Place:

Division Place:

The virtual race runs through June 7th.  Overall and division results will be posted once available.

Race Review by Scott Orlando:

The Tallmadge Memorial 5K is a long standing tradition that was threatened this year by the COVID-19 crisis.  Thanks to the the fine people at Ritchie’s Sporting Goods and Summit Athletic Runner’s Club they found a unique way to keep the tradition going.  Where most race organizers are choosing to cancel races or are going completely virtual, the Tallmadge Memorial 5K found another way in the format of a hybrid race to keep the tradition of the event alive.  The hybrid format allowed participants to compete virtually on the treadmill, course, or track of their own choosing, or to compete on a designated marked course on the Freedom Trail with a start and finish at Ritchie’s Sporting Goods.   I chose to compete by running the designated marked course.  This gave me the opportunity to run part of the Freedom Trail I typically don’t utilize.   I must say that the hybrid option was an experience that really made it feel like a typical race.  From the minute I parked at Ritchie’s Sporting Goods and picked up my packet I was in race mode.  The start / finish line was decorated with flags and the course was well marked as well.  I ran an easy mile of the course to warm up and get my bearings.  I returned to the start to begin my race.  I felt full of nerves and anticipation just like a real race.  I hit my GPS and off I went on my very own personal race.   The course was very flat and fast.  The only downside was the major streets that you had to cross.  The way out I was fortunate not to be slowed down too much when crossing the streets.  I ran the course about 10:00 am Saturday morning so traffic wasn’t that bad.   My goal was to complete the race averaging just under a 7 minute mile pace.  At the half way turn around point I was surprised to see that I was much faster then my goal pace.   The first major street crossing on the way back I was forced by traffic to stop for a brief moment for a car.  Not wanting to lose pace I remembered my Fartlek and interval training from the Team ER weekly challenges and sprinted to the next street crossing trying to make up time.  This became my strategy for the remaining 3 streets to cross.  Surprisingly this strategy kept me ahead of my goal time even though I had to stop for some cars to pass.  Seeing the finish flags made me push hard for the line.  I was shocked that for the first time in many years I was under a 21 minute finish time for a 5K.  My final time was 20:41 with a 6:45 average mile.  I ran a 21:06 in November of 2019 so I knew with some hard work I could get under 21 minutes.   I think the increased miles I have been putting in, dropping some extra weight, and the speed work from the Team ER weekly challenges all helped me reach my goal of getting back under 21 minutes for a 5K.   The fast flat course also helped!   Participants received custom finisher medals and nice face masks that will come in handy for safety at future events.   I think the hybrid option was an excellent idea and I hope other race organizers take a look at the format for their upcoming events.

5/24/2020 Team ER Virtual 5K Challenge

5/24/2020

Team ER Virtual 5K Challenge.

The Team ER Virtual 5K Challenge is an age and weight graded virtual 5K.

Team ER members could compete on any course of their choosing or complete the challenge on a treadmill or track.

What is an age and weight graded time you might ask?
It is a statistical calculation of your “adjusted” run time using your actual run time, age, weight, and gender. We will use what is known as the Flyer Handicap to determine your age and weight graded finish time for the final standings of this challenge.

Congratulations to Ken Frankenbery who was the winner of the Team ER Virtual 5K Challenge.

Final results based on the age / weight graded finish time.

Name Actual Time Graded Time
Ken Frankenbery 0:20:55 0:17:15
Scott Orlando 0:21:29 0:18:02
Asad Khan 0:24:07 0:20:20
Mike Williams 0:25:13 0:20:38
Steve Zenar 0:26:15 0:20:44
Amy Stumpf 0:24:05 0:21:07
Christine Churpek 0:24:07 0:21:28
Loretta Harland 0:27:22 0:22:22
Roy Miller 0:27:33 0:23:04
Gretchen Snyder 0:27:19 0:23:28
Mike Pastva 0:33:46 0:25:04
Renee Buckus 0:34:44 0:29:57