2/11/2023 Brad Hain, Nancy Wardell, Gretchen Snyder, Scott Orlando, Mike Williams, and Steve Zenar Frostbite 5K Prediction Race Munroe Falls, Ohio

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2/11/2023

The Frostbite 5K Prediction Race

Munroe Falls, Ohio

Winners determined by finishing closest to their predicted time.

Brad Hain

Predicted Time:  27:10

Actual Time:  26:57

Overall Place:  4th Place

Nancy Wardell

Predicted Time:  30;53

Actual Time:  31:10

Overall Place:  6th Place

Gretchen Snyder

Predicted Time:  28:00

Actual Time:  27:21

Overall Place:  9th Place

Scott Orlando

Predicted Time:  24:15

Actual Time:  21:50

Overall Place:  35th Place

Mike Williams

Predicted Time:  27:15

Actual Time:  23:20

Overall Place:  52nd Place

Steve Zenar

Predicted Time:  26:24

Actual Time:  24:20

Overall Place:  76th Place

Race Recap By Scott Orlando:

It was a beautiful day for racing at SARC’s Frostbite 5K Prediction Race in Munroe Falls, Ohio.   The rules of the race are simple. Submit your predicted finish time during registration, no watches, timing devices, or pacing devices, run the 5K course, the finishers closest to their predicted time when the prizes.  I have competed in this race several times so my strategy in determining my predicted time was to take an average of my previous finish times.  I wanted to run at a pace slower than my normal 5K race pace but fast enough to get something out of the race.  I went with 24:15 as my predicted time which was a 7:50 mile pace.  Race day weather was unusually pleasant with just a mild breeze and temps in the 30’s.  Typically this race features very cold temps, strong winds, and ice covered roads.  The mild (for February) weather conditions made for a little larger race field than the last few years with many last minute registrations.   I was ready and excited for this my first race of 2023.  The gun sounded and I was off to a fast start which was my plan.   I was feeling good and happy to be racing.   I was immediately one of the faster runners with just 3-4 runners in front of me.  I knew I was running faster than my predicted pace but not knowing how fast I was going I just ran by feel.  I didn’t feel like I was pressing too hard but had know idea of my pace.   After the first lap of the two lap scenic course around the lake I could tell I was the 5th fastest runner in the field.   Knowing I was probably running too fast for my predicted time I slowed down on the hilly section of the course and tried to slow down even more the last quarter mile or so heading into the finish.  I was surprised to see my finish time of 21:50.  I was much too fast for trying to match my predicted time.

I think my strategy failed because I did not take into consideration the favorable race conditions this year compared to the usually horrible running conditions that slowed my times in previous years.  In any event, I really enjoyed the run and had a lot of fun.  I was over two minutes faster than my predicted time which placed me 35th overall in the results.   It was great to see three of our Team ER members placing in the top nine.  There where six of us there competing with all of us finishing faster than our predicted times.

Summit Athletic Runner’s Club, Josh Ritchie, Ritchie’s Sporting Goods, Mickey Ryzmek, North Coast Multisports, Jim Chaney, and all of the volunteers did a great job putting on a terrific event.  All runners received soft crewneck sweatshirts which were a throwback to one of the early years of the race.

I always enjoy running this race because of the unique format.  Predicting your finish time is not as easy as you would think and can be a nice change from the typical race format.

12/31/2022 Scott Orlando, Veronica Neubert, Mike Williams, Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford, Nancy Wardell, Jerry Lynch, and Brittany Kiehl The Great New Year’s Eve 5K Stow, Ohio

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12/31/2022

The Great New Year’s Eve 5K

Stow, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  23:23

Overall Place:  53rd Place / 370

Division Place:  1st Place / 19

Veronica Neubert

Finish Time:  24:05

Overall Place:  74th Place / 370

Division Place:  4th Place / 25

Mike Williams

Finish Time:  28:43

Overall Place:  159th Place / 370

Division Place:  8th Place / 19

Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford

Finish Time:  30:50

Overall Place:  197th Place / 370

Division Place:  7th Place / 26

Nancy Wardell

Finish Time:  32:31

Overall Place:  223rd / 370

Division Place:  11th Place / 17

Jerry Lynch

Finish Time:  34:08

Overall Place:  249th Place / 370

Division Place:  11th Place / 14

Brittany Kiehl

Finish Time:  41:41

Overall Place:  315th Place / 370

Division Place:  10th Place / 16

Russ Neubert

Thank you Russ for cheering us on and taking race photos of the team members as you rehab your hip.

Christine Churpek and Peter Heroux also took pictures and cheered for fellow team members.

Race Recap By Nancy Wardell:

Great end of the year run with so many Team ER members at the Great New Years Eve 5k run in Stow, There were a few hills but all Team ER members made it to the finish line!  I had a total time of 32:31 and I’m absolutely fine with that!  Great job all teammates and happy birthday again to the birthday boys (Jerry Lynch and Scott Orlando)!

Race Recap By Brittany Kiehl:

I completed the Great New Year’s Eve Race. The weather was nice since the rain held off. I appreciated how they had the school open before and after the race with access to indoor bathrooms. The course was an out and back with rolling hills and one long final hill towards the end. I was glad my husband was pushing the stroller up that hill! I enjoyed the t-shirt swag and how they had door prizes. They even had overall and age group winners. I wish though that they would have had chip times instead of only gun times. I started behind everyone else so my overall time was off by about three or so minutes. Overall, a great race to end 2022!

Race Recap By Scott Orlando:

This was the 20th year of the Great New Year’s Eve 5K.  I can’t remember how many times I have competed in this race but it has to be somewhere between 12-15 times.   It is hard for me not to compete in this last race of the year because it is just down the street from my house and on my birthday.  It has become a tradition for me and part of my birthday celebration as it has also been for Jerry Lynch who shares the same birthday of December 31st.  Jerry has competed in this race every year since it started.  The weather was seasonably warm with temperatures near 50 degrees which is not typical of this race.  Rain was threatening but stopped just before the race started.  Usually it is extremely cold, windy, and down right miserable.   The warmer temperatures encouraged more runners to register and there was a substantial increase in this year’s race field.

As far as my race I wasn’t sure what to expect seeing as my training wasn’t what it should have been.  After my Thanksgiving race I took a little time off to let an angry calf calm down and then the weather outside leading up to the race didn’t cooperate a whole lot with my training schedule.  My plan was just to run by feel and not worry too much about pace.  The first mile I felt pretty good and was happy with the 7:04 mile pace, but I knew that pace wouldn’t last as that was the easiest part of the course.  At the half way turn around point I slowed down a little bit but was still running comfortably and feeling good.  I knew soon that would end though as most of the second half of the course is up hill.  As the elevation changed and the hills started to appear I found myself working much harder and slowing down.  I was pretty gassed when I got to the last large hill,  I did slow down even more but seeing most of the runners ahead of me walk up the hill I was motivated to push hard, keep running, and power up it.  I was happy to be at the top of the hill and was able to increase my pace a little for the last half mile to the finish.  I was able to beat last year’s time and finished in 23:23.  I was surprised when I looked at the results to find out that I had won my age group.  You show up, work hard, and sometimes good things happen.  You can’t control who shows up at a race.  You just get out there, run your race, and do your best.

Josh Ritchie, Mickey Rzymek, and everyone at Summit Athletic Runners Club once again did a great job organizing the race.  Runners received custom race bibs, and t-shirts.  The standard cotton t-shirts weren’t my favorite race swag as I prefer tech shirts.   Age group winners received choice of running socks from the prize table and I was a luck winner of a race registration for a future race in February.  It was great to see so many Team ER members there competing, working the race, and cheering on the runners.

 

12/31/2022 Christine Churpek, Mike Williams, and Brittany Kiehl The Frosty 5 Miler Husdon, Ohio

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12/31/2022

The Frosty 5 Miler

Hudson, Ohio

Christine Churpek

Finish Time:  39:55

Overall Place:  98th Place / 397

Division Place:  2nd Place / 34

Mike Williams

Finish Time:  45:03

Overall Place:  174th Place / 397

Division Place:  13th Place / 25

Brittany Kiehl

Thank you Brittany for volunteering your time to hand out packets at registration.