Sunday, January 4, 2015

It's that time of year



Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey
On Sunday, January 4, 2015


It’s that time of year

 
It’s that time of year – no it’s not about Christmas.   It’s the time of year when runners move from one club to another.  It’s the perfect time to make a switch.  There is a 90 day wait period from the time a runner raced for  the old team  to when he or she can run for the new team.   In New Jersey the last state race was the Ashenfelter 8 kilometer race on Thanksgiving Day.  There was also the national race in nearby Lehigh University in Pennsylvania on December 13.  If a runner last raced for a club on Thanksgiving Day he can race for a new club after Wednesday, February 25, 2015.  If he raced at the national club cross country race at Lehigh he would be able to race for his new club after Friday, March 13th 2015.

Since there will be no long distance championships in New Jersey until Sunday March 22 when the Miles for Music 20K is run there is no problem to switch now.  There is the New Jersey Track and Field championship on Sunday, January 11th so a “switcher” would have to run as an unattached athlete in the meet and he or she would not able to bring points to the new club.  Since so few LDR runners also run track it is probably a moot point.

Switching is getting a lot of attention in this area because the entire membership of the Sneaker Factory Running Club is making their decisions on what club they want to run for in 2015.  In December the members received an email from their team captain John Sabatino that the Sneaker Factory store chain would no longer be involved with the club. 

The two Morris County area teams that will benefit the most from the dissolution of the Sneaker Factory will probably be the Rose City Runners, and the Garmin Racing team.  Many Sneaker Factory members have been dual members of Rose City and now it is an easy move to become official with the Madison based club.  Some Sneaker Factory runners had switched to Garmin in the last two years so it is natural that others will follow.

Other clubs that have been mentioned are the Do Run Runners, the Garden State Track Club and the Morris County Striders. 

In a reversal of sorts, the original Geezers club that is made up of mostly Randolph residents are doing an about face in 2015.  In 2013 the Geezers, who have M50 and M60 teams had merged with the Garmin club where they were able to add points to the overall Garmin club scores.

But it was an uneven fit and not all of the members were happy to have lost their identity.  Last year their M60 team moved back to the Geezers and now the move is complete.   They are all back in their home camp once again.

Calling all Track and Field Athletes


Flip the calendar and check out the 2015 track and field schedule and you are in for a shock.  The  New Jersey Track and Field Championship meet is next Sunday, January 11th.  What!  How did that happen?

In the best of all worlds the meet would take place in February or even early March but the date is chosen by default.  Take it or leave it.  There are few indoor facilities that will have room on their schedule for the association meet as there is so much competition from high school events.

Because of this, the meet has moved around like a gypsy caravan – Pennsylvania, Jersey City, Pennsylvania, FDU in Bergen County.  A well appreciated locale was the facility in Monmouth University where the meet was held in 2013.    In 2014 it was back again at the John Bennett indoor facility in Toms River, and that is where it is being held this year.

The first track event is at noon.  There is no day of meet entry; all athletes must pre-enter and the deadline is tomorrow, Monday, January 5th., although it may be extended due to the short notice.   Best to not wait.  Fire up the computer and get yourself entered and tell your track and field friends.

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Race Results can often be found at www.compuscore.com or at  www.bestrace.com 
A calendar of USATF sanctioned events can be found at www.usatfnj.org or at www.raceforum.com for running and tri and biathlon events.
Contact Madeline Bost at madelinebost@verizon.net.

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