5/11/2024
Sweat Now Wine Later Adventure Race
2 Mile Kayak And 2.5 Mile Run
Canton, Ohio
Scott Orlando
Finish Time: 51:50
Overall Place: 83rd Place / 200
Race Recap By Scott Orlando:
The Sweat Now Wine Race at Gervasi Vineyard in Canton, Ohio is not the longest race but certainly one I look forward to because it incorporates kayaking, running and wine which are a few of my favorite things. This was my 7th time competing in the 2 mile kayak / 2.5 mile run race. I have previously won the race twice and set the course record in 2019 so my expectations leading into the race were very high with the goal of being the first three time winner of the race. Unfortunately I made a bad decision to play soccer 4 nights before the race which ultimately cost me the opportunity to compete for a 3rd win at this race. I have been having some plantar fasciitis tightness for several weeks. Usually when I run it is tight at first but then loosens up and feels better the longer I run. I thought this would be the case playing soccer but the lateral movement really aggravated it making it much worse. I spent the next four days icing, stretching, rolling, performing ultra sound, and electric stimulation on it in an effort to be able to compete in this race. I showed up to the race not knowing if I could run at all. Three minutes into warming up I knew my answer was an absolute no to running. After attempting to run in warm ups my foot was in a lot of pain and I wasn’t sure if I could even walk the course but I was determined to give it a try.
It was very disappointing knowing that my decision to play soccer cost me a chance at being competitive in this race. Expectations for me to perform at this race were very high. Even at race check in the Canton Park And Recreation staff officials working commented “our winner is here” when I picked up my packet. Race conditions were nasty but well suited for fast times because the creek was high with faster than normal water from several days of rain leading up to the race. The race is offered in heats and you show up and compete based on your heat time. I chose a 9:30 am heat time which was the second heat of the morning. It was colder than normal with temperatures in the high 40’s Rain that was predicted to start a few hours later had already started making it feel even colder. Knowing I wouldn’t compete for an overall spot I decided to focus on a fast kayak leg of the race.
The race starts with a sprint of 100 yards to the creek before jumping into a waiting kayak and paddling away. I usually like to get off the shuttle bus and head to the start to be the first person to compete from my heat. The creek is narrow and it can be hard to pass slower kayakers. I was unable to be the first to start because I could not get the life jacket adjusted properly so 8 – 10 people started ahead of me. Knowing I wasn’t going to be competitive I didn’t let it bother me to much. I finally got my chance to start. I was unable to run so I walked down to the creek and got in my kayak. The race provides the kayak equipment. I hopped in the short plastic kayak and was handed what felt like the heaviest paddle I had ever used and was off. I quickly caught up to the kayaks in front of me some being backwards and sideways in the water. Luckily the water was unusually high for this race so passing in most areas was a little easier. I was making quick work of the kayak course but did have to wait a couple of times to find clear passage to pass a few more kayaks which cost me some time. Near the end of the kayak leg I caught up to and passed some of the paddlers from the previous heat. Exiting the kayak was fairly smooth and quick. Next I was off on the 2.5 mile run / walk course to the finish. I was trying to walk as fast as I could. My foot was in pain but the rain was really coming down hard so I tried to maintain a fast pace just to keep my body temperature up. At one point I was getting really cold and did attempt to run but that ended quickly. When I approached the 2 mile mark I came to a fork in the path that was unmarked. I wasn’t sure if I should go straight or to the left. I thought straight but I saw a runner in front of me head left so I followed. That ended up being the wrong direction. After about a half mile the trail ended so I turned around. Funny but on the way back I could now see that someone had posted 3 course direction markers at the fork in the trail during the time I was off course. Apparently the race officials were told of the problem and placed the signs at the same time I was off course. This detour added about 13 minutes to my finish time.
I finished the course in a time of 51:50 placing 83rd overall out of 200. Usually there are around 500 participants in this race. I believe they had a high percentage of no shows do to the cold and rain. This was my slowest finish time ever at this race. After the race finishers are presented with a nice custom medal, snacks, and a glass of Gervasi wine. In years past participants were given a $10 coupon for the purchase of food or beverage at Gervasi. I think having the wine at the finish was a nice change. I had a hard time drinking my wine because I was shivering from the cold and rain. I waited until I could get to my car and change into warmer dry clothes.
I want to congratulate the overall winner and 2nd place finisher who became only the 2nd and 3rd person to complete this race in under 33:00 minutes. Until this year I was the only person to ever do it in less than 33:00 minutes which I have done twice. They did not beat my course record but got fairly close. Looking at my race data I had the fastest kayak split time I have ever logged at 15:25 with probably a minute of that time being walking to the kayak. Had I been able to run at my typical pace I would have shattered my course record. This will give me motivation for next year’s race.
Participants received nice tech shirts, custom medals, a glass of wine, and snacks. The race as always was well organized. There were a couple organizational hiccups during the race. The volunteer that was starting the racers was having them line up in front of the chip timing mats after crossing them. I watched her doing this and said something to her suggesting she start people behind the mats. The timing company employee working was watching her do this and I was surprised he did not say anything to her. She looked and him after I made the suggestion to her and he confirmed what I had told her. I hope she did not do this for the entire fist heat of participants but I am guessing she did. She was also sending racers off too close together resulting in a delay in getting each kayaker into the water. I purposely waited for the racers in front of me to clear the kayak launch so I would not be delayed. I suggested also to the starter that she wait for each kayak to be cleared before starting the next racer. She thanked me and told me that no one told her any of what I had suggested. There was also the issue with the last fork in the trail not being marked with course direction signs. I am glad they corrected the problem but I feel bad for any of the racers in the first heat or my heat that went the wrong way prior to the signs being placed. I would have been upset if I was going for a course record and went the wrong direction. I really wasn’t that happy I had to walk an extra mile on a hurt foot and add 13 minutes to my overall time. Overall this is an excellent event. This race is great for beginners looking to get into some multi sport racing or for anyone looking for an adventure with wine at the finish.