12/2/2023 Ken Frankenbery Brooksville Hilly 100 Bike Ride Brooksville, Florida

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12/2/2023

Brooksville Hilly 100 Bike Ride

Brooksville, Florida

Ken Frankenbery

Finish Time:  N/A

Bike Ride Recap By Ken Frankenbery:

This was my 4th year doing this event, but this year was very unique.
Shortly after last year’s Hilly 100, I tore my left hamstring. So, on March 22nd I had surgery. My goal after surgery-was to get back in shape to make the 2023 Hilly 100. I knew the time line was tight.  The doctor said no heavy exercise for 6 months (Ok I started earlier), but riding & getting strength back in my leg took much longer than I anticipated. I was riding well on flats.  I found I could compensate with my “good leg”, but hills showed there was no rushing getting muscle strength back.

Training was going well-but I had race days nerve’s wondering how my leg would hold up for 100 miles & over 4700 feet of elevation. Weather was warmer than usual with temps in the mid 80’s with high humidity.

I had this ride on my calendar since last year but I screwed up on start time, and showed up a hour late. Nothing I could do but ride it alone. Riding in a group (drafting) is a huge advantage, but the biggest issue riding late meant the police escort was gone, and I was riding solo on some busy roads which was scary stuff. Plus starting later meant being in the heat of the day.  This ride was one of hardest I have done and it was brutal.  My time was much slower than last year, but hard to compare riding solo. I am just glad my hamstring held up and I finished.

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

 

11/23/2023 Jobadiah Christiansen, Asad Khan, Rick Wise, Christine Churpek, Steve Zenar, Peter Heroux, Laura Fairfax, Gretchen Snyder, Kevin Christiansen, Kristi Gunyula, Nancy Wardell, And Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford

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11/23/2023

Kent Tree City Turkey Trot 5K

Kent, Ohio

Jobadiah Chrstiansen

Finish Time:  16:23

Overall Place 2nd Place / 470

Asad Khan

Finish Time:  23:43

Overall Place:  76th Place / 470

Division Place:  3rd Place / 18

Rick Wise

Finish Time:  24:46

Overall Place 99th Place / 470

Division Place:  4th Place / 18

Christine Churpek

Finish Time:  24:47

Overall Place 100th Place / 470

Division Place:  2nd Place / 22

Steve Zenar

Finish Time:  24:57

Overall Place:  102nd Place / 470

Division Place:  10th Place / 18

Peter Heroux

Finish Time:  25:25

Overall Place:  116th Place / 470

Division Place:  5th Place / 18

Laura Fairfax

Finish Time:  26:37

Overall Place:  144th Place / 470

Division Place:  2nd Place / 9

Gretchen Snyder

Finish Time:  27:08

Overall Place:  159th Place / 470

Division Place:  5th Place / 22

Kevin Christensen

Finish Time:  27:35

Overall Place:  170th Place / 470

Division Place:  4th Place / 12

Kristi Quesenberry Gunyula

Finish Time:  27:49

Overall Place:  176th Place / 470

Division Place:  7th Place / 22

Nancy Wardell

Finish Time:  28:11

Overall Place:  188th Place / 470

Division Place:  10th Place / 30

Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford

Finish Time:  28:40

Overall Place:  198th Place / 470

Division Place:  2nd Place / 13

Race Recap By Steve Zenar:

I had a wonderful time at the Kent Trot today! I was happy with my time but boy did my age group deliver some fast paced running; unfortunately, landing me in 10th place for my age group. It was awesome seeing so many Team-ER members representing today and I couldn’t have asked for better weather this time of year!
Off to eat turkey and hopefully take a nap.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Race Recap By Kristi Quesenberry Gunyula

I ask my kids all the time if they’d like to run/race with me, but the response is always the same, “Nope, but wake me up when you get home”  Until today, when Grace asked if she could join me at the Annual Tree City Turkey Trot in Kent. It was so fun to run alongside her and cheer her on at her first 5K.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Race Recap By Nancy Wardell:

It was great seeing so many teammates at the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5K in Kent this morning! I finished at a total time of 28:11 with a pace of 9:04. I didn’t place today, but congratulations to those that did! It was great seeing everyone and a great day for a run!

11/23/2023 Scott Orlando Mansfield Lexington Turkey Trot Mansfield, Ohio

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11/23/2023

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

Mansfield, Ohio

10K Race

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  46:53

Overall Place 3rd Place / 35

Division Place:  1st Place / 1

Race Recap By Scott Orlando

This was my 5th year in a row running the Mansfield Lexington Turkey Trot.  I again elected to compete in the 10K feeling like it was the sweet spot between the short 5K and longer half marathon.  The race time temperatures were threatening to be cold and windy but actually ended up being very pleasant.  I had lots of cold weather racing gear ready to go but didn’t use any of it.  The sun was shining, the wind was tolerable, and temperatures were warmer than predicted in the high 30’s.  i went with a running kit of a base layer, long sleeve tech shirt, running cap, running tights, SPIBelt, and gloves.  I was more than comfortable.

This year’s race field was a little smaller than last year with 5 less runners in the 5K, 10 less runners in the 10K, and 7 less runners in the half marathon.  Race day registration was much faster than last year which delayed the race because of long lines created by many runners showing up late to packet pick up.  I took advantage of early pick up the night before the race so I would have one less thing to stress about in the morning.

It was now time to race.  We were all lined up on the paved bike trail ready for the all trail out and back course.  The gun fired and we were off.  I got off to a fast start.  My first half mile split I was at a 6:40 mile pace.  I dialed it down and settled in completing the first mile right at 7:00 minutes.   Still thinking i was starting too fast I slowed my pace down even more and tried to stay in the 7:20’s.  Because all three race distances are running at the same time you aren’t really sure who you are competing against until the turnaround points.  Most of the runners including a majority of the faster runners hit the turnaround point for the 5K leaving just the half marathon and 10K runners continuing down the trail.  Based on who I saw make the turnaround for the 5K I felt like I was near the front of the 10K field and maybe even leading but I wouldn’t know for sure my position until the 10K turnaround point.  The course was pretty spread out  for the remaining 10K and half marathon runners.  There was one runner however that was just behind me all the way to the turnaround point.  I identified him as a 10K runner so I knew I had some competition pushing me from behind.  Each time I felt him get close to me I pushed my pace a little to try to create some distance and break his spirit but he kept creeping back behind me.  As I approached the turnaround I now knew i was firmly in 3rd place overall.  There were 2 very fast strong younger runners with a substantial lead on me.  Now I knew I was battling for 3rd place.  I maintained a slight lead on the runner just behind me.  Instead of waiting for him to make a late race move I pushed hard and fast in the middle miles again trying to create distance and break his spirit.  The strategy seemed to work as I continued to increase my lead on him.  I pushed hard the last mile making it my 2nd fastest mile of the race (the first mile was my fastest) and beating him by about 25 seconds to finish 3rd overall.   I was feeling really good and according to my watch beat last year’s time.   I was surprised when i saw the final results which had my gun time faster than my chip time showing i was actually slower than last year.  This left me confused as it is not possible to have a chip time slower than the gun time.  It didn’t change my placing but it was very odd.   Later in the day the race timer must have realized a problem as the chip times were adjusted giving me a finish time equal to my chip time of 46:53.  This finish time was within 1 second of my finish time from last year so I was still a little confused at the official time based on my watch data.  I was probably in the 4th row of runners near the front at the start.  For my gun and chip time to be exactly the same i had to have been crossing the start mat at the exact time the gun went off.  There was probably a 5-10 second difference between the gun going off and when I crossed the mat.  My watch data is also showing my distance covered was 6,37 miles compared to 6.26 miles from last year. The start appeared to be at the same location so maybe the turnaround point was a little farther this year.  The longer distance and strange chip time probably explain why my watch data shows a faster race with nearly the exact same finish time as last year.  Again my finish time did not effect my overall or division place so it doesn’t really concern me much i just found it all interesting.

The race was once again very well organized by USA Race Timing And Event Management.  The race swag was awesome I chose the upgraded premium hoodie which was a beautiful moss green color.  Runners also received finisher medals, mini pies, samples of Shave Secret shave oil, Fizz Tabs, LMNT drink mix, Gatorade Fast Twitch and lots of post race snack items.  Some years there have been overall awards but there have never been awards for age group winners.  Age group winners are noted on the internet results though.  I asked the race director if there were awards this year for overall top 3 finishers.  He looked at me and said yes then proceeded to give me a case of Gatorade Fast Twitch.  He laughed and said there really weren’t overall awards this year but he recognized me from the previous years and wanted to give me something.  I really enjoy this race with the scenic out and back flat course, distance options, race swag, and friendly people.  It is a great race for families, walkers, and elite fast runners.  This race has become a tradition for me so I am sure i will be back again next year.

 

11/11/2023 Scott Orlando And Nancy Wardell Towpath Freedom 5K Akron, Ohio

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11/11/2023

Towpath Freedom 5K

Akron, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  21:44

Overall Place:  19th Place / 146

Division Place:  2nd Place / 11

Nancy Wardell

Finish Time:  28:11

Overall Place:  41st Place / 146

Division Place:  3rd Place / 18

Race Recap By Nancy Wardell:

Twinning it and winning it with Scott Orlando at the Towpath Freedom 5k in Akron this morning!  It was as a beautiful run around the lake (which Scott says contains baby alligators, but I didn’t see any) with very little elevation change and some awesome snacks and awards! I got a little carried away with the free cake pops I guess.  I placed third in my age group with a pace of 9:04 and finish time of 28:11! I earned the awesome coffee cup and congratulations to Scott who placed second in his age group! It was another great race day!

Race Recap By Scott Orlando:

This was my first time competing in the Towpath Freedom 5K.  This was the 12th annual year for the event that celebrates veterans on Veteran’s Day.  The race appears to have been moved around Akron throughout the years and this year it was held at Summit Lake in Akron.  The course was out and back on the newly finished trails going around the lake making for a very scenic run with lake views almost the entire run.   Weather conditions were a little cool just hitting the 40’s but with no wind and sunshine it was pleasant for running.  Pre race festivities included honoring all veterans in attendance and the national anthem played live by a bugler.  After the festivities participants made their way up the paved trail about a quarter mile for the start of the race.  I wasn’t sure what to expect competition wise at this race but did expect the race field to be a little bigger based on the results from previous years.  There were 146 runners and walkers listed as finishers so not a huge turnout but also not too bad for a local race.   There was another local race happening the same day along with another Veteran’s Day race happening the next day so the race fields probably got diluted some from all of the weekend races.

The horn sounded and I tried to get out to a fast start.  The path was a little narrow so I wanted to get a little separation from the field so I wouldn’t get caught in heavy traffic.  The first mile was mostly flat with maybe one or two areas of a little incline.  My first mile split was 6:44 which was probably my fastest first mile split this year.  The beginning of the second mile I settled in and slowed my pace knowing that was too fast for me to maintain.  Soon after I was passed by a group of 5 runners that all appeared to be in my age group.  I knew age groups were every 10 years.  They were all fast runners that I knew I would not catch.  I approached the turnaround point and could see who was ahead of me.  The group of 5 runners that passed me had gained a lot of ground and all increased their lead on me.  I had a good pace going so I didn’t let them bother me and just kept focusing on running my own race.   The backside of the course had a lot more elevation change than the front side.  Nothing major but there were some small hills that slowed my pace.  Knowing I was getting closer to the finish I tried to pick up the pace.  One last turn over a bridge and I could see the time clock.  I was surprised to see the clock was under 22 minutes.  I made a strong push through the finish and crossed the line in 21:44.  This was my fastest 5K of the year.  I then checked the results and was shocked to see that of the runners in front of me only one was in my division so I took 2nd place.

The race was really well organized.  The total focus was on the veterans.  They offered free registrations for veterans and had additional award divisions for them.   All participants received long sleeve tech shirts and finisher medals.  1st place winners received custom fleece neck gaiters and custom medal tumblers.  2nd and 3rd place winners received  the tumblers.  There were tons of snacks post race and we were encouraged to take as much as we wanted home so I have more than enough cake pops, fruit snacks, and granola bars to fuel my upcoming training sessions.

I really enjoyed this race because of the beautiful scenic course, the great cause of honoring veterans, and most of all because I got to share the experience with Team ER member Nancy Wardell.