7/27/2024
The Burning River 100 Mile Relay
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Team What’s In A Name:
Christine Churpek
Finish Time: 18:32:10
Overall Place: 27th Place / 73
Division Place: 15th Place / 48
Team Run Like A Mother
Asad Khan
Renee Buckus
Finish Time: 18:55:00
Overall Place: 28th Place / 73
Division Place: 16th Place / 48
Team Hot Mess Express 2
Kristi Quesenberry Gunyula
Finish Time: 20:40:21
Overall Place: 45th Place / 73
Division Place: 5th Place / 10
Team ER
Brittany Kiehl
George McFall
Josh Keane
Lisa Keane
Mike Williams
Roy Miller
Terri Bendar
Veronica Neubert
Finish Time: 20:55:24
Overall Place: 49th Place / 73
Division Place: 29th Place / 48
Volunteers
Russ Neubert Provided course support and took pictures for Team ER.
Christine Churpek and Stephani Orwick helped at the NWB Run Club aid station.
Race Recap By Asad Khan:
The Burning River 100 Relay does not disappoint! I had a fun time running Leg 5 of the relay for my RLAM team and slogged through 10.4 miles (more running miles than I am really equipped to handle)! Our team did awesome with an under 19 hour finish!!
Race Recap By Lisa Keane:
The Burning River 2024 100 mile – 8 Person Relay was super organized & well supported endurance race on a well marked course w/ a variety of distances & terrain! This was the 1st year that anyone on our team has participated in this race and while we all had our challenges (from heat to horses to roots), we all agreed that we are absolutely going to do this again next year!
What an amazing day with this amazing team! Congratulations TEAM ER! WE DID IT!
Race Recap By George McFall:
My first Burning River Endurance Run & Relay is in the books. I was part of the Team-ER 100 mile relay team that included Veronica Judith, Mike Williams, Lisa Keane, Josh Keane, Brittany Kiehl, Terri Bednar, and Roy Miller. The relay started at 7am on Saturday on Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls. Our first runner was Terri followed by Veronica, Josh, Lisa, Brittany, Mike, Roy and me. My exchange point was at Chestnut Lodge (formerly known as as Mingo Lodge). Mile 88.7. It was cool watching Roy come up the last stretch before the lodge, Quick pic then off I went. I started around 2am. I had a goal of finishing my leg in under 2 hours but wasn’t sure what to expect so I took what the course gave me. I walked up the steep inclines and took the downhills and flats as fast as I could without risking a fall. I surprised myself. Embraced the run and had fun. I had a few road sections so I took full advantage of that to pick up the pace. I crossed the finish line at mile 100.55 in 1:55:42. Our total team time was 20:55:42. We did it!!! I had such a great experience and enjoyed supporting my teammates. Even though I only ran 12 of the 100 mile course, I still got emotional as I approached the finish line. Celebrate the wins!!! I loved seeing some of the Team ER crew at the finish line. Thanks for sticking around to watch me finish. The course was well marked. This took some stress out of the run. The two aid stations I ran through were awesome!! Thanks to all of the volunteers. You rock!!! I am already looking forward to doing it again next year — but might do the marathon distance or 50 miler. We’ll see. Congratulations to all the finishers! You inspire me and so many.
Race Recap By Veronica Neubert:
What absolutely awesome day! I was so nervous to do this race and it turns out, I had an absolute blast!
Thank you to Terri for organizing, coordinating and encouraging everyone! Thank you to Russ Neubert for coordinating and course support!
Great job Terri, Josh, Lisa, Brittany, Mike, Roy, and George l! #ohioteamer It was an honor to be a part of this team!
Already looking forward to next year!
Race Review By Renee Buckus:
Burning River 2024 – the year Maeve’s mom felt strong as hell and toughed out some not-so-pleasant conditions (otherwise known as 10.5 miles of uphill in 87 degree heat). My third time running this series and hopefully a race that I’ll continue to come back to every year! (Also, still haven’t seen any rivers on fire so next year… I start my own)
Race Recap By Mike Williams:
What a great time I had last night running the 18th Annual Burning River Endurance Run & Relay. Leg 6 was awesome. I started out at Kendal Lake in twilight and finished up at The valley picnic area in the dark. A lot of tree roots, old wooden steps, and mixed trails.
Race Recap By Roy Miller:
The Burning River 8 person was more of an unknown than any race I have done. I was torn somewhere between super excited and oddly nervous about running a leg of this crazy race. Let me start off by saying this is the first real trail race I have done and probably only the second time running any trails in my life. It should be known that the first time was a few weeks ago with my teammate George. That run was in the morning and had plenty of light to see all the terrain. I only fell twice (remember my first trail run). I started leg 7 of the relay at 11:00 PM. Needless to say there was nothing but pitch black darkness. I met Mike at the transition point and got a great starting picture. I hit the headlamp, started RaceJoy and up the trail I went. The trail isn’t super technical in the beginning and my legs felt fantastic. Within the first mile I realized I didn’t start my watch correctly so I was already behind on knowing where I was mileage wise. Then the 1st root monster grabbed my right foot and down I went. Not exactly what I was hoping for. This was already making me nervous about staying on my feet. I ended up falling 4 times and that was really frustrating. The course is really well marked and I never had a problem navigation so that was a win. I met up with several amazing trail runners and made a few friends in the process. The camaraderie on the course is amazing. I used the road sections to pick up the pace and decided if I could keep my overall pace better than 13:00 per mile I would be satisfied. The best part of the entire race was at about mile 11 (of 14.4 miles) I was in the middle of the trail with no other runners anywhere near me. I decided to stop for a second, turned off my music and my headlamp and just listened to all the nature around me. It was so surreal to be a part of that environment. I used it as a moment to re-center myself and off to meet with George to let him get us to the finish line. Got off the trail and had a new sense of security about being able to stride my way to the end of the leg. I met with George and got a finish picture of my leg and his start.
I think trail racing will become one of those things that I may have to embrace as I am already contemplating the marathon distance next year.
Race Recap By Josh Keane:
What an adventure with Team ER!! Thank you to the most awesome team mates George Mc Fly, Roy Miller, Mike Williams, Brittany Kiehl, Lisa Keane, Veronica Judith, and Terri Bednar! You are the best and put in an outstanding effort! This race was on my list for a very long time and I was happy to be able to get out there with my team and run the relay. The course was fantastic, the aid stations were well stocked and the volunteers were great. As always the ultra marathon community shines as the best group of people on the planet and it was fun race. Looking forward to running this again with our team next year and continuing my running journey with shared adventures!! Sorry I missed the expo and pre race dinner! Let’s try to make that happen and get a pic of the whole team next year.
Race Recap By Brittany Kiehl:
It is a very organized and well supported endurance race with a variety of distances and surfaces. The course was fantastic showcasing many beautiful areas of the CVNP. The aid stations were well stocked and the volunteers were so friendly.