Sunday, April 26, 2015

Newport 10,000 next state championship



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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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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