5/28/2018

Tallmadge Memorial 5K

Tallmadge, OH

Steve Bable

Finish Time:  22:55

Division Place: 2nd

Overall Finish:  48th

Loretta Harland

Finish Time:  26:13

Division Place:  3rd place

Overall Finish:  91st

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  22:17

Division Place:  3rd place

Overall Finish:  37th

Race Review by Scott Orlando

It was a hot and humid day in Tallmadge Ohio for the annual Tallmadge Memorial 5K.  I have never competed in this race before and I must admit it was the chance to win a free pair of running shoes which made me register.  This race had Team ER all over it!  Josh Ritchie of Ritchie’s Sporting Goods and Mickey Rzymek of North Coast Multi Sports who are both Team ER members organized the race.  Team ER manager Henry Hauenstein led the runners through the course on his mountain bike.  The course is primarily out and back with a small loop connection.  Most of it is through residential streets.  Like most Josh Ritchie courses he starts you fast and hits you hard on the return.  This time in the form of a hill in the late part of the second mile.  The heat, humidity, and hill got the best of many runners as they chose to walk that part of the course.  I believe training runs up hills in the humidity of Florida the week prior to the race really helped me in the hot race conditions.  I was a little surprised by my finish time as I expected to be much slower.  All racers were greeted at the finish with a nice medal and lots of water.  The misting tent was also a nice post race touch to help runners cool down.  The race was well organized and I really enjoyed it.  Especially walking away with a new pair of running shoes!  It was great to see Team ER member Loretta Harland also place in her age division!

5/26/2018

Crystal River Triathlon Series Race #1

Ken Frankenbery

Finish Time:  1:13:48

Division Place:  1st place

Overall Finish:  37th

Race Review By Ken Frankenbery

Crystal River Florida Sprint Triathlon:  600 Yard swim/15-mile bike/3-mile run

It has been almost 2 years since my last Triathlon. A torn hamstring had sidelined me and I was looking for test race.

After heavy thunderstorms all night, things cleared but left us with a hot & humid morning. The race was well organized, started at 7:30 am sharp, and would be my first ocean swim.

The salt water definitely helps with buoyancy, and with 80 plus degree water temp, no wet suits were allowed.  I started in wave 2, people were well spread out so not a lot of people swimming over top of you.  I stayed calm at the start-had a decent swim and came out 5th in my age group.  I had a fast transition, passing 1 person there.  The bike was a super flat out and back.  It was tricky not to draft with all the bikes out there.  They had spotters and getting within 3 bike lengths of someone was grounds for disqualification.  You had to plan your passes.  I passed one more person in my age group.

I had a solid bike leg – averaged 21.7 MPH.  The last 5 miles the heat/humidity started to hit me.  Another good transition put me right behind 3rd place and I went by him as we started the run, then picked off the other 2 before the ½ way point.  Like the bike, run was a simple out and back.

I suffered on the run from the heat, but my hamstring felt great. Finished 37th overall (just over 300 total), 1st in my class.

Felt great to be back racing!!

5/20/2018

Matt Addessi

Ohio Eastern Time Trials Race #2

Deerfield, OH

Finish Time:  28:41

Overall Place:  3rd place

Division Place:  2nd place.

Race Recap By Matt Addessi

5/20/2018

Cleveland Half Marathon

Chris Brown

Finish Time:  3:25:22

Division Place:  43rd

Gender Place:  2135

Overall Place:  4010

5/19/2018

Scott Orlando

Akron Paddle and Portage Race

Akron, Ohio

Finish Time:  NA

Finish Place:  4th overall

Race Review By Scott Orlando

The Akron Paddle and Portage Race is an interesting kayak and canoe race held in the lakes and canals of Akron Ohio.  The concept of the race is to honor the tradition of the Native Americans who paddled and carried their boats through Summit County.  The course is diverse crossing two lakes and winding its way through the historic Ohio Erie Canals.  Participants paddle around 5 miles and than can choose a short portage of half a mile or a long portage of 1.5 miles along the towpath trail to the finish.   I had planned on using a light 16′ kayak for the race but that boat go stuck in PA so I used a shorter but much heavier molded kayak.  The kayak was no mach in the water for several much lighter racing boats in the field and I struggled to portage the 55 pound boat the half mile to the finish.  I really enjoyed the paddle, but the portage not so much.  This was just the second year for the race.  I plan to work with the organizers to help improve the race for next year.  The race was a nice value as participants received custom shirts, wooden hand made finisher medals, a box lunch and locally brewed craft sodas.

5/12/2018

Sweat Now Wine Later Race

2 mile kayak and 2 mile run race

Gervasi Winery Canton, OH

Tori Hargett

Finish Time:  45:03

Finish Place:  68th overall

Scott Orlando

Finish Time 35:50

Finish Place:  2nd overall

Race Review by Scott Orlando

Sweat Now Wine Later is another sold out race organized by the fine people at Run Canton.  This year almost 400 people competed in the 2 mile kayak 2 mile run event held at the beautiful Gervasi Winery.  A quick school bus ride to the starting area and then the race begins by sprinting to the creek and hopping into the waiting kayaks.  Everyone uses the same kayaks that are supplied making this a beginner friendly multi sport race everyone can enjoy.  Racers are set off one at a time time trial style.  I quickly ran into trouble on the kayak when I realized I was handed a paddle with a blade on backwards.  I was already away from shore so switching paddles was not an option.  I wasted a solid minute trying to correct the paddle but the 2 pieces were jammed together so I had to kayak the entire race with the blade facing the wrong way.  The water level was very low and kayaks were stuck on rocks around every bend of the creek.  I managed to keep a fairly clean line scraping rocks and the bottom a lot but never really getting that hung up.  The run is on the crushed limestone trails that head back to Gervasi for the finish.  I missed winning the race by just 61 seconds and I know I spent more time than that trying to fix the backward paddle blade.  Had I been provided functional paddle I think I would have had a great shot at winning, but that’s racing.  No complaints or excuses.  In every race their are obstacle you have to overcome and adapt.  I am actually pretty proud that my kayak experience helped me beat everyone but one person with just half a paddle.  Congratulations to Team ER member Tori Hargett who completed her first multi sport race and finished 68th overall.  As always Run Canton put on a great event.  Participants received  great race swag including tech shirts, wine stopper finisher medals, and vouchers for food or wine at Gervasi.  This is a short race but one of my favorites.