11/22/2018

Home Run For The Homeless

4 Mile Run

Steve Zenar

Finish Time:  35:05

Overall Place:  511/1982

Division Place:  37/77

Race Recap by Steve Zenar:

After battling multiple injuries this year I was finally able to complete my 1st event in 2018.  Home Run for the Homeless: Akron, Ohio.  Great race that gives money back to the community. Hilly but fun course to run on what was a very chilly Thanksgiving Day.  My main objective of this race for me was to see if I could compete and not have pain afterwards – fortunately I was successful!

11/10/2018

Canton Charge 5K

Canton, Ohio

Finish Time:  24:38

Finish Place:  21/218

Division Place:  4/ 13

Race Review By Scott Orlando

For the second week in a row a tight calf kept me just off the podium finishing 4th in my age division and 21st overall.  My calf started tightening last week 4.5 miles into a 10K.  I wasn’t sure until late in the week if I was going to attempt to race.  Some treatment on Monday followed by successful treadmill runs on Wednesday and Thursday made me decide that the I would give it a go.  Less then a mile into the race the calf started straining forcing me to slow down.  I was able to complete the race without walking or stopping.  The race itself was another great event put on by the amazing people at Run Canton.  The Canton Charge 5K is a fun race that starts and finishes inside the Canton Civic Center.  So many races this time of year are completely outdoors so having indoor facilities for pre and post race make this event that much more enjoyable.  The course itself is always challenging featuring many brick roads, and rolling hills.  This year’s cold temperatures in the 20’s, slight snow fall, and gusting 20 – 30 mph winds made the course that much more challenging.  This was by far my slowest 5K time that I can remember but I am proud that I was able to finish the race with my injury.  All participants of the race received long sleeve tech shirts, custom finisher medals, a Canton Charge game ticket, plus pizza, beer, and other post race food.

11/4/2018

Buckeye Half Marathon and 10K and Team Race

Peninsula, OH

Mike Williams

Half Marathon

Finish Time:  150:13

Overall Place:  105/358

Division Place:  12/22

Scott Orlando

10K

Finish Time:  47:50

Overall Place:  19/258

Division Place:  4/8

Team Race (Combined time of a half marathon runner and 10K runner)

Team Finish Time:  238:03

Team Overall Finish Place:  14/34

Team Division Place (Male/Male)  5/7

Race Recap By Scott Orlando

It was a beautiful morning in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  Temperatures were cool but very comfortable for both the half marathon and 10K.  Having run the half marathon a few years ago I chose this time to take on the 10K which was a single loop of the 2 loop half marathon course.  The fall colors of the trees made for a beautiful scenic run especially on the new section of the course that followed the towpath trails to detour around the closed portion of the road.   The newer trail portion of the course added some rolling hills to this usually very flat fast course.  I was having a fairly fast enjoyable run until the 4th mile when I felt my calf start to tighten.  I slowed down a bit hoping the tightness would go away but it only got worse as I made my way up and down the hills.  In mile 5 my calf felt a little better and then really tightened in the last mile forcing me to slow down again.  Having just spent 18 months rehabbing a torn calf I was more than frustrated that the injury had reappeared.  I did manage to finish 19th overall and 4th in my age division.  No doubt had the injury not occurred I would have finished with a much better time and placing.  Lucky for me Orthopedic Doctor that had been treating my calf  also ran the race and squeezed me into his schedule the following day for evaluation and treatment.   Team ER member Mike Williams had an excellent run setting a PR in the half marathon.  Summit Athletic Runners Club did an outstanding job organizing the race with the help of Ritchie’s Sporting Goods and Mickey Rzymek of North Coast Multisports.  I think that they made a great decision adding the 10K and team challenge to this event.   Other than my injury it was an outstanding running event.

10/21/2018

Columbus Marathon

Columbus, Ohio

Roy Miller

Finish Time:  3:48:33

Overall Place:  894/3214

Division Place:  76/208

10/14/2018

Akron Gran Fondo

75 Mile Bike Ride

Akron, Ohio

Matt Addessi

Race Recap by Matt Addessi

I completed the 75 mile Akron Gran Fondo on Sunday. A challenging course with about 5000 ft of elevation gain. I made it with the lead group and hung on until the end, not that this was a race but it was a very friendly and competitive group. I would say it was more of a drop group ride. We started with about 10 in the lead pack and finished with 3 averaging a little over 18 mph. I needed to make a mechanical stop at mile 62 and thankfully Jimmy Ruggles from Eddy’s Bike Shop was there to help me out! The support on this event was phenomenal, the police were awesome with about a 10 mile lead out through Akron! Jimmy Ruggles and Eddy’s Bike Shop were at every aid station ready to help and dial your bike back in. Fully stocked aid stations, easy to follow course markings, and an awesome and challenging course. Overall, really cool event with a great vibe.

10/2/2018 -10-30-2018

Western Reserve Racing Fall Race Series

5 Race Series.  Each Race 3-6 Miles

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Mike Williams

Race Series Race #1

Finish Time:  26:27

Overall Place:  42/183

Division Place:  9/26

Race Series Race # 2

Finish Time:  48:01

Overall Place:  45/183

Division Place 9/26

Race Series Race # 3

Finish Time:  32:04

Overall Place:  32/98

Division Place:  9/26

Race Series Race # 4

Finish Time:  37:59

Overall Place:  46/80

Division Place:  13/19

Race Series # 5

Finish Time:  46:18

Overall Place:  27/82

Division Place:  9/23

10/6/2018

Bowman Cup 5K

Kent, Ohio

Gretchen Snyder

Finish Time:  23:24

Overall Place:  52nd

Division Place:  2nd Place

10/6/2018

Run Now Wine Later

Gervasi Winery Canton, OH

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  34:18

Overall Place:  14/ 592

Division Place:  3rd Place

Race Recap By Scott Orlando

The Run Now Wine Later 4.5 mile race held at Gervasi Winery in Canton, OH is a race I look forward to every year.  This year nearly 600 wine lovers took on the hilly trails around Gervasi all for a chance to raise a glass of red or white at the finish.  Numbers where down from last year’s record 1100 registrants, but I believe this is because there were several other local races the same day.  Running conditions were tough with warm temperatures and extremely high humidity.  I started off at a fast pace in the first mile but slowed down on the hilly next two miles.  The last mile is fairly flat and I usually pick up my pace and have a strong kick to finish, but I think the humidity and the previous week’s half marathon got the best of me and my legs just didn’t have it in them.  Thinking I had my division won, I cruised the last mile of the race conceding to the heat and humidity.  I didn’t realize that two runners in my age division were just ahead of me.  I finished in 3rd place in my age division and just 18 seconds off of last year’s pace.  As always, Run Canton did an amazing job organizing the race.  Racers received long sleeve tech shirts, wine stopper finisher medals, and a $10 Gervasi voucher.  I received a wine glass for finishing 3rd which I quickly filled up with my favorite Gervasi red.

9/29/2018

Crystal River Triathlon Series Race #3

Crystal River, Florida

Sprint Triathlon

Ken Frankenbery

Finish Time:  1:16:12

Overall Place:  29th

Division Place:  1st Place

Ken took 1st place in his age division in all three of the Crystal River Triathlon Series races winning the series title in his division.

9/28/2018

Akron Marathon, Half Marathon, And Relay.

Akron, Ohio

Half Marathon Results

Steve Bable

Finish Time: 1:40:40

Overall Place: 185/2971

Division Place: 9/109

Scott Orlando

Finish Time: 1:43:18

Overall Place:  243/2971

Division Place:  19/153

Loretta Harland

Finish Time:  1:57:13

Overall Place:  748/2971

Division Place:  13/129

Chris Brown

Finish Time:  3:31:47

Overall Place:  2908/2971

Division Place:  44/151

Relay Team Participants

Gretchen Snyder

Roy Miller

Race Recap By Scott Orlando

Race conditions were near ideal for the 16th running of the Akron Marathon.  Ohio Team ER was well represented at this year’s race with 4 members completing the half marathon and 2 additional team members competing on relay teams.  The Akron Marathon is one of the largest running events in Ohio.  It did appear that participation was down from previous years.  The race did make a few changes including the elimination of the finisher gift that in the past ranged from hats, socks, to towels.  The Akron Marathon continues to be one of the best organized and largest relay marathons in the country but they could see numbers continue to decline if prices continue to increase and race value decreases.  The army of volunteers that shows up every year is always impressive and greatly appreciated.  If you are a runner in the Akron area this race should be an annual must do event and with so many running distance options everyone can find a way to participate.