Category Archives: Uncategorized

5/11/2024 Terri Bendar The Mother Of All Races 10K Canal Fulton, Ohio

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5/1/2024

The Mother Of All Races 10K

Canal Fulton, Ohio

Terri Bednar

Finish Time:  56:05

Overall Place:  12th Place / 42

Division Place:  3rd Place Overall Female

Race Recap By Terri Bednar:

This was a fun course and fun race. I will do this race again but their were several problem areas.  Packet pickup was a cluster.
They only had 2 water stops. I am glad I carried my own water.  Walkers were not mindful of racers and I had to dodge them at the finish. When they announced the winners it was very disorganized. The didn’t have a podium and did not announce finish times. and announced 1st place first.  The post race snacks and treats were good and I got a really nice hooded sweatshirt. The race was easy to get to and parking was a breeze. I received a 3rd place trophy for finishing as the 3rd overall female. I have a 2nd place trophy from last year so next year I am going to try to get the 1st place trophy!

 

5/11/2024 Scott Orlando Sweat Now Wine Later Adventure Race Canton, Ohio

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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.

 

5/11/2024 Nancy Wardell And Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford Girls On The Run Spring 5K North Lawrence, Ohio

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5/11/2024

Girls On The Run Spring 5K

North Lawrence, Ohio

Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford

Finish Time:  35:00

Overall Place:  N/A

Division Place:  N/A

Nancy Wardell

Finish Time:  37:00

Overall Place:  N/a

Division Place:  N/A

Nancy Wardell served as a coach and ran with her team.

Race Recap By Nancy Wardell:

I ran the Girls on the Run 5k with my students I’ve been coaching this morning at Clay’s Park in North Lawrence! Started off pretty rough with the cold and rain, but the girls roughed it out and my group finished at almost 37 minutes! Hope everyone is enjoying this great Ohio weather!

5/4/2024 Mike Williams The Black Fork Gravel Grinder Bike Race Glenmont, Ohio

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oThe Black Fork Gravel Grinder Bike Race

Glenmont, Ohio

54 Mile Bike Race

Mike Williams

Finish Time:  DNF

Unfortunately another rider collided with Mike near an aid station at mile 40.  Mike sustained several minor injuries in the collision.  Out of an abundance of caution medical response teams removed Mike from the course for observation and treatment of his injuries.

5/4/2024 Nancy Wardell May The Course Be With You 5K New Philadelphia, Ohio

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5/4/2024

May The Course Be With You 5K

New Philadelphia, Ohio

Nancy Wardell

Finish Time:  27:13

Overall Place:  3rd Place Overall Female

Race Recap By Nancy Wardell:

I completed the 2024 May the Course be with you 5K in New Philadelphia this morning and I placed 3rd female overall!  I’m honestly pretty shocked and crazy thankful! I finished the run in a time of 27:13 and pace of 8:46! The race was a flat course that stayed along the roads and into the nearby park. It was very well laid out with great volunteers pointing the way and I love the shirt too! Great day and a great run!

4/28/2024 George McFall, Christine Churpek, And Stephanie Orwick The Glass City Marathon and Owens Corning Half Marathon Toledo, Ohio

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4/28/2024

The Glass City Marathon And Owens Corning Half Marathon

Toledo, Ohio

The Glass City Marathon

George McFall

Finish Time:  3:40:17

Overall Place:  414th Place / 1388

Division Place:  20th Place / 75

Owens Corning Half Marathon

Christine Churpek

Finish Time:  1:47:33

Overall Place:  322nd Place / 2229

Division Place:  10th Place / 158

Stephanie Orwick

Finish Time:  DNF

Race Recap By George McFall:

This was my fourth time running the Glass City Marathon. The course has been pretty much the same with exception of the start line change one year. I came into this race so prepared to get a BQ. The course is runner friendly but has a lot of turns which keeps it interesting. The crowd support is amazing especially on the last few miles of the race on the paved trail before making the left turn to get to the stadium. I settled in with a 7:40 half marathon pacer for the first 9-10 miles then the plan was to drop to 7:30-7:35 for the next 10 at the half marathon/ marathon split on the course. That never happened. Something just didn’t feel right. I fought hard but began losing a significant amount of time each mile and before I knew it my goal was no longer achievable so I went into get across the finish line mode. My calves and quads locked up several times. I even stopped to throw up between miles 13 & 14. Not sure if it was the extra sodium intake, dehydration or something else. I have never had that happen before. The outcome wasn’t what I had hoped it would be but I am always thankful to cross another marathon finish line – this was my 23rd marathon. My time 3:40:17, 8:24 pace. I will recover, regroup and get back out there to start training for marathon #24.