Monthly Archives: January 2021

12/31/2020 Great New Year’s Eve 5K Kent, Ohio

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12/31/2020

Great New Year’s Eve 5K

Kent, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  22:20

Overall Place:  30th Place

Division Place:  2nd Place

Christine Churpek

Finish Time:  22:30

Overall Place:  36th Place

Division Place:  2nd Place

Amy Stumpf

Finish Time:  22:54

Overall Place:  44th Place

Division Place:  1st Place

Russ Neubert

Finish Time:  23:51

Overall Place:  57th Place

Division Place:  1st Place

Mike Williams

Finish Time:  25:47

Overall Place:  80th Place

Division Place:  7th Place

Jerry Lynch

Finish Time:  29:51

Overall Place:  133rd Place

Division Place:  8th Place

Race Review By Scott Orlando:

The Summit Athletic Runners Club (SARC) Great New Year’s Eve 5K is always a great way for any runner to finish the year with one last race.  This year the race was moved from its usually course location of Stow, Ohio to Kent, Ohio.   COVID protocols restricted the race to 150 runners which sold out quickly so a second heat was added which allowed another 150 runners to participate.   Strict COVID protocols were in place to provide a safe experience for everyone.   This year’s course was the same as the Race Like A Local and Turkey Trot both held earlier in the year.  The out and back course features a fast downhill start to the paved trail along the river.  At the 3 mile mark runners divert off the paved trail up a steep short gravel hill and back to the park for the finish.   I hadn’t run in a week as I was resting a calf that showed some signs of a mild strain.   I wasn’t sure if I would even be able to run but I thought I would warm up and see how it felt.   With warm ups complete my calf felt ok so I decided to put it to the test.   I started with a fast first mile of 6:37.   As I hit the second mile of the course I started to slow down,  The bridges and several parts of the trail were covered in compressed snow and ice making traction tough.   I made it to the turn around point still averaging under a 7 minute mile pace.   The second time over the icy bridges slowed me down even more.  Not wanting to strain my calf further I did not push my pace to try to make up lost time.  The gravel hill climb back to the park took my breath away for a few minutes but I was able to increase pace for a quick sprint to the finish.   I finished in 22:20 which was slower then my time of 21:06 on the same course earlier in the year.  I was happy to finish with my calf in tact taking 2nd place in my age division.   It was great to see so many other Team ER members and runners from the Kent running group Run Like A Mother at the race.   SARC, North Coast Multisports and Josh Ritchie did an outstanding job organizing the race.   All runners received quarter zip long sleeve shirts.  Awards included SARC winter hats to be picked up at Ritchie’s Sporting Goods as there were no awards presented the day of the race.   Again thank you to SARC, North Coast Multisports, Josh Ritchie, and Mickey Rzymek for their ongoing commitment to offering live races to keep us all running and competing through the pandemic.