5/10/2025

Running With My Gnomies Trail Race

Dover, Ohio

50K Trail Race

John Fabianich McClay

Finish Time:  6:14:50

Overall Place:  7th Place / 39

Division Place:  1st Place / 9

25K Trail Race

Josh Keane

Finish Time:  3:25:36

Overall Place:  16th Place / 45

Division Place:  3rd Place / 12

Lisa Keane

Finish Time:  4:00:38

Overall Place:  32nd Place / 45

Division Place:  3rd Place / 8

Terri Bednar

Finish Time:  4:00:38

Overall Place:  33rd Place / 45

Division Place:  4th Place / 12

Lynett McClay

Finish Time:  5:30:30

Overall Place:  44th Place / 45

Division Place:  7th Place  / 8

Volunteers:  John Fabianich McClay, Josh Keane, Lisa Keane, and Lynett McClay

Race Recap By John Fabianich McClay:

My intention was to enjoy a relaxing weekend, avoiding running altogether. However, after joining Lynett McClay at packet pickup for Running With My Gnomies, I was convinced to participate and enrolled in the 50k event. The course was remarkable, featuring a diverse range of hills, muddy sections, and creek crossings. The aid station was comprehensively equipped with necessary supplies. My thanks go to Race Director Jeremey Followay and his team for delivering a well-executed event. I achieved a 7th-place overall finish and secured 1st place in my age group. Congratulations to all who successfully completed the event.

Race Recap By Josh Keane:

It will be difficult to not sound like a broken record on this one! Running With My Gnomies is one of our favorite races every year. Volunteering at Camp Tuscazoar with Race Brimstone is always a blast getting to help setting things up and see all the familiar faces of the ultra community. The course this year was a little different but did not disappoint, we had over 2,500 ft. of elevation gain per 25k loop, some mud and a wonderful 100-200 ft. run through a creek! The aid stations were once again the absolute best aid stations you will find with world class volunteers. Nothing like a challenging stroll through the woods with great people. Team ER had a strong showing at this one with 5 members running and finishing strong. The weather was unusually nice for this race as it was all sunshine! I was happy to take third in my age group and 16th overall for the 25k. This is a great trail race for anyone and will be a challenge whether you run the Gnomie 9ish, (around 9 miles), the 25k or the 50k there is a distance for everyone. We love this one and are likely to run it every chance we get!

Race Recap By Lisa Keane:

Absolutely one of my favorite races of all times!
Challenging and technical race course through beautiful Camp Tuscazoar with so many gnomes to guide you along the way!
Great communication, easy and organized packet pick up night before or day of.
Indoor staging/ drop bag area.
Plentiful free parking a short walk to the start line and porta potties.
Well marked course with fully stocked and well spaced aid stations.
Traditional trail with all of the rocks, roots, mud, streams, tree obstacles, and of course hills!
Choose the 9 ish mile, 25K, or 50K route. I chose the 25K and earned over 2500′ of elevation gain.
All runners get a cute themed SS tech tee and finishers medal.
Hand made GNOME awards go to top 3 overall and top 2 age group winners.

Race Recap By Lynett McClay:

I had a great time Running With My Gnomies. The weather cooperated beautifully, with no rain to hinder the race. The course offered a mix of single track trails, mud, creek crossings, and open fields, making for an engaging run. The packet pickup process was smooth, with options for pickup the night before or the day of the event. The aid stations were well-stocked and met the runners’ needs. Parking was plentiful, with a short walk to the start and finish lines. The race also featured a fun gnome search, which added to the overall enjoyment. After a few years away, I was happy to return to this race.

Running with my Gnomies. What a great weekend to volunteer for packet pick up. Convenient packet pick up the night before the race and the morning of with an indoor area to put your stuff. Everyone that runs this gets a soft tech shirt with a medal. You can run 9ish, 25k or 50k.

5/10/2025

Sweat Now Wine Later Adventure Race

Canton, Ohio

1.5 Mile Kayak And 2.5 Mile Run Race

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  31:06

Overall Place:  1st Place / 140

New Course Record:  31:06

Race Recap By Scott Orlando:

The Sweat Now Wine Later Adventure Race is a short race but one of my favorites.  I have competed in this race probably 6-8 times in the past and previously won it twice.  The race starts and finishes at Gervasi Winery which makes for a beautiful race location and experience.   The race is advertised as a 1.5 mile kayak followed by a 2.5 mile run.  The kayak distance is pretty accurate but I think the run course is more like 2 miles.  The race starts with a short run or walk through a grass field to the waiting kayaks.  All kayak equipment is provided.  It is luck of the draw as to what kayak and paddle you are given.  Most of the kayaks and paddles are similar in size and type, but I always feel like I end up with the slowest kayak and heaviest paddle.   The creek is typically shallow and narrow.  This year it was shallow and slow but mostly manageable.  I hit bottom several times and was often unable to get a full paddle full of water but never got stuck.   I have competed in this race enough time to know to be the first person from my heat to start the race.  This helps to avoid being slowed down when trying to pass less experienced kayakers ahead of me.  There aren’t a lot of areas to pass safely so you can easily lose time if you are unable to pass a slower paddler.  For the most part I had a clear creek to navigate until close to the end when I caught up to and passed 4 paddlers from the previous heat.  I had a fast exit and transition to the run thanks to the enthusiastic volunteers pulling kayaks out of the creek.   There was a water station at the start of the run and I probably would have grabbed a quick drink but the cups were all still in the plastic bag and the water was on the table in gallon jugs.  The final instructions did state it was a self serve water station but I would have expected the water to be in cups ready to grab and go.  Luckily it wasn’t too hot or humid so I skipped it and headed down the trail.  The trail is now paved as it used to be crushed limestone.  I think the fact that it is paved helped to speed up the course.  I had a solid run.  The finish line snuck up on me fast and I feel like I probably could have started my final kick sooner.

Last year I attempted to complete this race with a newly torn plantar fasciitis and barely finished. I showed up this year healthy, well trained, focused, and determined to get back on top of the leaderboard. The creek was shallow making for slower kayak times so I didn’t expect a fast time. I was shocked when I crossed the finish line and learned that I set a new course record and became the first person ever to complete the race in under 32:00. The previous course record was 32:25 and set in 2019 by yours truly when the creek was high and fast. Today I set a new course record of 31:06 and was the overall winner of the race.

All participants received nice newly designed tech shirts, custom finisher medals, a glass of wine, and post race snacks.  Because the race features a staggered start and heats their isn’t much of a post race finish line celebration.  The volunteers and staff working the finish line were enthusiastic and cheered on all finishers.  There were also photographers at the start and finish capturing memories for the participants.

Overall this is a very fun well organized race.  This is a great race for beginners, families, and groups of friends looking for an adventure and reason to go to Gervasi Winery.

Thank you to Canton Parks and Recreation and all of the volunteers who helped put on a great race.

5/10/2025

Mother Of All Races 5K

Canal Fulton, Ohio

Nancy Wardell

Finish Time:  32:42

Overall Place:  73rd Place / 199

Division Place:  4th Place / 10

Race Recap By Nancy Wardell:

I completed the Mother of All Races 5k in Canal Fulton yesterday! This race is very well organized and the course does have some elevation, but the freebies and the award ceremony with tons of food and even the sweet T-shirt makes this race totally worth it!! I finished 4th in my age group with a total time of 32:41 and a pace of 10:32. Loved the atmosphere overall and hope to do this one again next year!

5/10/2025

To The Clocktower And Back 5K

Akron, Ohio

5K

Renee Buckus

Finish Time:  32:57

Overall Place:  185th Place / 329

Division Place:  16th Place / 33

1 Mile Fun Run

Brittany Kiehl

Finish Time:  N/A

5/10/2025

Spring Benefit Auction And Festival 5K

Holmesville, Ohio

Kris Engstrom

Finish Time:  25:56

Overall Place:  36th Place / 56

Division Place:  3rd Place / 3

Race Recap By Kris Engstrom:

I ran the Spring Benefit Auction and Festival this Saturday in Holmesville. Money went to support people with disabilities. First year for the race. Thought the race was going to be run on the flat paved Holmes County trail. I was wrong. Most challenging 5k I’ve ever run. Most of it was run on grass and fields with lots of hills. More of a cross country run. I actually enjoyed the challenge. Finished 3rd in age group with a time of 25:56.