RUN, RUN, RUN IN OCTOBER

Written by Madeline Bost

Originally Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey

On Sunday, September 24, 2011

Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2011    

Morris area runners need not travel far to find a race in October.  Between established races and new ones there are plenty of races right here in northwest New Jersey.

Stirling has a 5K on Saturday, October 1^st.  The FORCE Tiger Tracks 5K will start at 8:30 a.m. from Central School on Central Avenue.  The race is a New Balance Grand Prix (NBGP) event. 

On the same day the Run for Life 5K at the Mack-Cali Business Campus in Parsippany will start at 9:30 a.m.  The race features five year age divisions and is a NBGP event.  The course is described as a flat, fast, out and back.

In Mendham on Saturday the Mendham Harvest Hustle 5K will start from Mendham Borough Park at Mountain and Park Avenues at 9:00 a.m.  The course that winds through the borough streets has a short out and back section in the last half mile that will give runners a chance to see who is ahead and who is chasing them.  Age divisions for awards are five year and the race is a NBGP event.

On Sunday, October 2^nd the Wrobo Run 5K at the Jefferson Municipal Building will go off at 9:00 a.m.

Also on Sunday the 2^nd, the Keeping Babies Safe 5K Run and one mile walk will be held at Harry Dunham Park in Basking Ridge.  Registration opens at 8:00 a.m.  with the one mile walk starting at 9:30 and the 5K 30 minutes later at 10:00 a.m.    It is a NBGP event with five year age groups.

A race of a different kind is on Saturday, October 8^th, at Loantaka Park in Morristown at 10:00 a.m.  All runners are teamed up with their dog for the Hounds and Harriers three mile run.  There is no race day registration and there is a limit of 150 dog and person teams.  The race usually closes before race day so it is advised that runners register now.

The Mack-Cali Business Campus in Parsippany is the site of the Morris County Heart Walk and 5K run to raise awareness of heart health.  The run begins at 9:15 a.m.  The race features computer chip timing and unconventional age divisions for awards that end at fifty and over.

The debut of the Shades of Death Half Marathon and Relay is on Sunday, October 9^th beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Allamuchy school.  It is a NBGP event with 5 year age divisions.  The course is a six mile double loop on country roads and described as both beautiful and flat and fast.  Relay team members will run one loop.

Back in Allamuchy on the following Saturday, October 15^th, is the Harvest Festival five mile race from the General Store on Old Hackettstown Road.  It has a 10:00 a.m. start and is a Category Two NBGP event with ten year age divisions.

On that same Saturday is the brand new Run N’ Rock 5K at Roxbury High School off Hillside Avenue in Roxbury.  The race will start at 9:00 a.m.  It is not a NBGP event and features ten year age divisions that end at 60+.  The loop course will utilize a section of the Horseshoe Lake park with the finish on the high school track.

On Sunday, October 16th, the Liberty Corner 4 Miler will start from Harry Dunham Park at 9:30 a.m.  It is a NBGP event with five year age divisions.

The inaugural Pequannock Half Marathon, Relay and 5K is taking place on Saturday, October 22^nd.  Both races start at 8:15 a.m. at Greenview Park off Hill view Road near the Lincoln Park airport.  Both the 5K and the half marathon are NBGP events.

A 5K cross country race at Horseshoe Lake Park off Eyland Avenue in Succasunna will be held on Sunday, October 23^rd.  Anna’s Run and Walk to stop domestic violence will start at 9:00 a.m.  The race is not a NBGP event.

Also on Sunday, October 23, the Colonial Challenge 5K will take place from Ginty Field in Morris Township at 10:00 a.m.  The race features five year age divisions all the way to 80 plus and is a NBGP event.

On that same Sunday, October 23^rd, is the St. Patrick’s Community 5K in Chatham with a 10:30 a.m. start.  Awards are for first in ten year age divisions ending at 70 plus.  It is a NBGP event.

The Great Swamp Devil 5K and 15K is on Sunday, October 30^th in Basking Ridge.  The 5K starts at 10:00 a.m. with the 15K going off at 11:00 a.m.  Both races are NBGP events with five year age divisions.

Also on Sunday, October 30, is the Safe Dating 5K at the College of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station.  It features a 12 noon start and is a NBGP event.