Sunday, May 29, 2016

Celebrate National Trails Day on the RVRR "Train"ing Run



Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey
On Sunday, May 29, 2016

 

CELEBRATE NATIONAL TRAILS DAY ON THE RVRR “TRAIN”ING RUN

National Trails Day is always the first Saturday in June.  Throughout the country
runners, walkers, hikers, cyclists and equestrians take to their local trails to celebrate.

The Raritan Valley Road Runners have participated in the National Trails Day in their own unique way and this year have invited Morris area runners and running clubs to join them.  The running club members are encouraged to run in their club singlets
 
The training run is all off roads, on the Delaware and Raritan Canal towpath that has been maintained as a linear park since the last load was hauled in 1932.  The Canal is now used as a water supply system.  Trees have been allowed to grow on either side of the towpath providing shade for current users, something that couldn’t be allowed back in its day, as the mule teams would need an unobstructed connection to the boats being hauled in the canal. 


The concept behind the “Train”ing run is simple and fun, although behind the scenes requires a lot of careful planning.  The “Train” begins in Trenton, where those wishing to run the entire 34.6 miles back to Johnson Park in Piscataway will start.  Since it could take some of these runners seven hours they will set off from the park at 4:00 a.m.  Not all of those early starters will complete the full trip.  They can get off the “Train” at the several stops along the way where buses taking runners to their “Train” station will be available for the return trip to Johnson Park.

At those stops other runners will get on the “Train” for the run back to the park.  Because runners don’t all run at the same pace, there will be several “Trains” with the Engineer the pace setter. 
The Express will travel at 7:30 pace, followed by the Commuter at 8:30 pace, the Freight at 10:30, the Steam at 12:00 and the Caboose at 15 minute pace.  Those latter “Trains” start much closer to the final destination. 

All of this careful planning that evolved over the years is designed to bring all the runners to the final stop at Landing Lane at 10:53 a.m. and into the park and picnic area at 11:00 a.m.   For more information and to register for the event go the rvrr.org website.

GRAND PRIX POSTED
It doesn’t take some people even half a year to have a full card in the USATF-NJ New Balance grand prix.  Those frequent racers have no problem racing in the required nine races, including the longer races in the Category Three division.

That description fits the top three men who have all of their races done: Karl Leitz of Jersey City, Charlie Slaughter of Parsippany and Mark Washburne of Mendham.  Hot on their heels with just seven races is Atilla Sabahoglu of Somerset, who finished second in the series in 2015 and first in 2014.

On the women’s side Leitz’s wife Aya has all nine races and the lead.  The next two women, Debbie Brathwaite of Hawthorne and Lorraine McPhillips of Basking Ridge are each missing a race.

MILE IS CANCELLED
The College Avenue Mile race in New Brunswick scheduled for Saturday June 4th has been cancelled.  The race was intended to be the USATF NJ open men and women’s championship.  The Midland Mile in August that was designated the Masters Division mile will now host all divisions.

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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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