6/29/2024

National Interstate 8K

Akron, Ohio

George McFall

Finish Time:  35:39

Overall Place: 59th Place / 1284

Division Place:  3rd Place / 48

Kristi Quesenberry Gunyula

Finish Time:  35:57

Overall Place: 67th Place / 1284

Division Place:  1st Place / 121

Josh Keane

Finish Time:  43:23

Overall Place: 274th Place / 1284

Division Place:  25th Place / 51

Asad Khan

Finish Time:  45:54

Overall Place: 378th Place / 1284

Division Place:  17th Place / 48

Brad Hain

Finish Time:  46:27

Overall Place: 409th Place / 1284

Division Place:  10th Place / 30

Terri Bednar

Finish Time:  48:15

Overall Place: 479th Place / 1284

Division Place:  16th Place / 83

Kevin Christensen

Finish Time:  48:31

Overall Place: 491st Place / 1284

Division Place:  17th Place / 41

Renee Buckus

Finish Time:  51:00

Overall Place: 613th Place / 1284

Division Place:  52nd Place / 95

Lisa Keane

Finish Time:  55:01

Overall Place: 770th Place / 1284

Division Place:  36th Place / 82

Stephanie Orwick

Finish Time:  56:42

Overall Place: 840th Place / 1284

Division Place:  65th Place / 109

Stephanie also volunteered to help packet pick up.

Brittany Kiehl

Finish Time:  1:06:53

Overall Place: 1084th Place / 1284

Division Place:  85th Place / 95

Race Recap By George McFall:

The 2024 Akron Marathon race series is underway. First race, National Interstate 8k. It’s always great to see so many familiar faces. So happy the rain and thunderstorms stayed away. Upper 70s and humid at the start. The course starts with a little uphill then gets faster with a downhill and flattens out. It kind of like this the entire course. Take the downhills fast, keep churning on the rollers and let loose on the flats and approaching the finish line,
I felt I executed my race plan well. The goal was to be 7 minute overall pace. I had a few miles under/a little over that. I did post a 7:15 on mile 4. I crossed the finish line with a time of 35:39; 7:11 pace and placed 3rd in my age group . I was 59th overall out of 1284. The post race party was fun.  I enjoyed the live music and catching up with people. Looking forward to the Goodyear 10k in August.

Race Recap By Josh Keane:

The National Interstate 8k was a great race for Team ER without question! I really enjoyed seeing everyone out there and thought it was a well organized race as always. The course was challenging and it was a little hotter and more humid than my body liked. I pushed a little too hard on the downhills at the beginning and slowed on the second half but look forward to crushing this one with the team next year! Great job to everyone else out there today!

Race Recap By Lisa Keane:

I am pretty sure we were all prepared for a monsoon to postpone our race day but the rain held off and it was a great morning for a run! A little muggy but overcast and breezy for my first crack at this race!  The race was super organized and heavily supported 8K on a “mostly” flat course. I really enjoyed running around the Akron University campus and surrounding neighborhoods. It toured some familiar race routes that brought back some memories.
Nice swag and fantastic after party with food trucks, beverages, photo ops, and live music!
I will definitely do this one again next year!

Race Recap By Kevin Christensen:

It was a hot and humid morning but no thunderstorms as predicted so race went on as scheduled.  I had a good run. It was great seeing all of the Team ER runners as well as plenty of wonderful volunteers.

Race Recap By Brittany Kiehl:

This race was well organized. The course highlights The University of Akron’s campus along with parts of downtown Akron. It was a manageable course with rolling hills. There was a nice shirt and finishers medal. Also, great post race festivities. I just miss the finish on the field in the stadium.

6/29/2024

Headwaters Adventure Triathlon

Mantua, Ohio

2 Mile Run, 10 Mile Bike, 5 Mile Kayak

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  1:44:03

Overall Place:  3rd Place / 103

Veronica Neubert

Finish Time:  2:00:19

Overall Place:  1st Place Overall Female / 103

Russ Neubert provided course support and took pictures for Team ER members racing.

Race Recap By Veronica Neubert:

Wake up 5 am, race is still on. Load every thing and drive through a rainstorm to get there. It did not look good! Dropped my bike off and it was sprinkling. Drove through the bike portion of the race and it appeared pretty wet so that made me nervous.  Dropped the kayak off and the rain stopped! I felt decent in the warm up but the run portion of this race was probably the worst I have ever felt, ever!! It was only 2 miles and I thought about dropping out more than once. I am so discouraged with my running since the concussion. I wonder if I will ever be back to where I was? I was passed by 3 women in the run, I knew I could make up time on the bike and I did, but then a race marshal indicated a left turn when the race map showed to continue forward. I thought maybe there was an accident or something, so I turned left. I caught up to a few guys that were just as confused as I was. Then the 2 leaders turned around and told us we took a wrong turn. I actually stopped, I didn’t know what to do. The guy I was right next to said the course went this way last year and we should continue, so I did. We were able to get back on the route.  We still ended up with a 10 mile bike! I was the first female to enter the kayak phase and thanks to Russ’s faster boat, I was able to remain in the lead for the entire 5 mile kayak!

This was the first triathlon I ever completed in 2021 and I was second female overall.
In 2022, I was third female overall by 2 seconds. We were in France last year so I was unable to compete.
The weather held off and I was able to win!  I wanted this so badly! The sweetest victory!

Race Recap By Scott Orlando:

Today I competed in the Headwaters Adventure Triathlon. I have competed in this race many times.  Having torn my plantar fasciitis 5 weeks ago I wasn’t sure how I would perform.  The morning of the race was extremely humid and severe storms were expected but luckily they were not as strong as predicted and we were able to race.  The combined race field between the solo competitors and relay teams was around 200 racers.

My 2 mile run time was about a minute slower than my usual pace, but I was able to run without any pain. The 10 mile bike was pure chaos. 3 miles into the bike leg a volunteer directed all the riders left off course instead of straight up the steep hill. This sent bike riders in all directions trying to find the course. Some bikers pedaled extra miles trying to get back on course while others shorter distances. It was a mess! After stopping twice and turning around twice I found my way to Camp Hi for the transition to the kayak. I biked pretty close to 10 miles which was the distance of the bike course. When I arrived at Camp Hi my heart sank realizing the bikers ahead of me were still lost on the course. I honestly didn’t know what to do. It did not feel right to proceed with the race. I decided to get in my kayak and start paddling. I paddled very slow contemplating the situation.

After a mile a racer who was ahead of me prior to the bike course issue caught up to me and passed me. At that point I decided to start racing again. Kayaking was difficult with the high seaweed. It was like kayaking on carpet. Many of my paddle strokes were half scoops but my Stellar Kayaks SR Multisport was able to cut through the seaweed and hold off all other kayaks from passing me. I was the 2nd overall racer to cross the finish line.

Another fast racer known to me was having a great race until he got lost on the bike course and finished just behind me. After a little discussion with him and realizing he biked almost 4 extra miles and finished just a minute behind me I decided to concede 2nd place to him who clearly beat me in all phases of the race. I was happy to accept the 3rd place overall award.

Congratulations to Team ER member Veronica Neubert who was the women’s overall winner.  Thank you to Russ Neubert for taking pictures and providing race support.  Thank you to all of the volunteers and for Portage Park District Foundation for putting on a great race.

All participants received nice t-shirts and custom finisher medals along with a bag filled with sponsor items.