Everyone remembers their first race.  (What did you think I meant? Get your mind out of the gutter. This is a family running blog)

My first race was the Turkey Trot 10Kin 1996 (there was no 5K then). Up until that point, the farthest I had ever run was 4 miles, and I was very nervous about taking on a 10K. My father (a former runner) assured me I could do 6.21, so I signed up.

I remember that it was a cold day and there was snow on the ground, but it wasn’t covering the roads, so it was perfect running weather. My Dad, Mom and Dan came down to see me run.  I ended up finishing it in just under an hour. I was thrilled and was immediately hooked on running and racing.  I’ve done nearly every Turkey Trot then, missing just one (that I recall) due to weather.

Shortly after, I got Dan hooked on running, too. I think his first race was the Wesleyville 5K in 2007 — our first race together. (I kicked his ass, but it wasn’t long before he left me in his dust …sigh).

I asked local runners to share memories of their first time.

Tom Toale

My first race was the Hamot 10K back in 1980 when it was run on the first weekend in June and the course traversed through the Frontier area then went south on Lincoln and eventually wound it’s way to west 10th st then to Peach St and north to Hamot.  I had to walk twice but was determined to finish.  I remember what a beautiful day it was and how impressed I was with the other runners.  I ran that race many more times and it was merged with the We Love Erie 10K and the date was moved to August.  I eventually went on to direct that race for 6 years.  I don’t run that race anymore, but instead I volunteer every year…it’s much more satisfying.

Kevin Slagle

My first road race was the Julie King 5-K in 1997.  I can remember thinking I was in the front of the line until the race started and I was actually in the back.  I was not hooked at first.  In fact, it wasn’t until the St. Patrick’s Day 10-K in 1998 that I started to enjoy road races.  That race was the first time I had placed in the top 10 in a race, and the first time I received any award for running of any kind.  I can also remember going to a pre-race run for the Memorial Day XC 5-K in 1998.  I thought I was going to dominate the actual race after the practice.  I ended up about 40th place when the race actually happened.

Dennis Albrewczynski

2009 Turkey Trot, I ran the 10k.  Been hooked ever since.  I do the Trot every year, because you almost have to, it is a super cool event.  Some of the nicest people I have met in my life are from running.  That is what mainly keeps me coming back.

Linda Straub

My first Race was the Her times 5k in 2006.My girlfriend and I decided to do something adventurous for our 40th birthdays and we ruled tattoos out so we decided to run a race for the first time.   Never ran before and did the couch to 5k plan. Injured myself later that year and had knee surgery in 2006 didn’t run for 2 years. started back slow and only a mile at a time then in 2009 started the Turkey Trot as a family tradition every year. I have done 3 5 k’s this year so far and hope to do the 10k at the turkey trot this year. (just to finish is my goal). My 12 year old runs with me and is hooked. shes 12 and signed up for cross country this coming school year. My husband got the bug and did his first triathlon in Edinboro this year. We are a healthier family now.

My First Race her times 5K in 2006 (i am in black) hoping to do a 10k this year

This year my girlfriends (pictured below) got the bug when I talked two of them into doing their first 5k they are now hooked and their children are also doing the races now as well. We are Inspired by our friend, Erica Pistone, (in orange) who has done way more than 5Ks!

My husband is the guy showing his “guns” (LOL). He never ran when I met him 9 years ago, but he just did his first tri a couple weeks ago.  We do 5k’s all the time now.

Christine Vassen

My first run was the 5K Turkey Trot, due to complete peer pressure from a running buddy.  I remember watching Mike Vieyra leaving as the last 10K runner and thinking I would NEVER run that far.

Some years later, the peer pressure running buddy is a smoker.  Meanwhile, I have two marathon medals and a 50K belt buckle.

Yeah – I was hooked immediately.

Always run the Turkey Trot – it’s an amazing event.  Excellent for everyone and a great beginning to the Winter Series events.

Rob Roddy

I ran races for several years as a kid, including the old Erie County Triple Crown Series ( remember the 10K, 15K, 20K?), but then I stopped for a few decades.

What really got me back into running was the Highmark Quad events, in which I started participating regularly in 2004. I enjoyed the events, and the people who organize and participate. I started taking the running event much more seriously in 2008 and realized that running was something that I can do 12 months a year and in a time that fits in with my work / family schedule.

My times started really improving and I became hooked on running. I now run eight or so races per year and have run quite a few half-marathons and considering running a full marathon next year. Thanks, Craig Latimer!

Amy Cronk

My first race a 10k in North Carolina when I was 10 years old.  I wouldn’t say I was totally hooked then, for me it was something fun to do with dad.  As I got older, I enjoyed running but never competed at it, when I moved to Erie in 1997,  I decided to try a race again and that was the Hamot 10k.  Over the years I ran everything from 5k- marathons and enjoyed the challenge of all of them.  I think I have stuck with running because, for me, its always been more about the fun and the challenge then about winning.

Karen Manganaro

My first race was the 2006 Her Times 5K. At the time, I had been running for 20 minutes on a treadmill as a warm up for lifting weights. To make sure I could run 3 miles, the week prior to the race I went down to Presque Isle twice and ran 3 miles. The next summer I ran a half marathon and 3 years later I was running my first marathon. The Her Times 5K is the only 5K I run anymore since I’ve fallen in love with the marathon. Sadly I will have to miss it this year for the first time as I will be running the Chicago marathon on the same weekend.

Jim Lang

First time (real first time) was a 10k at Fort Bragg. I ate breakfast before, and saw it again around mile 5.

First race I trained for was a 25k – the 25km of Berlin, put on by the French Military.  I still have that certificate and medal.  Pride there. I think I did a 1:42 (or thereabout).

My first race as a runner (not because I had to train, but because I wanted to), was the Moonshine shuffle. The last at Turnwald. I still remember asking Jean Stevens if I had to wear the race shirt.  ”Only if you want to,” she said.  How little I knew & understood. I had to stop & tie my shoe, and was terribly disheartened running PAST the finish at about 2.9.  Tim Krug was at the finish. I think Chuck Orton was, too.

Of the 3, the Moonshine was the first one I thought of when I saw the question.  Funny, because of the three, that’s the only one that was actually a fun run.

Dave Lesher

My first time was 4 years ago at the Edinboro Highland Games Kilted Mile. I had actually been training the previous year to compete in the Amateur division at the Games when my “trainer” moved. So I got on the elliptical and that eventually lead to up running. I had put down the cigarettes and was ready to go. I was hooked! And who would have thought that running in a kilt would be so cool?! (Actually it is really quite warm.)

I try to get back there every year, but last year they didn’t have the games and this year it is the same day as the Quad Games run

Tom Bourne

First race was 2011 Nauti 5K 45 degrees, torrential down pour and high winds. There were no pictures because everyone crossed the finish line and straight to their cars. I was so wet that my iPod died from water getting into it. Half mile in and I was thinking I’m never going to be able to finish this, but I did and ran another the next weekend.

Frank Combopiano

My first race was the 2006 Law Day 5k. It was my 50th birthday, and it was horrible. I stabbed myself putting my bib on – backwards, then stabbed myself again trying to get it right. All I recall of the run is watching everyone pull away from me until they were just small specks in the distance. I would have quit that day if there hadn’t been snacks at the end. That, and the good time everyone seemed to be having. Applauding for every medal winner, trash talking, planning for future races. Who wouldn’t get hooked on that?

NEXT QUESTION: Ever go out for a run and find yourself flat on the ground, bleeding and wondering how the heck you just ended up there?  I want to hear about it.  Everyone who runs “goes down” eventually — tell me about your most memorable fall — funny, scary, silly — and tell me if you still have the scars!