Women outnumber men and some out run most of the men

Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey

On Sunday, May 24, 2015

 

Back in the day, as the old timers say, men outnumbered women in running races.  The split back in the 1980’s and 90’s found one woman for every two or three men who ran in a race.  At the 1999 President’s Cup Night Race in Millburn 718 men finished the race while 354 women did.  In 2000 544 men finished to 207 women.

My, my, my, how times have changed.  This past weekend at the Super Hero’s Half Marathon in Morristown 585 men finished the race and 870 women finished – 285 more women than men.  How about the Lake Mohawk Girls on the Run 5K?  156 men and 718 girls and women.  OK, that’s not a good example since it is after all, a Girls on the Run event.

Justin Scheid of Sparta won the actual run around Lake Mohawk, a distance of 8.2 miles in 44:13, probably two minutes ahead of the rest of the field.  At the Super Hero the race was won by Laurent White of Flemington in 1:19:53 and Alexandra Niles of Fairfield in 1:26:22.

At the Run for Rachel in Livingston the gender count was an almost even split – 158 men and 154 women.   Scott Isgett, 46, of Rockaway finished first in 18:44 and second overall was Diana D’Achilles, 23, of Denville in 18:52.  I’ve included their ages because the first place woman is 23 years younger than the first place man.  How often does that happen?

Photos of the Run with Pride 5K in Madison that was run this past Wednesday were published in the Daily Record on Thursday, and pictured in one was Elena Rozhko, of Morristown who won the women’s race in 18:32.  That’s a fast time for sure on a not so fast course, but more remarkable is that Rozhko is forty three years old and only four men finished ahead of her, and they were all under thirty.  Nick Reid of Kearny won overall in 17:01.

ULTRA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

New Jersey always gets high marks from the national office of USA Track and Field.  The state association hosts long distance running championships, track and field and race walking for open and masters athletes.  A full program of youth and Junior Olympic events is offered and cross country for all ages.  So a check mark goes behind each discipline, except one – ultra running, or as it is known in the sport – MUT - mountain, ultra, trails.

Well now New Jersey can check that mark as well.  On Sunday, May 30^th, the Mayapple Trail runs, 50km, and 100km, that will take place at South Mountain Reservation in Union County will be the New Jersey championships for those two MUT distances.  The races are not for the faint of heart.  In 2014 five men finished the 100km, 4 did not finish, and three did not start.  The 50km did better with 27 finishers, 10 dnf’s and 2 dns.  It is a niche market and one that the New Jersey association is happy to add to its lineup.

Another championship race is taking place this weekend.  The Ridgewood Run 10K, a masters men championship, is taking place tomorrow, Monday, May 25th.   More than one thousand runners will be in the race and maybe double that in the 5K. 

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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.