11/2/2024

The Fly Ball 5K

Stow, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  22:00

Overall Place:  1st Place / 43

Christine Churpek

Finish Time:  23:29

Overall Place:  3rd Place / 43

Gender Place:  1st Place / 23

Josh Keane

Finish Time:  23:36

Overall Place:  4th Place / 43

Gender Place:  3rd Place / 20

Steve Zenar

Finish Time:  23:36

Overall Place:  4th Place / 43

Gender Place:  3rd Place / 20

Lisa Keane

Finish Time:  25:22

Overall Place:  9th Place / 43

Gender Place:  3rd Place / 23

Terri Bednar

Finish Time:  26:44

Overall Place:  12th Place / 43

Gender Place:  5th Place / 20

Gretchen Snyder

Finish Time:  27:45

Overall Place:  16th Place / 43

Gender Place:  7th Place / 20

Nancy Wardell

Finish Time:  23:36

Overall Place:  23rd Place / 43

Gender Place:  10th Place / 20

Race Recap By Scott Orlando:

The Fly Ball 5K was a new race held at the Kent State University Airport in Stow, Ohio.  The race was a fundraiser for the Kent State University Softball Team.  I wasn’t planning on running this race but when so many of my friends from Ohio Team ER registered I decided to give it a try.   I really wasn’t sure what to expect.  Being this was a new race their wasn’t a lot of information about it.   The online registration form didn’t seem to have many details either.  I was told that an email would be sent the day before to all participants with more details including course information.   The day before I did not receive the final instructions email so I reached out to the race contact listed on the registration page.  The contact was nice enough to call me directly.  She let me know that my email address had bounced back.  She provided me with the final instructions by sending them to another email address that I provided.  The final instructions didn’t have any information about the course so I figured I would take advantage of the early packet pick up the day before the race to better prepare myself for what to expect the next morning.  At the packet pick up I met the race director who was very friendly and answered all of my questions including explaining the course.  I was able to relay the information to my fellow Team ER members who as it turned out also didn’t receive the email containing the final instructions.  They must have had an issue with their email system.

Race morning it was a little chilly but there was little to no wind so running conditions were pretty favorable.  The race field was small with just under 50 runners.  From speaking with the race director it sounded like they wanted to get at least 30 participants but also keep the race relatively small for the first year to work out any glitches.  Pre race was very smooth and easy.  The entire Kent State University Softball Team was there to great runners as they checked in.  All pre race activities were inside which is always nice this time of year.  When it was time to race everyone headed outside to the runway for the start.  The course was 2 laps around a loop formed by the runway and service road connecting to it.  It was like running on a long track.  The course was mostly flat with a few gradual inclined areas most notably a section about a half mile from the the end of the lap 1 and the finish.

When the gun went off I quickly found myself leading the race field.  I was a little surprised there weren’t young and faster runners ahead of me.  It was fun to see the lead pack just behind me made up almost entirely of Team ER members.  The first mile was mostly flat or slightly downhill  and was fast.  I clocked a 6:54 first mile.  As the race field started to spread out I continued to find myself in the lead with one runner just behind me.   I was trying to push the pace and get some separation but he stayed just behind me making me work hard.  Nearing the first turn I was passed by a younger extremely fast runner who I identified as the race timer.  I knew I couldn’t catch him so I focused my efforts on 2nd place.   The runner that was behind me continued to push me from behind.  I tired a couple of times to increase pace and gain some ground but he kept making it back up.  Finally halfway through the second lap he started falling back and I created a gap.  I knew I had to keep running hard to maintain the gap and the lead on him.  The last small hill before the finish was touch but after that I made a sprint to the finish with all of the Kent State University Softball Team players cheering me on through the timing mats.  I was quickly presented with an award for 1st place overall with a time of 22:00.  I was a little confused because I knew the race timer had beat me.  I was informed that he was only running to test the distance of the course and was not part of the actual race.  Awards were presented to the top 3 overall male and female finishers.  Because it was such a small race there were no age group awards.

All runners received a t-shirt and finisher medal.  Overall awards were medals that slipped onto the finisher medal ribbons.  Overall this was a little neat race experience.  It is not everyday you get to race on the runway of an airport.  I wasn’t sure about how I would like the course but I was surprised how enjoyable it was.  I was able to see all the other runners as I worked my way around the 2 loops and the Kent State University Softball Team players did a great job cheering us all on to the finish.

Being this was a new race there are always area  for improvement.  I heard several comments of participants suggesting that there should have been a water station at the end of the first lap and at the finish line.  I think more details such as course maps should be included in the online registration page.  Better communication and marketing of the race through social media could help grow the race.  I always prefer tech shirts over cotton t-shirts.  Even though there were no age division awards it would have been nice to have an awards presentation for the top finishers after the race.  I think they should have waited until all of the runners crossed the finish line before presenting awards.  Handing out awards as runners cross the finish time can lead to problems if the race is chip timed.  In this case an award was presented to the 3rd  male crossing the finish line but there was actually a tie for 3rd place because the 4th place overall male finisher started a few seconds behind resulting in crossing the finish line 4th but having the exact same chip time finish.  The runner that crossed the finish line 4th overall actually tied for 3rd place but did not receive an award.  A runner starting in the back can have a faster chip time then someone crossing the finish line first.  Post race there were donuts and water inside the building but I didn’t know about it until I was leaving.  I think some more snacks post race would have been nice.

Thank you to all the young fast people that slept in and stayed home. You never know what will happen at a race or who will show up. You just get there, run, and good things can happen.

Overall this was a really fun race experience.  For a first time race it was well organized.  I enjoyed seeing so many Team ER members there and I will plan on returning next year.

Race Recap By Josh Keane:

It is always a lot of fun when we can get a good group together for a race to represent Team ER! The inaugural Kent State Flyball 5k was a great example. This was a fun little race on a chilly morning. Two laps around the tarmac to complete a 5k distance. Very nice shirt and medal. Flat and fast course. Inside packet pick up with restrooms before the race and get together after the race. I was very fortunate to run a 23:36 minute 5K which was good enough to tie for third place male over all! We had a great time running this one and will look forward to running it again next year.

Race Recap By Steve Zenar:

I had a wonderful morning running at the Kent State Airport – Fly Ball 5K. It was wonderful to be surrounded by so many Team-ER teammates! It was a bit chilly out but the sky was clear, there was no wind, and the sunrise at the beginning of the event was beautiful. I have never run on an Airport Runway before so that was interesting (think giant track). My personal goal today was to best my 5K PR (got my 10K PR earlier in the fall), and glad to say: mission accomplished. Nice new race that I would gladly participate in again in the future.

Race Recap By Lisa Keane:

I had a great time running with my team at the inaugural year of this small but fun Fly Ball 5K supporting the Kent State University Softball Team!
Organized and heavily supported from packet pick up to finish!
Indoor packet pick up, restrooms, and staging area.
Chip timed, flat and fast race on the KSU Airport runway with the entire KSU softball team cheering you on at the finish!
Great photo ops, soft SS tees, and medals for the first 50 registrations. Awards for the top 3 Overall male and female finishers.
Today marked my first sub 26 finish since my surgery and I was thrilled to place 3rd Overall Female!

Race Recap By Terri Bednar:

The race was fun, the parking and packet pickup was a breeze. Participants got a medal and shirt and the flat fast course was chip timed. Only thing that could have been done better is water on the course. Overall good race. Would do again!

Race Recap By Nancy Wardell:

I completed the Softball Fly Ball 5K in Stow this morning with a bunch of other teammates! It was great to see so many friendly faces and congrats to everyone today! Thank you for taking the pictures too! I finished at 31:43 with a pace of 10:12. They only gave awards to the top three finishers for this race, but I enjoyed the atmosphere and the smooth course.