Gale Connor is becoming a racing machine. Fresh off her 25K at "Forget the PR" race last weekend, Gale completed the Hermes Cleveland 10 Mile race in 1.49.21.
Julie Bowen-Miller travelled a little further to participate in the Tie Dye 50K on Saturday, finishing in 8.16.48.
Nic job ladies!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Forget the PR Race Report
by Gail Connor:
Forget the PR 25K and 50K in Loudonville, OH at Mohican State Park was quite an adventure! I've now been running trails for a year (after running roads for eight), so I wasn't really expecting what I got. First off, the 25K was actually 17.4 miles, long by almost two miles. But, hey, I'm an ultra marathoner now so what's a couple extra miles? Second, I did the eleven mile Xterra race down there, last year. I surely knew what to expect. I've conquered "Big Ass Hill", after all!
A few of the Grunt Girls and Guys rented a cabin that wound up being right around the corner from the start and finish line. How cool is that? Some of them got down there on Friday night and some came Saturday. Heidi (who I was carpooling with) had to work Friday night so we came down Saturday. It was pouring rain when we got there. It seemed ominous to me. Last year, when I was on "Big Ass Hill" with a few other people, I said "I can't imagine going up this thing in the rain when it would be slick". I was hoping these words were not going to come back to haunt me. We wanted to go hike some of the course, but the rain was relentless. Five of us went into Wooster (the next large town) and did some grocery shopping, waiting for the rain to stop. When we got back, it was drizzling so we went out. We hiked to "Big Ass Hill". It was exactly as I had remembered it, except it was wet! Oh boy!
At 5:30AM I heard Lee starting the coffee and I knew it was time to get up. We all went about our routines and soon it was time for the 50K to start (8:00AM). Lee and Gabe were the only ones doing the 50K. Me, Stacy, Andrea, Heidi, Kim, Tonya, and Will were doing the 25K, which started at 8:30AM. It was Will's first race, ever! He's a "derby guy" so I figured he was already "badass". I saw Tom Jennings (my favorite RD) at the start of the 50K as well and gave him a hug for good luck.
After Rob Powell (RD) gave the final instructions, we were off. The temps were mild and it was overcast but not raining, and they weren't calling for any. I knew the course would be muddy, though. As usual, I started falling further and further behind even though we were running on flat asphalt. There weren't too many people behind me by the time we hit the trail. As I made my way more people passed me. Soon, I was convinced that there was only one walker behind me.
As I got to a somewhat confusing intersection, there were three people that weren't sure which way to go. Well, thanks to our hike I knew which way we needed to turn as "Big Ass Hill" was less than a mile away. I may be slow, but I saved the day for them. When we got there, it was wet and a bit slick, but not nearly as bad as I had feared. As I ascended, I tried a new strategy. I started counting my steps. It kept my mind active on something other than the hard climb and it served me well a number of times throughout the day.
By the time I hit the Covered Bridge Aid Station, I was almost half done. I saw the river that they were expecting me to cross the next time I came through the station. I informed them that I was NOT going to be doing it! They sent me off to do a four mile spur. I had no idea how hard this little four mile section was going to wind up being. For the first mile or so, I was passing people that were coming back and I saw people that I knew. It was so nice and a real pick-me-up, as I was running alone. Soon I got to a real rough section. I was running in a creek bed, navigating over boulders and downed trees. I kept stopping to see if I could see the little yellow flags as this section didn't even look like a trail. I remember thinking "I bet kids would LOVE playing down here". Suddenly I was coming out of the riverbed and hit a bunch of tangled roots. Now I was at the infamous "Root Climb". Heidi had seen me on section where I was passing people and had told me it wasn't that bad and that our friend, Glenn was volunteering at the top. I started my ascent up the roots. She was right, it wasn't that bad and as I got almost to the top I heard Glenn yell "GALE"!!. When I got to the top, there was a steep drop-off and I couldn't figure out how to get off the roots. A woman told me how to navigate around this tree and I was finally on solid ground. Glenn started snapping pictures and talking (Glenn's a real talker). He wound up running/walking with me up to the Covered Bridge Aid Station.
As I cruised into the aid station I yell, "Oh my God, that was CRAZY". The volunteers all laughed. Then I look to my left and say "I'm NOT going in that water". The volunteer says "You HAVE to". I said, "I'm a 52 year old woman, I don't HAVE do that". I'm thinking "All I HAVE to do is die and pay taxes". Then, God must have been looking out for me because Gabe comes cruising into the station doing his second loop (damn he was FAST). I say "Gabe, can you get me across that river"? Without a second thought, he says "Yes", and off we go. He held my hand and dragged me across. As I got to the bank, a volunteer grabbed my hand and helped me up. I had tears in my eyes and gratefully hugged my "knight in shining armour"then sent him on his way to his first 50K finish.
I only have about six miles left and I just cruised it in. I'm walking a lot at this point and my injured butt is bothering me but I know I've "got it" now. I hit the North Rim Trail and I know there are a few more hills. I struggle with the last few and by this time the wind is really strong. I could hear it blow through the trees before it hit me on the ground. It sounded like a freight train and seemed quite ominous. A few times I heard tree limbs groan and I prayed that none would come crashing down on me. I finally saw the hill that we started on and I knew that all I had was a little pavement and I would be done. When I came across the finish line in a sprint, with tears in my eyes, I had an asthma attack. With a time of 5:46, I was pleased as it was 17 miles and a tough course. I walked around the corner to our cabin, threw open the door, and screamed "I AM A BADASS"!!
Lee was in the icebath and Gabe was waiting his turn for his first one ever. It was comical to watch. I think I'll try it next time and I think I will do the 50K next year, after all, I AM a badass!!
Forget the PR 25K and 50K in Loudonville, OH at Mohican State Park was quite an adventure! I've now been running trails for a year (after running roads for eight), so I wasn't really expecting what I got. First off, the 25K was actually 17.4 miles, long by almost two miles. But, hey, I'm an ultra marathoner now so what's a couple extra miles? Second, I did the eleven mile Xterra race down there, last year. I surely knew what to expect. I've conquered "Big Ass Hill", after all!
A few of the Grunt Girls and Guys rented a cabin that wound up being right around the corner from the start and finish line. How cool is that? Some of them got down there on Friday night and some came Saturday. Heidi (who I was carpooling with) had to work Friday night so we came down Saturday. It was pouring rain when we got there. It seemed ominous to me. Last year, when I was on "Big Ass Hill" with a few other people, I said "I can't imagine going up this thing in the rain when it would be slick". I was hoping these words were not going to come back to haunt me. We wanted to go hike some of the course, but the rain was relentless. Five of us went into Wooster (the next large town) and did some grocery shopping, waiting for the rain to stop. When we got back, it was drizzling so we went out. We hiked to "Big Ass Hill". It was exactly as I had remembered it, except it was wet! Oh boy!
At 5:30AM I heard Lee starting the coffee and I knew it was time to get up. We all went about our routines and soon it was time for the 50K to start (8:00AM). Lee and Gabe were the only ones doing the 50K. Me, Stacy, Andrea, Heidi, Kim, Tonya, and Will were doing the 25K, which started at 8:30AM. It was Will's first race, ever! He's a "derby guy" so I figured he was already "badass". I saw Tom Jennings (my favorite RD) at the start of the 50K as well and gave him a hug for good luck.
After Rob Powell (RD) gave the final instructions, we were off. The temps were mild and it was overcast but not raining, and they weren't calling for any. I knew the course would be muddy, though. As usual, I started falling further and further behind even though we were running on flat asphalt. There weren't too many people behind me by the time we hit the trail. As I made my way more people passed me. Soon, I was convinced that there was only one walker behind me.
As I got to a somewhat confusing intersection, there were three people that weren't sure which way to go. Well, thanks to our hike I knew which way we needed to turn as "Big Ass Hill" was less than a mile away. I may be slow, but I saved the day for them. When we got there, it was wet and a bit slick, but not nearly as bad as I had feared. As I ascended, I tried a new strategy. I started counting my steps. It kept my mind active on something other than the hard climb and it served me well a number of times throughout the day.
By the time I hit the Covered Bridge Aid Station, I was almost half done. I saw the river that they were expecting me to cross the next time I came through the station. I informed them that I was NOT going to be doing it! They sent me off to do a four mile spur. I had no idea how hard this little four mile section was going to wind up being. For the first mile or so, I was passing people that were coming back and I saw people that I knew. It was so nice and a real pick-me-up, as I was running alone. Soon I got to a real rough section. I was running in a creek bed, navigating over boulders and downed trees. I kept stopping to see if I could see the little yellow flags as this section didn't even look like a trail. I remember thinking "I bet kids would LOVE playing down here". Suddenly I was coming out of the riverbed and hit a bunch of tangled roots. Now I was at the infamous "Root Climb". Heidi had seen me on section where I was passing people and had told me it wasn't that bad and that our friend, Glenn was volunteering at the top. I started my ascent up the roots. She was right, it wasn't that bad and as I got almost to the top I heard Glenn yell "GALE"!!. When I got to the top, there was a steep drop-off and I couldn't figure out how to get off the roots. A woman told me how to navigate around this tree and I was finally on solid ground. Glenn started snapping pictures and talking (Glenn's a real talker). He wound up running/walking with me up to the Covered Bridge Aid Station.
As I cruised into the aid station I yell, "Oh my God, that was CRAZY". The volunteers all laughed. Then I look to my left and say "I'm NOT going in that water". The volunteer says "You HAVE to". I said, "I'm a 52 year old woman, I don't HAVE do that". I'm thinking "All I HAVE to do is die and pay taxes". Then, God must have been looking out for me because Gabe comes cruising into the station doing his second loop (damn he was FAST). I say "Gabe, can you get me across that river"? Without a second thought, he says "Yes", and off we go. He held my hand and dragged me across. As I got to the bank, a volunteer grabbed my hand and helped me up. I had tears in my eyes and gratefully hugged my "knight in shining armour"then sent him on his way to his first 50K finish.
I only have about six miles left and I just cruised it in. I'm walking a lot at this point and my injured butt is bothering me but I know I've "got it" now. I hit the North Rim Trail and I know there are a few more hills. I struggle with the last few and by this time the wind is really strong. I could hear it blow through the trees before it hit me on the ground. It sounded like a freight train and seemed quite ominous. A few times I heard tree limbs groan and I prayed that none would come crashing down on me. I finally saw the hill that we started on and I knew that all I had was a little pavement and I would be done. When I came across the finish line in a sprint, with tears in my eyes, I had an asthma attack. With a time of 5:46, I was pleased as it was 17 miles and a tough course. I walked around the corner to our cabin, threw open the door, and screamed "I AM A BADASS"!!
Lee was in the icebath and Gabe was waiting his turn for his first one ever. It was comical to watch. I think I'll try it next time and I think I will do the 50K next year, after all, I AM a badass!!
More Race Results!
There were more NEO TC members completing races last weekend.
John Onder travelled south to complete the Blue Ridge Marathon in 5.21.30.
Todd Hanks ran the "Run for Home" 1/2 marathon in New Philadelphia in a fast 1.30.15.
Congratulations guys!
John Onder travelled south to complete the Blue Ridge Marathon in 5.21.30.
Todd Hanks ran the "Run for Home" 1/2 marathon in New Philadelphia in a fast 1.30.15.
Congratulations guys!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Boston Marathon
Lloyd and his lovely wife, Andrea-both running Boston!!!!
The race weekend did not end until Monday this week. This was the Boston Marathon.
"LT" Lloyd Thomas ran another sub-three hour race- 2.56.38 on the Boston Course simply awesome!!!
Race Results Forget the PR 50K Race
The 3rd racing of the "Forget the PR" 50K was held Sunday, April 17, in the Mohican State Park, Loudonville Ohio. Runners had cool temperatures and a new course to contend with.
There were many NEO TC club members in attendance for this run. Finishers were:
50K Distance
Ron Ross 5.52
Brandon Russell 6.30
Mark Anson 6.53
Courtney Russell 7.16
Mike Keller 7.18
Tara Schweitzer 7.27.46
Bill Wagner 7.27.53
Brian Musick 8.12
Bruce McMurray 8.48
25 Finishers:
Heidi Finniff 4:00
Gale Connoer 5:46
On the other side of the table were race volunteers. Don Baun, Allison Holko, Kim Love-Ottobre worked Saturday, setting up registration and then trail marking (in the cold rain). Sunday morning, Don was working registration and Kim and Allison were out at the very windy Fire Tower Aid Station. Tanya Cady also worked the Fire Tower Aid Station and it was good to hear her voice bellowing out to runners again at Mohican! Julie Bowen-Miller was also working Aid Station # 3 at the Start/Finish Line.
It was a good day for a great race!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Weekend Racing
The running season is upon us and several NEO TC members were out and about getting some racing miles in.
Did you think the McNaughton Park Trail Ultras were over? Not so much. This was the second year the Skocaj (skitch-eye) Family continues the tradition of the race formerly known as The McNaughton Park Trail Runs. It has been renamed the Potawatomi Trail Runs. Roy Heger, although he has Massanutten just four weeks away, decided to go run 100 miles and finish 6th, in 27:56:09. Shannon Fisher completed her debut 50 mile at Potawatomi in 13:44:05.
The inaugural Glacier Trail Ultras in Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania was also on Saturday April 10. The weather was nice and cool and the trails were muddy. The mud did not bother Eric Deutsch as he finished the 50 Mile Race in 9:52:30. Kim Love-Ottobre and Mike Halkovich participated in the 50K event, and finished in 8:06:34 and 8:57:50.
The Race Director's Race was held at Mohican State Park, Ohio on Sunday, April 11. This is Rob Powell's event for the volunteers for the "Forget the Pr" 50K to run the race course a week prior to the race. Kim Love-Ottobre, Bob Combs, Jim Harris, Paul Lefelhocz, and Don Baun were NEO TC members who participated, although only Don Baun and Paul Lefelhocz actually completed the 50K distance.
Did you think the McNaughton Park Trail Ultras were over? Not so much. This was the second year the Skocaj (skitch-eye) Family continues the tradition of the race formerly known as The McNaughton Park Trail Runs. It has been renamed the Potawatomi Trail Runs. Roy Heger, although he has Massanutten just four weeks away, decided to go run 100 miles and finish 6th, in 27:56:09. Shannon Fisher completed her debut 50 mile at Potawatomi in 13:44:05.
The inaugural Glacier Trail Ultras in Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania was also on Saturday April 10. The weather was nice and cool and the trails were muddy. The mud did not bother Eric Deutsch as he finished the 50 Mile Race in 9:52:30. Kim Love-Ottobre and Mike Halkovich participated in the 50K event, and finished in 8:06:34 and 8:57:50.
The Race Director's Race was held at Mohican State Park, Ohio on Sunday, April 11. This is Rob Powell's event for the volunteers for the "Forget the Pr" 50K to run the race course a week prior to the race. Kim Love-Ottobre, Bob Combs, Jim Harris, Paul Lefelhocz, and Don Baun were NEO TC members who participated, although only Don Baun and Paul Lefelhocz actually completed the 50K distance.
| Congratulations to all who raced this weekend! |
King of the Miles Update
If you want to see who has been where, look here.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Glacier Ridge Trail Ultra
This Saturday is the inaugural Glacier Ridge Trail Ultra over at Moraine State Park in PA.
More info on the event here.
Good Luck to all running in this event.
More info on the event here.
Good Luck to all running in this event.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
New NEOTC Logo
NEOTC is proud to present the new Club Logo.
Thanks to Allison Holko for her efforts to produce this design.
Thanks to Allison Holko for her efforts to produce this design.
Friday, April 1, 2011
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