Team ER had two members qualify for and run Boston this year:

                                             Pete Finnerty – 3:35:22

                                              Amy Hovan – 4:05:32

In her first attempt at this distance, Karalyn Swope crushed the Athens Half with a time of 1:54:44 earning 7th place in her age group.

Nicely done Karalyn!

Team ER’s Chip Wilson earned 1st overall place at this years pump-n-run with a time of 17:04.

Congratulations Chip!

Chrissy Bowser was back at it this time running the Fools 25k in a smoking fast 3:00:05. Her time earned her 16th place out of 61 women and 69th place overall.

On one of the coldest days of the year, on snow filled trails in the Cuyahoga Valley Team ER’s Chrissy Bowser ran a 2:55:46 half marathon capturing 43rd overall place.

Nice job Chrissy

RACE NAME/DATE:  Oceanside 1/2IM / March 27, 2007 

FINISH TIME:  4:40:47 

FINISH PLACE O/A AND A/G:  134 overall  /   24^th  M35-39 

On Saturday, March 27^th I had the honor to line up and race alongside a very competitive field on a very fair course in Oceanside, California.  Let me say, for anyone looking at an early season test then this is a great destination race for you to attend. 

The athlete registration is very well managed and the expo is really nicely done.  Both of these venues occur right next to each adjacent to the Oceanside pier and pretty much right on the beach.  The water this year is a bit cool but the sun and sand cannot be beat.  There is a number of places to eat and the hotel options are endless.  You can also get a very nice condo at a reasonable rate at this race.  If you are bringing family or friends they will not be bored – fantastic location and pre-race events. 

Race morning I arrived at transition early as everyone has to ride/walk about 1mile into transition from parking (something to consider when choosing accommodations).  I saw/hear Greg Welch doing the early morning taping/announcing which was really cool.  Transition and bodymarking are very well set-up and smooth although there is a lack of the available toilets to use which was really the only negative of the race.  The swim goes off in waves and the water is pretty cold (this year 59degrees) but you warm up quickly.  This swim was pretty rough and I swam in wave8 or around 16 – just lots of people so it really seems like a full IM swim.  

The bike course is really something else as it goes through Camp Pendleton which is a Marine base – they open up the base for the race so there is no pre-riding/previewing of the course.  Anyhow,  the aid stations were very well placed and the course is very fair with the first 23miles being flat except for a few climbs on some rollers.  Miles 23-42 are slow and fast as you climb/descend some very good hills and then it’s a fast route into transition.  Again, the support from the base and the Marines was awesome – the race marshalling was very well done – and the course overall was just a blast. 

The run course is said to be flat but it really isn’t.  There is a very small hill out of transition then you hit a downhill to flat section as you go along the beach – this gets crowded.  Around mile 1.5 you do a very short, steep pitch and then you run on a shallow pitch up some rollers until the turnaround at mile 3.3 or so – then you just backtrack to transition and do it again.  The run is super well supported with aid stations at every mile and lots of crowd support throughout all portions.  

Upon arrival at the finish you have the massage tents and some food/entertainment.  Getting your bike out of transition is a breeze.  This race is really great – unbelievably well run and super fair for all of the sports.  You cannot go wrong at Oceanside 70.3!!

March 27th, 2010: Team ER’s own Dave Micelli crushed the Oceanside 70.3 this past weekend with a smoking fast 4:40:47. His time put him in 135th place out of  almost 2200 racers or top 6% on a very challenging course.

Way to go Dave, you are an inspiration to all of us.

March 13th, 2010: It was quite a day for the Team ER ladies as they cleaned up in Louisville today. Results are as follows:

Amy Hovan – 19:37:90  !st overall female

Jen Grisez – 20:36:65 – 1st in age group

Congratulations Amy and Jen!!

March 7th, 2010: Speaking of hills Team ER was well represented at the Shamrock 15k which climbs straight up out of the Cuyahoga Valley on one of the nastiest climbs around, North Hampton Rd. Team results are as follows:

Jen Grisez – 1:09 4th age group / 51st overall

Josh Ritchie – 1:02:08 – 4th age group / 20th overall

Chrissy Bowser – 1:20:12 11th age group / 143rd overall

Mark Gorris = 1:08:03 – 7th age group / 47th overall

March 7th, 2010: Three team ER members braved the cold and the hills of beautiful Millcreek Park in Youngstown to compete in a grueling half marathon. Results are as follow:

Amy Hovan – 1:36:48  3rd in age group / 65th overall 

Pete Finnerty – 1:40:15 9th in age group / 88th overall

Jerry Lynch – 1:57:13 25th in age group / 235th overall