Published by the DAILY
RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey
On Sunday, April 26,
2015
NEWPORT 10,000 NEXT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Newport 10,000 that is coming up next Saturday in Jersey
City is always interesting. Because
prize money is offered to elite Americans and to any and all runners regardless
of affiliation it attracts from everywhere.
In 2014 the top runners were from New York, Boulder, Bronx, Falmouth,
before a New Jersey runner, Chris Johnson of New Providence finished in fifth
place. On the women’s side, Julie Culley
from Lebanon was first, with the next New Jersey woman, Cheyenne Ogletree, in
fifth place.
The race is a championship for open men and women in the
state. The professional runners are
removed from the New Jersey scoring and have their own division. Although it is an open championship plenty
of masters runners also compete, making up open teams that might have no open
runners at all. The race drew 1,259 runners in 2014 with 16
complete men’s teams and 8 complete women’s teams.
NEXT WEEKEND IS BUSY ONE FOR MORRIS AREA RUNNERS
On Saturday is the Celebrate Morris Township 5K to celebrate
the town’s 275th anniversary.
Parking and registration is at 475 South Street opposite Loantaka Park
with all post race activities in the park.
Two Sunday road races are the Whippany Fire Company 5K on
Sunday, in Bee Meadow Park, and the Madison 5K being held at the Madison High School. Both races will be run on certified courses
and are in the New Balance grand prix.
MORRIS MAULER IS BACK
Of all the races being offered next weekend, probably the
most welcomed is also the toughest.
After a five year hiatus the Morris Mauler is back. It is being held on Sunday, May 3rd
at Lewis Morris Park and is definitely not a road race.
According to race director Dave Hoch it is the toughest,
nastiest, meanest 5K cross country trail race in the area. If you’ve ever done the race you can agree
with that. You twice climb what in the
winter time is a toboggan run. The first
time around you say, OK, that was tough.
The second time you are wondering why you ever agreed to sign up.
But it is also fun thanks to Hoch, who unlike many race directors
is a lifelong runner and racer. He doesn’t
supply just water after the run, but his “famous” Vegan chili, BBQ, cold beverages including
beer for the legal age runners. Once
runners have recovered a bit from the race they can play a game of horseshoes
and just enjoy the day.
One thing that has changed about the event is that you must pre-register. The online
deadline is Thursday, April 30th at www.compuscore.com .
COYOTES AND RABIES
Last fall a hunter was attacked by a rabid coyote in Chester
Township and this past week we learned of another rabid coyote in the town of
Norwood. While the prospect of being
bitten by a coyote is not one to relish, the prospect of having to go through a
series of shots to prevent the development of rabies is the part that is
dreaded. So why don’t those of us who
are out running the trails of New Jersey and other outdoor persons just get an
annual rabies shot like our pets do? I
asked this of Boonton Township Health Officer and fellow runner, Steve
Austin.
Austin told me that some people do get rabies vaccinations
but they are not as simple as the quick jab that Fido or kitty get. It is a three part series and not nearly as
inexpensive either. With little demand
there is also little incentive for the pharmaceutical industry to develop a
better system.
Avoid any wild animal while you are out in the woods. Coyotes are not the only animals likely to be
infected with rabies. Raccoons and fox,
as well as bats are creatures that you might encounter.
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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.
