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.