2/24/2024 Ken Frankenbery Gasparilla Distance Classic 5K Tampa, Florida

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2/24/2024

Gasparilla Distance Classic 5K

Tampa, Florida

Ken Frankenbery

Finish Time:  24:01

Overall Place:  271st Place / 6500

Division Place:  4th Place / 132

Race Recap By Ken Frankenbery:

I have a love hate relationship with big races. I love the level of competition because there is always someone to push you outside of you comfort zone.  I relish the chance to compete against the best racers from around the country and world.  The downside is the logistics and with no real warm up because you have to get corralled 30 minutes prior to the start.  Getting to the race 2 hours early to sign up, walking over 3 miles before the race start to get from packet pick up to start , waiting in porta pot lines and the mad crush of bodies at the start with everyone fighting for position.  But at the end of the day there is nothing like it.

The weather was decent and sunny, with low 60’s temperatures and a slight wind. My time was disappointing at 24:01, but I was happy with results.  I finished 4th in my age group out of 132, and 271st overall out of 6500 finishers.  My good friend John and his brother Bob both had solid races, and it was great sharing the day with them.

2/10/2024 Scott Orlando, Gretchen Snyder, Veronica Neubert, Nancy Wardell, Mike Williams, Terri Bednar, And Russ Neubert Frostbite 5K Prediction Race Munroe Falls, Ohio

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2/10/2024

Frostbite 5K Prediction Race

Munroe Falls, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  23:59

Predicted Time: 24:02

Difference:  – 3 seconds

Overall Place:  3rd Place / 91

Gretchen Snyder

Finish Time:  27:05

Predicted Time:  27:00

Difference:  +5 seconds

Overall Place:  5th Place / 91

Veronica Neubert

Finish Time:  25:46

Predicted Time:  25:30

Difference: +15 seconds

Overall Place:  11th Place / 91

Nancy Wardell

Finish Time:  28:56

Predicted Time: 28:15

Difference: +41 seconds

Overall Place:  27th Place / 91

Mike Williams

Finish Time:  26:17

Predicted Time:  27:00

Difference:  -43 seconds

Overall Place:  29th Place / 91

Terri Bednar

Finish Time:  26:24

Predicted Time:  24:50

Difference:  +1:34

Overall Place:  52nd Place / 91

Russ Neubert

Finish Time:  34:17

Predicted Time:  30:00

Difference:  +4:17

Overall Place:  79th Place / 91

Race Recap By Nancy Wardell:

I had a great time this morning at the Frostbite 5k Prediction Run in Munroe Falls! I absolutely loved seeing so many Team-ER members and of course Mickey Rzymek at the race!  Congratulations Scott Orlando for being so close to your prediction within seconds and great job to all my other teammates for battling the monsoon during the whole race that started almost exactly when we started! My prediction of 28:15 was a little off as I finished at 28:56. It was still a great time!

Race Recap By Scott Orlando:

There was definitely no threat of frostbite today at the Frostbite 5K Prediction Race but there may have been a risk of drowning in the torrential rain!  I have competed in the Summit Athletic Runners Club Frostbite 5K Prediction Race several times over the years and each one is a different experience based on the weather.  Usually at this race runners are battling cold, ice, and snow, but not this year thanks to temperatures in the 50’s!  Who would think that I would be wearing shorts to compete in a frostbite race but it happened.
Most races I tend to register early in my excitement to compete and secure the best pricing.  This time a waited until I knew what the weather conditions would be.  In previous years competing in this race registering early proved to create pace challenges as my predicted times did not take into consideration snow and ice storms days before the races that impacted the ability to run.  This year once I knew there would be no snow or ice I calculated my predicted time and registered.  I went with a time that I felt would be slower than my typical 5K pace but fast enough to get something out of the run.
Not knowing if the weather in the morning would include rain I once again packed my car with several clothing options.  I did change from running tights to triathlon shorts just before the race and decided since it wasn’t raining to go with my fastest race day shoes.  I went with the triathlon shorts instead of traditional running shorts just in case it did rain.  Wet running shorts feel like soggy wet diapers to me.  Just as we lined up for the start right on cue it did start raining.
The gun sounded and we were off running.   The light rain quickly turned into heavy rain, which turned into a torrential downpour!  I started way too fast in the first lap.   The second lap of the 2 loop course was a lot tougher.  The rain was now standing water on most of the course so I was really splashing soaking my shoes with every step.  I knew I was well ahead of my predicted time so I slowed down to a pace that felt downright unholy, unnatural, and just wrong for a short race. The strategy paid off and I finished just 3 seconds off my predicted time earning 3rd place overall!
After the race we took some team pictures of us all looking like drowned rats and then I changed out of my soggy clothes into dry rain gear to wait for the results and awards.  Awards went in order of runners closest to their predicted times.  Because I was 3rd overall I was able to pick just about any prize I wanted.  Prizes included race swag from previous Summit Athletic Runners Club events.  Usually there are free race registrations for upcoming events but not this year.  All participants received nice crewneck sweatshirts and there were some snacks and water at the finish.  Some of the snacks included a variety of bagged chips.  Can I just say that anyone that chose Funyuns as a post race snack option after running is probably a serial killer!
Despite the rain I had a great time racing with so many Team-ER members. Congratulations to Terri Bednar who made her Team-ER racing debut! Thank you to Mickey Rzymek, Josh Ritchie, the volunteers of Summit Athletic Running Club, and the sponsors that made the race possible.

12/31/2023 Scott Orlando, Mike Williams, Kevin Christensen, Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford, Nancy Wardell, Jerry Lynch, Jill Bidwell McCauslin, Gretchen Snyder, Christine Churpek, And Mike Pastva The Great New Year’s Eve 5K Stow, Ohio

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12/31/2023

The Great New Year’s Eve 5K

Stow, Ohio

Scott Orland

Finish Time:  22:52

Overall Place:  37th Place / 359

Division Place:  3rd Place / 21

Mike Williams

Finish Time:  26:07

Overall Place:  88th Place / 359

Division Place:  9th Place / 21

Kevin Christensen

Finish Time:  29:20

Overall Place:  145th Place / 359

Division Place:  9th Place 20

Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford

Finish Time: 30:17

Overall Place:  153rd Place / 359

Division Place: 6th Place / 23

Nancy Wardell

Finish Time:  30:42

Overall Place: 161st Place / 359

Division Place:  10th Place / 11

Jerry Lynch

Finish Time:  33:38

Overall Place:  209th Place / 359

Division Place:  12th Place / 20

Jill Bidwell McCauslin

Finish Time:  39:19

Overall Place:  265th Place / 359

Division Place:  5th Place / 9

Volunteers:  Gretchen Snyder

Team ER Fan Support:  Christine Churpek And Mike Pastva

Race Recap By Nancy Wardell:

It was a great time with so many Team-ER members at the Great New Years Eve 5K race in Stow, Ohio this evening! I’m not the fastest runner, but I really do appreciate my teammates! Thank you for all the support at these events and for the memories! Congratulations to Scott Orlando who got third in his age group for his birthday!  I finished with a total time of 30:42 with a 9:53 pace. Thanks for the great smiles and happy New Year’s Eve celebration with Cleopatra Sirnic, Mike Williams, Kevin Christensen and his better half, Christine Churpek, Mickey Rzymek, Gretchen Snyder and others, sorry if I don’t know all your names yet! Next year, remind a woman of the hills!

Race Recap By Scott Orlando:

I have a love hate relationship with the annual Great New Year’s Eve 5K in Stow, Ohio.  I love to finish off the year and celebrate my birthday on New Year’s Eve with one last race, but I also must say I never look forward to the challenging course of this race.  Because the race is held so close to my house and on my birthday I do return every year to race.  Typically the weather borders on cold and miserable to freezing and ridiculous.  This year however conditions were much milder and actually tolerable.  Thanks to some new charity partners and increased marketing there was a huge increase in attendance.  There were almost 400 runners and walkers registered with 360 crossing the finish line.  The course which starts behind the high school is out and back and features lots of hills.  This is not a course many are going to set a personal record while running.  Most years I am just thankful to survive the weather and hills.

The gun sounded and I was off to a fast start.  I managed a 6:50 first mile which had me feeling strong.  Then I hit the hills.  I took a conservative approach up the hills and tried to increase my pace on the flat and downhill sections of the course in an effort to reserve energy for the end of the race.  The last mile of the race has one last hill which is the largest on the course.  Once I got up that hill I began to increase my pace to try to have a strong finish.  My strategy seemed to work.  Usually after the big hill I am spent but this year I felt better and had a nice kick the last half mile through the finish.  I managed to beat my time from last year by 31 seconds finishing in 22:52.  I finished 37th overall and took 3rd place in my division.  Last year I finished 53rd overall and won my division.  Even though I didn’t win my division this year I was very happy with the faster time and I was happy to move up in the overall ranks.

The race was once again well organized by Summit Athletic Runners Club, Ritchie’s Sporting Goods, and North Coast Multi Sports.  I always want to mention the efforts of Mickey Rzmek and Josh Ritchie.  Without them most of the local races would never even happen.  All participants received long sleeve tri blend shirts and age group winners received running socks.  There was a nice selection of snacks after the race.

A huge thank you to Gretchen Snyder who volunteered her time to help with registration and awards.  Thank you to Nancy Wardell who had a surprise mini birthday party for me and Jerry Lynch complete with cupcakes and other party favors.  Thank you to Mike Pastva and Christine Churpek for attending the race to support and cheer on all of the Team ER members competing.  Congratulations to Team ER members Mike Williams, Kevin Christensen, Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford, Nancy Wardell, Jerry Lynch, and Jill Bidwell McCauslin who all crossed the finish line.

12/31/2023 Ken Frankenbery Holiday 5K Holiday, Florida

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12/31/2023

Holiday 5K

Holiday, Florida

Ken Frankenbery

Finish Time:  22:54

Overall Place:  8th Place / 42

Division Place:  1st Place

Race Recap By Ken Frankenbery:

I wanted to get in one race for 2023 after having Hamstring surgery in March.  I have focused on biking and rehab so I hadn’t been running much, but wanted to get in a race for 2023 and gauge my fitness. I found a small race just North of Tampa a couple weeks ago-signed up just before it sold out

A cool start (45 degree’s), limited field (sold out at 75 people) but a great venue along the Gulf on a running path.  I finished in 22:54, 1st in age group, 8th overall.

I left race and did a 50 mile bike ride.  My hamstring felt solid and I am so happy to be racing again!