Submitted by Ken Frankenbery

4-18-2011

Buzzard Dualathalon- Hinckley

Weather was not ideal with 50 mph winds and 40 degree temps, but race went well for me and Team.

I did the Dualathalon (5k run – 25 k bike- 5 k run) – a solid 20.02 first run, followed by a disappointing bike time of 50 minutes (I still have nightmares about Matt Geis going by me like I was standing still!)- And a solid follow up run of 21.42 gave me a first place in age group, but disappointing 19th overall. Lets me know I have some work to do on my bike.

The good news was Team ER had several members on the podium, and was by far the dominant team at the event.

Great job by everyone, and looking forward to a great season.!

Ken Frankenbery

Cold and windy day,  but a great turn out by Team ER at the Hinckley Duathon.

From Henry Hauenstein:
Pete…22 miles, and you had a great pace! Great to see everyone at Hinckley…..Ken, Paul, Matt, Terry, Julie H. and Jon….(new to the team) Great showing by all…everyone placed!! I ended up 1st in my age group, happy with my run…even without a warm up, maybe thats why it hurt so much! The bike was difficult with the wind, but at least there was no snow/rain. Looking forward to seeing everyone for the training rides and up-coming races. Spoke to Gregg from Champ Racing and he is still trying to put another Tri together at Lake Milton or near there.

From Julie Healy:
Hinkley Duathlon today
Julie Healy – 1:41 – 2nd female overall

Jon Fike – 1:33 – 2nd male in age group

Course was hilly as usual 🙂 but the WIND! Oh my the wind! It was crazy. At one point I was riding 30 miles an hour down hill with the wind coming at me/to the side of me and I honestly do not know how I didn’t fall over! Overall – other than the wind… great weather, great people and a fun event as usual.

From Matt Geis:
Re: Racing Weekends
Pete – Run like fox buddy! We all have a story of being off course a bit!

Participated in the Buzzard DU/BI this morning – as did many other Team ER members braving the 30 mph wind and cold.

Ended up taking 4th overall and 1st age in the BI. Went with the road bike today knowing it was a hilly course and wasn’t about to get caught in the side ways wind gusts with the full disc. Went in with the goal to 7:15-7:30 run splits – ended up with an ave of 7:45 – considering the hills I was pleased. Made up ground on the bike and had some fun figuring out how to deal with the wind.

Overall the times were slower than last year with the challenging conditions.

Maybe one of these days Hinckley will be kind and offer up a plate of 70 degrees and sun.

Safe racing to each of you! — MRG

From Pete Finnerty:
Racing Weekends
First off, I hope those who competed at the Buzzard Duo had an awesome time. I took this weekend off from racing to get some rest and ready myself for the weeks coming up! I forgot to get this out last week but here goes.

On Saturday April 9th I ran the Jackson Laughs 25k, a benefit race for the Fragile X Foundation. Race morning I was feeling pretty good and pumped to keep a steady pace for the 15.5 miles ahead…if only I knew at that time I would be running a bit more than that. I saw Chrissy at the start, she said she was running the 5k, hope you did well! The race started off at Dix Stadium in Kent and would take country roads and the Portage Bike and Hike, it was a beautiful course passing by several lakes. I ran behind the leaders pack for the first mile or so and then they took off.

I was running with a couple others and was keeping a good pace around 6:45-7. Around mile 10 or 11 we ran back through downtown Kent and I figured there would not be many more miles to go. As I ran down Franklin St I noticed a road I usually ride down during the summertime but saw no signage or direction to turn that way. Later I would find out there was supposed to be someone there telling us to take a left turn….so I kept running forward as did a few of the runners ahead of me. We kept running and after a while I was starting to wonder where we would turn back to Dix Stadium.

That turn did not come and I ended up past I-76…realizing I must have taken a wrong turn I slowed down to ask some of the other runners where they thought we were. We then had to ask a driver how to get back because we were “way out in the country”. I began to find my way back and found a couple more runners who had lost their way. This one guy who had never ran further than a half before had paced himself at 6:15 and was ready to pass out, poor guy. He got a ride from some support staff when they found us jogging along the road. I told them I wanted to finish my race so I created my own way back and finished at 2:32:59 but found out I had ran 22 miles instead of 15.5. I wasn’t mad though, it was a great training run. Actually a perfect run for the Pittsburgh Marathon coming up. So you know you’re a runner when those situations occur and you just say, “no big deal”.

On Sunday I competed in my last swim meet of the season in Medina and the first time I had competed in a meter pool. I apparently finished first in my age group for all my events and received some cool ribbons (not sure if there was anyone in my age groups). My times were as follows: 200m free-3:06:76, 50 fly-44:09, 50 free-35:85, and the 100 IM-1:48:36. Hopefully I can bring those times to some great splits in tri’s this summer. Great times with the Kent Master’s group as well. And since the day was beautiful I had a great 50 mile ride in the afternoon. Happy training everyone.
be well,
Pete

From Chip:

“Took second over all in the pump and run at Malone on Saturday! 16:58 PR.”

Congratulations, Chip!

Chip Wilson, Team ER

Hey group –

Took my chances at my first road race ever today in the Akron Spring Cycling Series. Was a bit nervous heading in knowing it would require me to ride in a group of about 60 riders – wheel to wheel with elbows bumping now and again.

A few wrecks but managed to avoid them all – one right behind be which took 5 out. Amazing how drafting really can carry a group to catch a “runaway” rider.

Spent some time pulling the group and then in the middle and at the back and unbelievable the levels of effort put forth when comparing the placement. While I don’t ride with a powertap I’d imagine the effort when drafting was prob half of what it was when pulling.

Half way through the race the group split into two and I hung with some buddies in group #2 which finished a few minutes back. Not sure of the overall results – really just wanted to experience this sort of race.

What fun it was though to enjoy a sprint for the finish in the group of 20 or so I was in. Felt my heart jumping out of my chest. One more pure cycling race in May then into tri season.

See many of you at Hinckley!

MRG

Started out the 2011 Season with the “Run for Your Life” 5 k in Berea

Henry/Karen and I were flying the Team colors.

Had good weather for 5k today- 47 degree’s – slight wind, overcast

Got a good warm up in, felt sluggish- was worried had a hard week of biking, didn’t know how it would effect me.

Had a couple guys in my age group I had battled in past, a nice crowd at 350 or so runners- so I knew that would push me.

Started out way to fast – first mile in around 6 minutes, but settled down to my goal pace of 6:25, and felt good. Coming into last 1/2 mile, was picking off a few people, felt solid, so pushed it for all I had.

Ended up with a 19:35- 1st in age group, and 8th overall -so really happy with race.

My Garmin showed a 19:35:61- a 6:24 pace- there timer showed 19:35:00 6:19 pace( ok , so maybe I jumped the gun a hair)

 Henry had a great race, finishing 5th in our age group, and starting out 2011 strong.

 Karen set a PR, and finished 12th in Her age group of 23, so Her best race ever! ( Must be the new shoes She picked up at Ritchie’s!!)

 A solid race- and hope it’s the start of a good year

 Ken

Hey all,

I’ve been enjoying these weekends of racing and apparently will continue to!

On Saturday the 2nd I ran the Black Squirrel 5k at Kent State, put on by the KSU Rec. Fun race, I think Kent is wanting to show off its newly completed Esplanade….The race was a fast gradual incline (not the quickest course but not bad) and the weather conditions worked out better than the forecast had shown. There were a good amount of people doing the race and it was definitely a fun time with prizes afterward. I finished at 19:22 (6:14 pace) but for some reason the chip times were off. I actually received a call yesterday from the race director apologizing but that’s okay. The time was good enough for 1st age group and 8th overall. I’m slowly moving my 5k time down, this one was better than the 5k I ran last fall and I’m hoping to keep it going.

On Sunday I ran the Towpath 1/2 Marathon and was able to see Karalyn and her man-friend tear up the course! It was a really well put-together race and apparently the first time they have done it. The course was particularly great for seeing your friends, I saw Karalyn probably four times with all the twists, loops and turns. I felt pretty good and was using this course as a training tool for the Pittsburgh Marathon coming up. I wanted to find my threshold for keeping pace over 13 miles as I feel the middle 13-14 miles in a full marathon is where you make the largest impact. So I headed out and again the weather was cooperating well, lots of sunshine and a fun course with a couple bridges. I felt really good the first few miles and felt I could keep around a 7 minute pace so tried to stay there up until the last couple miles. I looked down at my watch, then up at the two guys ahead of me on the course. I saw I was at 1:20 at this point and decided I wanted to push the pace for the last couple miles….and catch the two guys ahead of me. About a half mile later I passed and said, “keep it up” to this first guy. Then a mile later I came up to the young guy and asked him whether he wanted to push the pace…he said maybe and so I picked it up but he didn’t. I crossed the finish line at 1:33:16 (7:07 pace), about a minute off my best half time but a good time for having a sore calf and coming back from injury. The field was competitive and I finished 24th overall and 5th age group. Fun race with a nice Great Lakes Pilsner waiting for me at the end! Cool medal to go along with it and a great training race to see where I’m at…now I just have to double my half time to make it to Boston again!

This week I’m doing another double race weekend. The Jackson Laughs 25k is in Kent on Saturday and goes to benefit the Fragile X Foundation (a great cause for a childhood genetic issue) and it’s cheap too! Then I’m headed to the Medina Master’s Swim meet on Sunday with the Kent Master’s team to swim a few races. Hope training and everything else is going well.

On another note I’m still waiting to hear from people regarding a run time for the weekends and morning weekdays. If I don’t hear I’ll set something up anyway but wanted to throw it out there!

be well everyone,
Pete

I forgot to mention my results, 22nd overall and 2nd age  in the Shamrock 15k. The season is almost upon us!
Be well,
Pete



Hey team,

I finished the first part of the Towpath Trilogy yesterday. I ran the half marathon and finished in 10th place in my age group.

It was an awesome part of the towpath and we ran in the only sunshine of the day early in the morning. I saw Pete out at the race- who looked strong, as usual:) We also enjoyed a free and delicious Great Lakes seasonal brew at the end of the race!

My next race will be my first attempt at a marathon in Cleveland!

Happy training everyone!

Karalyn

Hello,

I hope everybody’s training is going well. The season will be here soon.

I ran the St. Paddy’s Day 8k in Chicago this weekend. I was not planning on running it and saw it on-line the night before. I ran a 33:30 or so. I had to use my dress watch to time myself because I did not have my Garmin.

Everybody wore green during the race (Luckily our team t-shirts are green). Everybody also dank Guiness beer after the race.

Peace,

Hayes