Published by the DAILY
RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey
On Sunday, December 31,
2017
NEW NEW YEAR’S DAY RACE
Morris area runners have had to drive out of the Hillsborough,
or Fair lawn or Westfield in other years to celebrate the first day of the new
year with an invigorating run.
Not anymore. Now,
right here in Morris County a new race has sprung up. St.
Mark the Evangelist church in Long Valley is putting on a 5K tomorrow morning
at 11:30 a.m.
Although the address of the church is 59 Spring Lane in Long
Valley, in fact the location is not actually in the valley but more up and out
of the valley and features some climbs.
Race director Patrick Regan said in an email that the course
uses five different roads and winds and rolls through the quiet Nestlingwoods
neighborhood.
Regan said that the church got a late start with organizing
the race and did not have enough time to get the race in the New Balance grand
prix, nor have the course certified this year.
That is in the plans for next year’s race.
Hot chocolate and bagels will be distributed inside where
the awards program will be held; sure to be welcome after a cold run. In addition to awards there will be a drawing
for donated prizes.
For more information go to the church website stmarksnj.org.
Some of course will want to go to their old favorites like
the Hangover Run 5K in Westfield in and around Tamaques Park. The race starts at an easy to make 12 noon.
Or travel due south to run in the Hillsborough 5K; not a hangover
run, but in keeping with the spirit of the new year, the Resolution Run.
The 5K in Fair Lawn is also aptly named; the First Day 5K,
and it starts at 11:00 a.m. All three of those races are 500 point grand prix
races.
Of course, to be able
to capitalize on that fact, runners must have renewed their membership in USATF. This is when having multiple year membership
can become a liability. Runners can
become complacent and forget that their three year membership ended on December
31. Ooops. Of course it can be renewed online
today. Make a resolution to dial up usatf.org
before the ball drops tonight.
New Jersey runners have plenty of incentives to be members
of USATF New Jersey. There is always a
discount when pre-registering for New Balance grand prix races. Just racing in ten or more races and the thirty-dollar ( the Daily Record sports editor changed the copy to ten dollars in the print edition - they don't understand the race discounts) membership pays for itself. In addition
is discounts on two national car rental companies and 15% discounts at all of
the Choice hotels and a minimum of 10% at Best Western.
If you do any
traveling these discounts can be a big savings.
Savvy travelers who care not a whit about running and racing could make
up the thirty-dollar membership in no time.
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.
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