Category Archives: Uncategorized

12/10/2022 Brittany Kiehl Reindeer Run 5K Cape Canaveral, Florida

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12/10/2022

Reindeer Run 5K

Cape Canaveral, Florida

Brittany Kiehl

Finish Time:  45:30

Overall Place:  328th Place / 471

Division Place:  NA

Race Recap By Brittany Kiehl:

I enjoyed completing the Reindeer Run 5K in Cape Canaveral, FL.  It was my first one out of state!  I was not feeling well and my stomach felt queasy the morning of the race after having spent two days on the road.  So this was not my fastest time, but I was proud of myself for finishing and had negative splits. The course overall was fairly flat and a nice out and back in the neighborhood.  It was fun seeing the Mayor there dressed up on the course passing out festive reindeer antlers and jingle bells.  This race did not have age group winners only overall winners which was a little disappointing.  Also, they gave you your medal at packet pickup.  I would prefer they give it to you at the finish after you’ve earned it.  Overall, though, it was a fun and festive 5K that I would sign up for again.

12/7/2022 Brittany Kiehl Spirit Of The Season 5K Canton, Ohio

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12/7/2022

Spirit Of The Season 5K

Canton, Ohio

Virtual Race Option

Brittany Kiehl

Finish Time:  37:38

Race Recap By Brittany Kiehl:

I couldn’t make this race in person so I completed it on my birthday.  The race director was so nice and gave me my medal at packet pickup.  I enjoyed doing this 5K on the treadmill while watching a Christmas movie. The medals and t-shirts were so fun with the gingerbread man!  I’ll miss participating in the post race festivities on Saturday because they sounded so fun!  The race is apart of the Hall of Fame Village Blitz.  Your bib gives you one free drink.  Plus, for completing the race you receive a discount to the 35-foot tubing hill inside Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. And there are fireworks that night!!

12/3/2022 Ken Frankenbery Brooksville Hilly 100 Brooksville, FL

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12/3/2022

Brooksville Hilly 100 Bike Ride

Brooksville, Florida

Ken Frankenbery

Ride Recap By Ken Frankenbery:

Great weather for this event with temperatures in the 70’s  and sunny skies.  100 miles with 4700 feet of climbing after doing 200 miles crossing Florida in the same week made for a challenging day. My time was 18 minutes slower than 2021, but unlike 2021, I rode alone most of time (not a lot of drafting.  I just don’t feel safe in large fast groups of young guys ) I skipped going out too hard drafting top group ( I am not 20 anymore!) . It slowed my time, but made for a much better experience. Last year I suffered bad on the last 20 miles, this year I picked off riders who dropped off the main group (and most likely went out to hard!) in the last 20 miles.

This ride is a fundraiser for a local charity.  The course was well marked and the event was well organized by Crank Works Bike Shop. Mark and Pat the owners do a great job organizing event even marking roads by hand.

11/28/2022 Ken Frankenbery Florida Coast To Coast Bike Ride

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11/28/2022 – 11/29/2022

Coast To Coast Trail Bike Ride (200 Miles)

Florida

Ken Frankenbery

Ride Recap By Ken Frankenbery:

After completing an Iron Man in 2021, I was looking for a new challenge so when a local bike shop owner talked about people riding across Florida from coast to coast (CTC trail) the seed was planted.  I mentioned it to some good friends who liked the idea so John/Glen/Juan and I started planning it.

The CTC trail is roughly 200 miles long (depending on where you start and finish) and is 85% paved bike paths (amazing!)   Doing some research (There is a CTC Face book page with great information from people who have done it offering tips) We felt 2 days was doable at 100 miles per day, and to it make it “fun” decided against camping (sleeping on ground/carrying 2 days’ worth of supplies) and the wives agreed to act as shuttle service so we could skip the camping overnight part.

Weather was great in the 60’s to start with 70’s for the daily high.  The views were great, but the diversity was really the coolest thing.  From the East trail starts in Titusville (Cape Canaveral) with a view of the ocean a launch point for Nasa.  Heading west it links up bike paths around Orlando, circling many of the inland lakes with great views and lots of places to stop for water/restrooms .  Hitting the middle of the state, it crosses through several nature preserves/ state parks all through paved paths except for one section East of Brooksville where the trail is under construction along route 50.  To stay off 50 we mapped out some back roads to get us to the Withlacoochee trail in Brooksville which was about 25 miles on the road.  Generally this went well except for a few jerks in pick up trucks. After Brooksville there is another section of trail under construction, but this time we used sidewalks to get us to the Suncoast Trail,  Then we headed over to the Pinellas trail which runs all the way to St Petersburg.  It’s great how Florida has linked so many trails.

We biked about 7 ½ hours a day keeping a comfortable pace. Besides the great views some of the highlights were “Vergie’s” a rest stop along a remote section of trail maybe 30 miles from Titusville where Vergie, an 80 year old women, sets up a oasis for passing riders with snacks/water/ice and shaded seating.  She takes donations but obviously doesn’t do it for the money.  She meets people daily from all over the world and loves talking with everyone.  She is a real gem.  Another great stop was Starkey Market.  This is a great spot for homemade bakery/ice cream/cookies for quick stops, and a brewery/ restaurant for longer stops. So, thankful for the great friends I was able to share this ride with and for our wives who got up at early to shuttle us around.

11/24/2022 Asad K, Brittany K, Christine C, Kevin C, Peter H, Rick W, Tree City Turkey Trot Kent, Ohio

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11/24/2022

Tree City Turkey Trot 5K

Kent, Ohio

Asad Khan

Finish Time:  23:57

Overall Place: 52nd Place / 396

Division Place: 1st Place

Kevin Christensen

Finish Time:  28:41

Overall Place:  162nd Place / 396

Division Place: NA

Rick Wise

Finish Time:  32:08

Overall Place:  222nd Place / 396

Division Place:  NA

Peter Heroux

Finish Time:  36:47

Overall Place: 283rd Place

Division Place: NA

Christine Churpek

Finish Time:  36:48

Overall Place: 284th Place / 396

Division Place:  NA

Brittany Kiehl

Race Volunteer And Fun Run Participant

Race Review By Brittany Kiehl:

I completed the Kent Turkey Trot fun run so I did not place in the overall results or age group awards. Only the 5K was timed. The course was in a beautiful park along the Cuyahoga River. The 5K participants received blankets for the swag and the fun run participants got t-shirts. Overall a nice local race.  There are so many great local Turkey Trots it will be hard to decide which one to choose for next year.

11/24/2022 Scott Orlando Mansfield Lexington Turkey Trot Mansfield, Ohio

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11/24/2022

Mansfield Lexington Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, And Half Marathon

Mansfield, Ohio

10K

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  46:51

Overall Place:  6th Place/ 45

Division Place:  1st Place / 2

Race Review By Scott Orlando:

This was my 4th time competing in the Mansfield Lexington Turkey Trot.  This was the 5th year of existence for this race which offers three distances ( 5K, 10K, and half marathon) plus a short kids fun run.  Each year the race has grown in size from the previous year.  The 5K was by far the most popular distance with almost 200 runners and walkers registered.  The 10K field included 45 participants and the half marathon had 31 participants.   The course for all of the races is a scenic out and back on the local paved bike trail which is mostly flat.   This year the race directors changed up the registration which provided some less expensive no swag , no frills options lowering the pricing for some races while increasing them for others.  It is hard to say if this strategy worked well overall.  There was an increase in the race registrations over last year with most of the growth in the 5K where the lower fee options provided the best pricing.  For me running the 10K I paid about $31 more this year for the same distance and swag over last year which was a considerable increase.  In years past a tech hoodie was included in the swag and race registration.  This year you had to pay an extra $15 if you wanted a hoodie for your swag or you could go with the new standard swag of a long sleeve t-shirt for no additional fee.  Both the hoodie and t-shirt were nice and featured the same race logo design on them.  Participants also received finisher medals.

The start of the race was delayed due to long lines at registration.  It could have been a combination of people showing up late to check in, race day registrations, and or maybe a slow check in process.  I think some people started the race late as a result but the event was chip timed so it didn’t effect any times.  I was one of the first people to register so I did not have to wait at all to check in.  I always recommend arriving to races early to help reduce any unforeseen circumstances that can stress you out or prevent you from fully physically and mentally preparing for the start line.

As for my race I wasn’t sure how I was going to do just coming off of a tough 15K just 4 days before this race.   The first mile I started off strong and was at a 7:00 minute mile pace.  I had hoped to run the entire race somewhere between 7:00 and 7:22 mile pace.  I gradually started to slow down and settled in at a 7:30 mile pace.  The 15K from 4 days earlier was definitely having an effect on my speed as I was not yet fully recovered.   At the turnaround for the 5K runners I saw many of the young fast runners fly past so I was thankful I was not competing against them.  Heading towards the 10K turnaround point I was able to see who I was now really racing against as the half marathon runners kept going straight.  I counted 7 runners ahead of me.  The top 3 runners were flying and well ahead of the field.  I thought if I increased my pace I might be able to catch a few of them.   At the last water stop I was able to pass 2 of the runners but the remaining 5 in front of me were nowhere in site.  I finished with a time of 46:51.  The five finishing in front of me all finished with an average pace of 6:53 per mile or faster which is better than I have ever run this race .  I was a little disappointed in my average pace of 7:30 per mile which I would have liked to have been more around 7:20 per mile, but my legs just didn’t have it in me still being dead from the 15K.  I finished 6th overall and 1st in my division.

As in previous years the race was well organized and fun.  After the race participants received individual pies plus there were additional food options of protein bars and bananas inside the church.  The race information did state donuts would also be available but I did not see any.  I am a sucker for a good donut so I was definitely looking for them.  The race for me was more expensive this year and bordering on the high side but you always should consider value not price.  I think I did get a lot of value for my money and it should be noted that the race is a charity event to race money to feed people in need.  I am sure I will be back next year.  The race fields have remained fairly small over the years for the 10K and half marathon.  I think they should consider eliminating the half marathon option for next year.  If they did this I think it would increase to 10K race field size and simplify the event a little for the race directors.