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3/7/2021 Scott Orlando Hartville Trail Runs St. Patrick’s Day 5K Trail Race Hartville, Ohio

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3/7/2021

Hartville Trail Runs St. Patrick’s Day 5K Trail Race

Hartville, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  1:07:48

Race Review By Scott Orlando

This was my fourth time competing in the Hartville Trail Runs St. Patrick’s Day 5K Trail Race.   I was registered for the 2020 race but it was cancelled due to the pandemic.  My registration was deferred to the 2021 race automatically.  Unfortunately due to a calf strain I was unable to run.   There were no refunds or deferment continuations  so I decided to walk the course and earn my shirt.  I don’t like wearing race shirts unless I compete in our help volunteer for the event so walking was my best solution.   The race this year was offered as a hybrid event.  Participants could choose between racing on their own on the marked course at Quail Hollow Park or choose to the race as a virtual event with any course of their choosing.   The live course was marked and available for one full week Sunday – Sunday.   Participants were asked to submit finish times by email.   I chose to compete on the live course at Quail Hollow Park.   The course was much different then in years past.   I believe the course changes were designed to make it easy for participants to complete the self guided course eliminating any confusing repeated loops or sections.  The new course was one large loop with no sections repeated.   The course was well marked.  I do think that a few more direction arrows could have been added at some crossing trail areas.  I was fine navigating the course walking but I think anyone running at a fast pace may have found themselves slowing down in areas to determine the course directions.   The course itself was very muddy and soft in most sections with other low valley areas still very much frozen.   The mud wasn’t deep as the ground was frozen below the surface but it was slippery.   The course conditions and elevation changes made for slow going.  I had anticipated completing the course in under an hours but was much slower at 1:07:48.    Although I wasn’t able to run I did enjoy getting outside and taking in all of the beauty of the park.   In the end I completed the course and can wear the long sleeve tech shirt with pride knowing that I earned it.   I wasn’t fast and I won’t contend for an award in my division but I know it is not always about being fast.  Sometimes it is just about getting out there and completing the course.

3/2/2021 Ken Frankenbery Croom Off Road 50 Mile Mountain Bike Ride. Brooksville, Florida

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3/2/2021

Croom Off Road 50 Mile Mountain Bike Ride

Brooksville, Florida

Ken Frankenbery

Finish Time:  4:58:00

Race Recap By Ken Frankenbery

Today did my 11th Croom Off Road 50 Mile Mountain Bike Ride in Brooksville Florida. This year it was a virtual event.  My friend Juan joined me and pushed me to the limit!  It was hot, humid, and dry which made for tough conditions and a challenging ride.  At times there were some welcome rain showers that helped cool us off.  I beat 5 hours ( by 2 minutes!) with an average speed of 11.7 MPH.  Overall it was a great day.

2/13/2021 Frostbite 5K Prediction Race Munroe Falls, Ohio

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2/13/2021

Frostbite 5K Prediction Race

Munroe Falls, Ohio

Race Review By Scott Orlando

120 runners and walkers took to the service roads of the Munroe Falls Lake Park for the Summit Athletic Club’s annual Frostbite 5K Prediction Race.    The race conditions were the best that I have seen in several years.  Temperatures in the 20’s kept things chilly, but there was little to no wind and the roads where almost entirely free of ice and snow.   I was unable to run this year due to a calf strain so I volunteered to help with the race.   I was assigned a post on the course directing runners and walkers to either head straight on the first lap or turn right to the finish on the second lap.   I brought along a portable speaker and cranked it up as loud as it would go to help add some energy to the course for the runners and walkers.   I was also able to take pictures of all participants and posted them on the SARC Facebook page.   I found the entire experience a lot of fun and I was thankful to be able to give back and support the local running community.   All participants received logoed fleece blankets.   Due to COVID safety measures awards where a little different this year with the top 25 finishing closest to their predicted times receiving their choice of a selection of items at Ritchie’s Sporting Goods.   As always, Summit Athletic Club, North Coast Multisports, and Ritchie’s Sporting Goods did an excellent job organizing and producing the race.

12/31/2020 Great New Year’s Eve 5K Kent, Ohio

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12/31/2020

Great New Year’s Eve 5K

Kent, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  22:20

Overall Place:  30th Place

Division Place:  2nd Place

Christine Churpek

Finish Time:  22:30

Overall Place:  36th Place

Division Place:  2nd Place

Amy Stumpf

Finish Time:  22:54

Overall Place:  44th Place

Division Place:  1st Place

Russ Neubert

Finish Time:  23:51

Overall Place:  57th Place

Division Place:  1st Place

Mike Williams

Finish Time:  25:47

Overall Place:  80th Place

Division Place:  7th Place

Jerry Lynch

Finish Time:  29:51

Overall Place:  133rd Place

Division Place:  8th Place

Race Review By Scott Orlando:

The Summit Athletic Runners Club (SARC) Great New Year’s Eve 5K is always a great way for any runner to finish the year with one last race.  This year the race was moved from its usually course location of Stow, Ohio to Kent, Ohio.   COVID protocols restricted the race to 150 runners which sold out quickly so a second heat was added which allowed another 150 runners to participate.   Strict COVID protocols were in place to provide a safe experience for everyone.   This year’s course was the same as the Race Like A Local and Turkey Trot both held earlier in the year.  The out and back course features a fast downhill start to the paved trail along the river.  At the 3 mile mark runners divert off the paved trail up a steep short gravel hill and back to the park for the finish.   I hadn’t run in a week as I was resting a calf that showed some signs of a mild strain.   I wasn’t sure if I would even be able to run but I thought I would warm up and see how it felt.   With warm ups complete my calf felt ok so I decided to put it to the test.   I started with a fast first mile of 6:37.   As I hit the second mile of the course I started to slow down,  The bridges and several parts of the trail were covered in compressed snow and ice making traction tough.   I made it to the turn around point still averaging under a 7 minute mile pace.   The second time over the icy bridges slowed me down even more.  Not wanting to strain my calf further I did not push my pace to try to make up lost time.  The gravel hill climb back to the park took my breath away for a few minutes but I was able to increase pace for a quick sprint to the finish.   I finished in 22:20 which was slower then my time of 21:06 on the same course earlier in the year.  I was happy to finish with my calf in tact taking 2nd place in my age division.   It was great to see so many other Team ER members and runners from the Kent running group Run Like A Mother at the race.   SARC, North Coast Multisports and Josh Ritchie did an outstanding job organizing the race.   All runners received quarter zip long sleeve shirts.  Awards included SARC winter hats to be picked up at Ritchie’s Sporting Goods as there were no awards presented the day of the race.   Again thank you to SARC, North Coast Multisports, Josh Ritchie, and Mickey Rzymek for their ongoing commitment to offering live races to keep us all running and competing through the pandemic.