6-4-2011 Run for the Green 5k in Gates Mills Submitted by Ken Frankenbery

Gates Mill’s is a community near our Chagrin Falls Fresh Start that was having a 5k race to help raise funds for a local green area. I hatched a plan to do race with Karen, then I would ride the 30+ miles home on my bike after.

I assured her it was a flat easy course (that turned out to be a lie), but even with some hills, She enjoyed it and did well.

There were maybe 200 people or so there, the start went up a small hill, then hit Chagrin River road for about 2 miles and into a residential area and finished in a local park. Since the race was for a green area, for some bizarre reason they allowed people to run with their dogs. Most stayed in the back, but a couple started up front.

I started out front, and at the gun several high school track kids bolted out front, 2 with dogs. I settled in about 15th place, with 2 of the “dog “people in front of me. The dogs were all over the place, and really starting to piss me off .I knew kicking them was not going to work- I would most likely fall on my face. I would have yelled, but the first mile I did in about 6:05, so there was no oxygen to spare for yelling. I got next to one of dog people, and when we hung a sharp left, I cut inside a stop sign and dog number one followed me- unfortunately for the dog’s owner, He went to the right of the stop sign. 1 down, 1 to go.

Dog #2 decided at half way mark He needed to take a dump, and shot to the side of the road with owner in tow- great, dogs are history. As we turned off Chagrin River road, we headed up a steep hill (sorry Karen), and I started picking off most of the runners who started out too fast .There was a 10 year old girl in front of me, and She was hauling! (She finished in 20.17 for 13th overall), I picked her off and I was up to about 5th place as we crested the hill, and I let it rip as we started down the hill to the finish. I caught the guy in 4th, but he looked back and gave me the “I am not letting some old guy pass me look” and he gassed it to finish right in front of me. I looked at my watch, saw I was close to a record time. I gave it everything I had in last 500 yards, finished in 19:33, beating my PR by 2 seconds. I jogged back to car, changed into bike gear, and headed back to wait for Karen. She had recovered well from the hill, looked like she was not going to attack me for talking her into race, and actually finished with her best time ever!

I finished 5th overall, a guy 52 years old was 2nd overall with a 17.39!!!!

I hit the road for a great ride home, perfect weather, a perfect route through Chagrin reservation, and really enjoying ride. I felt great for 27 miles. Unfortunately my house was 33 miles, and up a hill. I struggled the last few miles, but still a great day!

Ken