12/31/2024 George McFall, Roy Miller, Scott Orlando, Josh Keane, Lisa Keane, Mike Williams, Jerry Lynch, And Kevin Christensen The Great New Year’s Eve 5K Stow, Ohio

12/31/2024

The Great New Year’s Eve 5K

Stow, Ohio

George McFall

Finish Time: 21:36

Overall Place: 29th Place / 277

Division Place: 2nd Place / 16

Roy Miller

Finish Time: 23:21

Overall Place: 43rd Place / 277

Division Place: 3rd Place / 14

Scott Orlando

Finish Time: 23:55

Overall Place: 48th Place / 277

Division Place: 3rd Place / 11

Josh Keane

Finish Time: 27:03

Overall Place: 90th Place / 277

Division Place: 7th Place / 18

Lisa Keane

Finish Time: 29:15

Overall Place: 106th Place / 277

Division Place: 2nd Place / 16

Mike Williams

Finish Time: 30:30

Overall Place: 119th Place / 277

Division Place: 8th Place / 16

Jerry Lynch

Finish Time: 35:23

Overall Place: 166th Place / 277

Division Place: 6th Place / 9

Kevin Christensen

Volunteered for packet pick up duties and course marshal duties

Race Recap By George McFall:

Happy New Year, Team ER! Yesterday, I laced up the shoes to run the Great New Year’s Eve 5K. This is a race I have done several times but it didn’t making running it any easier. It is the same rolling hill course and that final big climb before getting a downhill to the finish line is still there. The weather was perfect. The rain stayed away and the temp was around 44-45 degrees.

I shot out of the start line to get into a good position because I didn’t want to be caught in the crowd as we made the left turn onto Newcomer. My first mile was 6:40 pace. It would have been great to hold that pace but I gave some time back each mile after that which was expected based on the not so flat course. My finishing time was 21:36 which was good enough for 2nd place in my age group. The 50-54 age group was very competitive – the guy who finished first came in at 21:33 and 3rd place was 22:26. Team ER did very well. It was good to see the tradition of handing out socks for age group awards hasn’t changed. I mean we could all use socks. It was a great way to end my 2024 running season

Race Recap By Scott Orlando:

I have a love hate relationship with the Great New Year’s Eve 5K race held annually in Stow, Ohio. Being that this race is just down the street from my house and held on my birthday make it hard for me not to compete in this race. I also like the idea of ending the year with one last race. The hate part of this race for me is that the weather conditions are typically horrible and the course is very difficult challenging runners with hill after hill.

This year the weather conditions were threatening rain but cleared up right before the start making for better than normal conidiations for this race. The temperature was in the 40’s with some decent wind gusts but overall not too bad.

I had been training for this race the last couple of weeks by getting some miles in on the actual course to familiarize myself with every hill in order to come up with a race day strategy. I felt fairly confident and prepared for the race.

Unfortunately my race didn’t go especially how I would have liked. For some reason I just wasn’t feeling it and couldn’t get to my usual pace. My lower back tightened up a few hours before the race and is very tight now so maybe that had something to do with it. I had a decent first mile at a 7:17 mile pace, but then slowed down from there. Each mile I lost more time on the hills. I tried to make a late push in the last half mile but it was a little too late to make up any real time. In any case I still managed to place 3rd in my division with a time of 23:55 which was a minute slower than last year and by far my slowest 5K of the year. The Great New Year’s Eve 5K was by far the hilliest course I ran all year so there is definitely a feeling of accomplishment just completing this race.

All runners receive a race logoed fleece blanket and custom bib. There were plenty of snacks after the race. All pre and post race activities were held inside which was nice. The race was well organized.

It was great seeing so many Team-ER members at the race. Congratulations to Team ER members George Mc Fly, Roy Miller, and Lisa Keane who also earned division awards! Congratulations to Josh Keane, Mike Williams and Jerry Lynch who completed the race.

Thank you to Kevin Christensen, Leslie Christensen, and Steve Hailer for volunteering.

Thank you to Josh Ritchie, Mickey Rzymek, Summit Athletic Running Club, and all the volunteers that put on another great race.

Congratulations to everyone that conquered the hills and crossed the finish line.

Race Recap By Lisa Keane:

Easy directions with plenty of parking close to the start / finish line. Organized and easy packet pick up.
Gun start, chip timed out and back race on a well marked, fun, and challenging road course.
Ample police presence for safety and I was pleasantly surprised by all the neighborhood cheerleaders!
Blankets and snacks for all participants and socks for top 3 overall and age group winners!
Soft and fun hoodies available for purchase. Despite the hills, I was able to place 2nd in my age group and scored some great new socks!
As always, so nice to celebrate the holidays and run with fellow Team ER members!
HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS! And an extra special HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout out to Scott and Jerry! Can’t wait to see you all in 2025!

Team ER – Eddy's / Ritchies

Leave a Reply