11/28/2024

Cleveland Turkey Trot

Cleveland, Ohio

Brittany Kiehl

Finish Time:  40:09

Overall Place:  3123rd Place / 4877

Division Place:  170th Place / 314

Brittany also volunteered for packet pick up the night before the race.

Race Review By Brittany Kiehl:

This race had a 1 mile, 5K, and 5 mile option. There were almost 5,000 participants in the 5K and 2,000 in the 5 mile. My family and I did the 5K because we did not want the boys to be in the cold weather too long. The headwinds were no joke! And I was thankful my husband pushed the double stroller most of the way. Both the 5K and 5 mile started at the same time and followed the same course. So it was very congested almost the entire race and never really seemed to thin out. My watch had the course at 3.2 miles. Overall, though, the course was fun and offered some fun sights of Cleveland. At the finish, it was chaotic trying to receive your medal because they did not have the medals unpacked so there was a huge line. For swag you also received a nice long sleeve shirt. There was also not many post race snacks – water, granola bars and bananas. The mobile coffee trailer also had a huge line. Awards were available after the race inside Public Hall. 5 mile and 5K overall males and females received coffee mug awards and pumpkin pies. The top female and male in the 1 mile also each won a pumpkin pie.

11/24/2024

Regal Beagle 25K Ultra

Akron, Ohio

Kristi Quesenberry Gunyula

Finish Time:  2:33:05

Overall Place:  22nd Place / 48

Division Place:  7th Place Overall Female

11/20/2024

Canalway Classic Spring Peeper 5 Mile Race

Brittany Kiehl

Virtual Race

Finish Time:  N/A

Race Recap By Brittany Kiehl:

I virtually completed the Canalway Classic Spring Peeper 5 Miler. This race has a 2 mile or 5 mile or combo option. Even though this race took place in person in Canal Fulton this past spring, you could still buy a pair of socks and a medal for $10. The race is a major fundraiser for Friends of Stark Parks. Hopefully next year I can complete this family friendly race in person.

11/23/2024

Dirty Dirty 15K Trail Race

Willoughby Hills, Ohio

Josh Keane

Finish Time:  1:36:17

Overall Place:  65th Place  / 181

Division Place:  7th Place / 12

Lisa Keane

Finish Time:  1:43:57

Overall Place:  89th Place / 181

Division Place:  3rd Place / 10

Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford

Finish Time:  2:05:01

Overall Place:  135th Place / 181

Division Place:  7th Place / 10

Brittany Kiehl volunteered for packet pick up duties.

Race Recap By Josh Keane:

The Dirty Dirty 15k was a little on the chilly side and the wet ground was interesting. Great two loop course with a little elevation to challenge you. Beautiful scenery and a lot of fun. Coffee, hot cocoa, and snacks provided after. Good selection of swag to choose from. Medals for awards only. Had a blast and finished 7th in my age group and 65th over all. Not as fast as I would have liked but not bad after an entire week “working hard in Las Vegas” and leaving room for improv next year!! A little bit of a long drive but had a lot of fun and would do it again if my peeps want to roll!

Race Recap By Lisa Keane:

Easy directions and close parking with an indoor packet pick up / staging area.  Port-a John’s not permitted by the park so restrooms were limited.
Gun start and chip timing on wide bridal trails with few technical areas. Well marked, two loops of rolling hills with one big never ending uphill at the beginning and one big muddy downhill at the end. Pick your swag with 6 quality choices and medals for overall and age group winners. Hot drinks and snacks for all finishers. BONUS- Western Reserve partnered with Solomon and I was loaned a new pair of demo trail shoes to wear in this race! Pretty sure they made me run faster earning me 3rd in my age group!

11/17/2024

Stand With The Band Memorial Walk / Run

Zaorville, Ohio

Josh Keane

Walk / Run Distance: 24 Miles

Lisa Keane

Walk Distance 6.2 Miles

Walk Recap By Josh Keane:

We had a great event. We were able to raise $2,500 and we received 23 units of blood which will save 69 lives! Between running and walking for 6 hours I was able to get 4 miles per soul for a total of 24 miles.

Walk Recap By Lisa Keane:

It has been one year since the tragic bus accident that took the lives of 6 Tusky Valley band students, teachers, and parents.
I was honored to be on the committee this year and so proud to be a member of this community.
The Memorial walk / run was held for 6 hours and people were invited to join us at the HS track for a distance of their choosing. I spent the day volunteering and walked 6 miles. One mile for each life lost.  With donations and raffle baskets we raised over $2500 toward band scholarship(s) and collected 23 units of blood. Those generous gifts will be used to help 69 patients!
It was a beautiful day of community, support, and healing as we remember:
Wyatt Mosley
Katelyn Owens
JD Worrell
Kristy Gaynor
Dave Kennat
Shannon Wigfield

11/17/2024

NEOMED Turkey Trot 5K

Rootstown, Ohio

Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford

Finish Time:  N/A

Overall Place:  N/A

Division Place:  N/A

11/10/2024

Windham Camp James A Garfield Veterans Day 5K

Windham, Ohio

Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford

Finish Time:  31:19

Overall Place:  31st Place / 87

Division Place 1st Place / 7

11/9/2024

CNO Financial Group Indianapolis Monumental Marathon And Half Marathon

Indianapolis, Indiana

Marathon

George McFall

Finish Time:  3:28:32

Overall Place:  1586th Place / 5647

Division Place:  84th Place / 259

Half Marathon

Kristi Quesenberry Gunyula

Finish Time:  1:32:58

Overall Place:  579th Place / 6121

Division Place:  17th Place / 1234

Race Recap By Kristi Quesenberry Gunyula:

I ended up with a 1:32:58. missing a PR by 26 seconds, which doesn’t bother me a bit this time around. I gave it what I had that day and came up a little short. It happens to all of us. I ran hard, but was content holding pace. This race was more about my personally journey than my pace and I’m proud of how I did and where I’m at, at the moment with what I have going on. Not many know that I was hit by a cyclist in early October on the bike and hike (a first for me). It really shook me up and set me back a little bit by leaving me with some neck and hip problems. Celebrating the small victories, the ability to be out doing what I love and the friendships I’ve made along the way.
I remember the day when a 7:20 felt unattainable and here I am going sub 7 for several miles in a 1/2 marathon. This was a really solid race for me. I trained this cycle at a 7:05-7:10 pace and that’s where I found myself.
Congrats to everyone who set out to BQ and did and to those who came up short. Congrats to those who PR’d, those who gave it their best, but in the end had to listen to their bodies and cut it short. And a special congratulations to those who towed the starting line for the first time! We all have one thing in common and that is…we put in the work and we showed up for OURSELVES on Saturday.
And lastly, I picked up a National Park map this year (one of those where you can check off the parks as you visit them). Mine has these little green evergreen trees that you place by the park names. Indiana Dunes National Park was a short two hour drive from Indianapolis so we drove out there today to do some hiking. It was beautiful and the best ending to a weekend race trip. Blessed to have friends to travel with and who are always up for adventures. Thank you to everyone who made this weekend possible for me by helping with my kids and my animals. Gina, your presence was missed. Looking forward to taking the next two weeks off training and instead doing some fishing, yoga, trail running and lifting

11/9/2024

Apex Skin Towpath Freedom 5K

Akron, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  22:17

Overall Place:  15th Place / 151

Division Place:  2nd Place / 18

Nancy Wardell

Finish Time:  30:25

Overall Place:  54th Place / 151

Division Place:  7th Place / 16

Race Recap By Scott Orlando:

This was my second time competing in the Apex Skin Towpath Freedom 5K.  It was a beautiful morning for a race around Summit Lake.  It was a little chilly but the sun was out and there was little to no wind.  Before the race begins all veterans present are honored and awarded a pin for their service to our country.  The race offers free registration to the first 35 veterans as another way to show appreciation for their service.

After all of the veterans were recognized race participants made their way about a quarter mile up the trail for the start.  The beginning of the race was a little delayed waiting for some walkers to get to the start line.  Finally the gun sounded and we were off down the trail back where we had come from passing the race staging / finish area, over a bridge and around the corner of the new trails following the direction of the lake.

I was on pace through the first mile clocking it at 7:00.  I am not sure what happened but the second mile I really fell off my pace and lost some time.  I was a little surprised that the second half of the course had been changed from the previous year.  Instead of an out and back course that I was expecting this year the course was a loop going all the way around the lake.  I must say that I enjoyed the new course a lot more than the previous course, I just wasn’t prepared for it and it through me off a little.  I managed to gain a little time back in the 3rd mile.  With a half mile to go I was passed by a runner that appeared to potentially be in my age division.  He wasn’t far ahead but I started my kick too late and finished just 3 seconds behind him.  Of course he did end up being in my division winning it so I  placed a close 2nd behind him,  My goal was to complete the race under 22:00 minutes. I finished in 22:17 placing 15th overall. Last year I was 19th overall so moving up 4 spots is a win.

I loved the new course and racing with Team ER member Nancy Wardell is always pure fun!

All participants received long sleeve tech shirts and military star themed finisher medals.  Division awards included fleece blankets.  They also had tons of snacks after the race.  The race was very well organized.  My only suggestion to improve the race for next year would be to offer age divisions every 5 years instead of 10 years which is what they have had the last two years.  The race was sold out so it was big enough for the extra divisions.  They do offer a separate division for the top 3 male and female veterans which is really nice.

Thank you to Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, the sponsors, and all of the volunteers that make this race possible to pay tribute to our veterans.

Race Recap By Nancy Wardell:

I completed the Towpath Freedom 5K in Akron this morning. It was a beautiful morning for a race! Great seeing fellow teammate Scott Orlando! I loved the new course around the lake with a nice flat last mile to the finish line! The after celebration was great with tons of snacks and great awards for those that placed. I finished at 30:25 with a pace of 9:47 and placed 7th in my age group. Congratulations to Scott who finished second in his age group!!

11/9/2024

REVS 22K

Elyria, Ohio

Brittany Kiehl

Finish Time:  2:51:37

Overall Place:  84th Place / 84

Division Place:  3rd Place / 5

Race Recap By Brittany Kiehl:

So many words and feelings about this race…

On any given day, approximately 17 veterans commit suicide. This race supports the cause of putting an end to this horrible scourge afflicting our veterans, their families, and communities. I’m so thankful I was able to be apart of it.

Going into the race, I knew there was a 3 hour cutoff. I knew that my pace would be just under the allotted time. They started 10 minutes late, which made me nervous because I knew I would need that extra time. Going into the first loop, I felt so strong, and there were about 10 people behind me. So I figured I should be okay with my time. I couldn’t believe how good I felt. Going into the second loop, I suddenly realized I was the last one. (I am not sure if they made the other people turn around.) My heart sank, and I wasn’t sure if they’d cut me off too. I felt like I was keeping a good pace. And I had even PRd my previous 10K time. There were two guys rucking it in front of me, so I tried to stay just behind them. Those guys were so encouraging, which helped push me through the last few miles when I wanted to quit. They were sweeping the course behind me, and I even had a cop car follow me in. That last mile going uphill was rough, but I finished and PRd my previous half marathon time. They told me I would receive my medal later because they didn’t have enough. So I had to give it back. They had food and drinks inside a nearby restaurant. However, my anxiety got the best of me because I didn’t know anyone, so I left. I also felt embarrassed that I was the last one. Found out later, I placed third in my age group, so fingers crossed, I can still pick up my award.
(Also, I was so bummed that the Floral Fox mobile coffee trailer said they’d be there until noon, but they left at 11am.)