6/30/2018

Great Island Adventure Triathlon

Lock Haven, PA

Finish Time:  1:53:07

Division Place:  2nd Place

Overall Place:  9th Place

Race Review By Scott Orlando

This was my 5th time competing in the Great Island Adventure Triathlon in Lock Haven, PA.  The race consists of a 5K kayak, 25K bike, and 5K run.  This was my first solo triathlon in over a year thanks to a strained calf that limited me to just triathlon relays in 2017.  Race conditions were less than ideal with temperatures in the 90’s.  The race field was much smaller than years past.  I am not sure if that was due to to extreme heat or other factors.  The participants that did show up were experienced fast racers up for the challenge of the course.  I started off slow and a little behind in the kayak leg.  This race always brings out top national and regional paddling champions.  I managed to catch up and pass a few kayaks in the back half of the paddle but lost the time when I pulled my kayak into the boat launch only to find out that the takeout point was 50 yards downstream.  The heat and lack of confidence in my calf kept me fairly conservative on the bike leg trying to reserve energy and effort for the run.  My run went much better than the other race legs.  My hydration strategy kept me ready and energized.  While other racers were cramping and walking I kicked it into gear and made up a lot of time passing several people.  I managed the 3rd fastest run split behind the top 2 overall finishers.   All participants received long sleeve tech shirts and a finisher mug or pint glass.  This race is always well organized and a lot of fun.  I am happy to report that my calf held up and I am sure it will give me confidence going into my next triathlon.

6/24/2018

Dave’s Race Triathlon

Ravenna, Ohio

Loretta Harland

Olympic Triathlon

Finish Time:  3:24:24

Division Place: 1st Place

Overall Place:  48th

6/23/208

Rock The Run for Muscular Dystrophy 5K

Akron, OH

Steve Bable

Finish Time:  22:42

Division Place:  1st Place

6/3/2018

Twinsburg Duathlon

2 mile run, 10 mile bike, and 2 mile run

Twinsburg, Ohio

Jobadiah Christiansen and Chris Schmauder Relay Team

Finish Time:  52:35:5

Division Place:  First Place Relay Team

Chris Brown

Finish Time: 1:39:43:1

Division Place:  First Place

Overall Finish:  85th

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  1:07:12:2

Division Place:  7th Place

Overall Finish:  29th

Race Recap By Scott Orlando

The weather was perfect for the 2018 Twinsburg Duathlon held in Twinsburg Ohio.  The race saw a reported 40 participant increase over last year thanks to the savvy marketing and expert race organizational skills of Mickey Ryzmek and North Coast Multisports.  The Team ER Banner was flying and this year we certainly made our presence known!  The dynamic duo of Jobadiah Christiansen and Chris Schmauder took first place in one of the largest and fastest relay divisions the race has ever seen.  Jobadiah crushed the running legs with an 11:15 split in the first 2 mile run leg and 11:40 split in the second.  Chris carved up the 10 mile bike course in 28:28 averaging over 21 mph.  Chris Brown battled hard in her very first solo multi sport race to deliver a first place win in her age division.  This was an important race for me as it was my first true multi sport race back from dealing with a year long calf injury.  I knew I would be fine for the first run and bike but I wasn’t sure how my calf would hold up for the second run leg.  My strategy was to be a little conservative and my goal was basically to get through the course with no calf injury relapse.  I would have liked to have finished higher in the standings but I was happy that my calf held.  My second run leg split was only about 15 seconds per mile off the pace of my first run leg so that was encouraging.  I even managed to beat my time from 2015 when I last competed in this race as an individual.  Team ER had a fantastic showing at the race and everyone did an amazing job!

5/28/2018

Tallmadge Memorial 5K

Tallmadge, OH

Steve Bable

Finish Time:  22:55

Division Place: 2nd

Overall Finish:  48th

Loretta Harland

Finish Time:  26:13

Division Place:  3rd place

Overall Finish:  91st

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  22:17

Division Place:  3rd place

Overall Finish:  37th

Race Review by Scott Orlando

It was a hot and humid day in Tallmadge Ohio for the annual Tallmadge Memorial 5K.  I have never competed in this race before and I must admit it was the chance to win a free pair of running shoes which made me register.  This race had Team ER all over it!  Josh Ritchie of Ritchie’s Sporting Goods and Mickey Rzymek of North Coast Multi Sports who are both Team ER members organized the race.  Team ER manager Henry Hauenstein led the runners through the course on his mountain bike.  The course is primarily out and back with a small loop connection.  Most of it is through residential streets.  Like most Josh Ritchie courses he starts you fast and hits you hard on the return.  This time in the form of a hill in the late part of the second mile.  The heat, humidity, and hill got the best of many runners as they chose to walk that part of the course.  I believe training runs up hills in the humidity of Florida the week prior to the race really helped me in the hot race conditions.  I was a little surprised by my finish time as I expected to be much slower.  All racers were greeted at the finish with a nice medal and lots of water.  The misting tent was also a nice post race touch to help runners cool down.  The race was well organized and I really enjoyed it.  Especially walking away with a new pair of running shoes!  It was great to see Team ER member Loretta Harland also place in her age division!

5/26/2018

Crystal River Triathlon Series Race #1

Ken Frankenbery

Finish Time:  1:13:48

Division Place:  1st place

Overall Finish:  37th

Race Review By Ken Frankenbery

Crystal River Florida Sprint Triathlon:  600 Yard swim/15-mile bike/3-mile run

It has been almost 2 years since my last Triathlon. A torn hamstring had sidelined me and I was looking for test race.

After heavy thunderstorms all night, things cleared but left us with a hot & humid morning. The race was well organized, started at 7:30 am sharp, and would be my first ocean swim.

The salt water definitely helps with buoyancy, and with 80 plus degree water temp, no wet suits were allowed.  I started in wave 2, people were well spread out so not a lot of people swimming over top of you.  I stayed calm at the start-had a decent swim and came out 5th in my age group.  I had a fast transition, passing 1 person there.  The bike was a super flat out and back.  It was tricky not to draft with all the bikes out there.  They had spotters and getting within 3 bike lengths of someone was grounds for disqualification.  You had to plan your passes.  I passed one more person in my age group.

I had a solid bike leg – averaged 21.7 MPH.  The last 5 miles the heat/humidity started to hit me.  Another good transition put me right behind 3rd place and I went by him as we started the run, then picked off the other 2 before the ½ way point.  Like the bike, run was a simple out and back.

I suffered on the run from the heat, but my hamstring felt great. Finished 37th overall (just over 300 total), 1st in my class.

Felt great to be back racing!!

5/20/2018

Matt Addessi

Ohio Eastern Time Trials Race #2

Deerfield, OH

Finish Time:  28:41

Overall Place:  3rd place

Division Place:  2nd place.

Race Recap By Matt Addessi

5/20/2018

Cleveland Half Marathon

Chris Brown

Finish Time:  3:25:22

Division Place:  43rd

Gender Place:  2135

Overall Place:  4010

5/19/2018

Scott Orlando

Akron Paddle and Portage Race

Akron, Ohio

Finish Time:  NA

Finish Place:  4th overall

Race Review By Scott Orlando

The Akron Paddle and Portage Race is an interesting kayak and canoe race held in the lakes and canals of Akron Ohio.  The concept of the race is to honor the tradition of the Native Americans who paddled and carried their boats through Summit County.  The course is diverse crossing two lakes and winding its way through the historic Ohio Erie Canals.  Participants paddle around 5 miles and than can choose a short portage of half a mile or a long portage of 1.5 miles along the towpath trail to the finish.   I had planned on using a light 16′ kayak for the race but that boat go stuck in PA so I used a shorter but much heavier molded kayak.  The kayak was no mach in the water for several much lighter racing boats in the field and I struggled to portage the 55 pound boat the half mile to the finish.  I really enjoyed the paddle, but the portage not so much.  This was just the second year for the race.  I plan to work with the organizers to help improve the race for next year.  The race was a nice value as participants received custom shirts, wooden hand made finisher medals, a box lunch and locally brewed craft sodas.

5/12/2018

Sweat Now Wine Later Race

2 mile kayak and 2 mile run race

Gervasi Winery Canton, OH

Tori Hargett

Finish Time:  45:03

Finish Place:  68th overall

Scott Orlando

Finish Time 35:50

Finish Place:  2nd overall

Race Review by Scott Orlando

Sweat Now Wine Later is another sold out race organized by the fine people at Run Canton.  This year almost 400 people competed in the 2 mile kayak 2 mile run event held at the beautiful Gervasi Winery.  A quick school bus ride to the starting area and then the race begins by sprinting to the creek and hopping into the waiting kayaks.  Everyone uses the same kayaks that are supplied making this a beginner friendly multi sport race everyone can enjoy.  Racers are set off one at a time time trial style.  I quickly ran into trouble on the kayak when I realized I was handed a paddle with a blade on backwards.  I was already away from shore so switching paddles was not an option.  I wasted a solid minute trying to correct the paddle but the 2 pieces were jammed together so I had to kayak the entire race with the blade facing the wrong way.  The water level was very low and kayaks were stuck on rocks around every bend of the creek.  I managed to keep a fairly clean line scraping rocks and the bottom a lot but never really getting that hung up.  The run is on the crushed limestone trails that head back to Gervasi for the finish.  I missed winning the race by just 61 seconds and I know I spent more time than that trying to fix the backward paddle blade.  Had I been provided functional paddle I think I would have had a great shot at winning, but that’s racing.  No complaints or excuses.  In every race their are obstacle you have to overcome and adapt.  I am actually pretty proud that my kayak experience helped me beat everyone but one person with just half a paddle.  Congratulations to Team ER member Tori Hargett who completed her first multi sport race and finished 68th overall.  As always Run Canton put on a great event.  Participants received  great race swag including tech shirts, wine stopper finisher medals, and vouchers for food or wine at Gervasi.  This is a short race but one of my favorites.