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 4^th 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.

Cabral wins the Newport 10,000 in identical time from 2015

Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey

On Sunday, May 22, 2016

CABRAL WINS THE NEWPORT 10,000 IN IDENTICAL TIME FROM 2015 

Donn Cabral of Annandale, NJ and a member of the NJ/NY Track Club won the Newport 10,000 last Saturday in Jersey City.  Cabral won the race in 2015, and if he is anything, he is consistent.  In both races his time was 29:39.99 – yes including the .99.  Cabral is at home on the track, having placed second in the US national meet in 2015 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 8:13.37.  The steeple is his primary event.

Two other men finished in under 30 minutes, both from Flagstaff; Scott Smith in 29:40 and Eric Fernandez in 29:53.  The next New Jersey finisher was Stephen Menitt of North Brunswick who finished 12^th overall in 32:31.

The woman’s race was won by Brianne Nelson of Golden, CO, whose time was 33:08.  Roberta Groner of Randolph finished eighth overall in 35:51.  Jersey Girl, Amy Van Alstine, now living in Flagstaff finished fifth in 34:39.

Although the race drew American elite runners from all over the country thanks to a nice purse, the race was also the USATF New Jersey open men and women’s championship.    The adidas Garden State Track Club took the first two spots in the team contest with the Morris based Garmin team in third.  The same was true on the women’s side but with the Shore Athletic Club taking the third spot.

Masters runners filled many of the team spots; 23 men’s teams and 15 women’s.  Even 86 year old Bill Welsh of Staten Island who finished last in the race as finisher number 1,862 was on the Central Jersey Road Runner team.  In 2015 the race had only 1,330 finishers so it was up by more than 500 runners.

The local Morris masters did well including Terry Davidson of Randolph, third in his age M40 division with his 36:06, Gary Rosenberg of Morristown, first in the M45 division with his 36:24, Terry Lusardi of Madison third in the M50 division with his 38:32.  Also Susan Kinsella of Millington second in her W50 division in 44:54, Beau Atwater of Bernardsville, first in the M55 division and second age graded with his time of 38:11 (84.32%),

 

Reno and Susan Stirrat both won their 60 age division – Reno with his 38:49 that made his time first in the age grading at 86.06%, while Susan finished in 48:44.  Bill Trengove of Wharton placed second in the M60 with his time of 42:22 and Bruce Langenkamp of Wharton was second in the M65 in 46:06.

SUPER HERO HALF MARATHON

Here on home turf, the Super Hero Half Marathon in Morristown drew a crowd of 1,249 runners, some dressed in their Super Hero costumes.  Laurent White of Flemington won the race in 1:15:37 with almost four minutes to spare.  Bradford Ackerman of Morristown placed second in 1:19:53.

In fourth was Gary Rosenberg of Morristown who finished in 1:20:15.  Rosenberg must have felt he had some fuel left in the tank after the 10,000 at Newport the day before.

Allison Clarke of Morristown won the women’s race in 1:26:29 and Anne Balfour of Morristown was the first W40 to finish.  Her time was 1:38:41.  The star of the masters women was Nora Cary, now 61, also of Morristown whose 1:40:36 age graded at 84.78%.   No one else came close.

On Wednesday, the Mind Maters 5K, formerly known as the Run with Pride race will be held at the Giralda Farms corporate campus starting at 6:30 p.m.

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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.

Dover Renaissance 5K this Saturday

Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey

On Sunday, May 15, 2016

 

DOVER RENAISSANCE 5K THIS SATURDAY

No, Pete Lee of Randolph really doesn’t think he should play musical chairs with the race he directs.  His intentions were always good.   The Dover Renaissance 5K was in October.  Then the hand of God, and sometimes the hand of the Dover Public Works kind of messed things up.  Road work one year, a Hurricane another year, hopes for an August niche, and now - well lookee here.  He’s done it again! The Dover Renaissance 5K will be this Saturday, May 21^st.

All for a very good reason.   Look at the calendar.   Armed Forces Day is May 21^st. 

Lee was contacted by the local Dover Police Force/Policeman’s Benevolent Association and an organization you may not have heard of until now – the Military Mama Network.  They asked him if he could do something to recognize the day.

Here’s the scoop on Military Mama.  “In the three short years the group has existed we have sent much needed supplies to all branches of the military, helped veterans repair homes, and aided military families when there was no one else to turn to,” wrote  Susan Shauer of Dover in an email.  Military Mama is a non-profit and all work is donation driven with over 50 local chapters in the country. 

Funds raised by the race will be shared with the Military Mama Network.  Not only that,

All military men and women, be they active, veteran or reserve will enjoy the same discount that goes to members of USATF when they pre-register. The mail-in entry application deadline is past but on-line doesn’t close until Thursday, the 19^th.

Loyal Renaissancers will be happy to know that the original course will be used and really good news is that the Prospect Street Bridge is now open and the Prospect Street parking lot will be accessible. Another nice touch is the Dover Historical Building that is by the starting line will also be open for runners to see displays set up recognizing Dover and Armed Forces Day. 

As always certain age divisions will go deeper than three people based on the previous year’s participation.  In the oldest age divisions there may be only one or two awards, but Lee will adjust that if the entries for those divisions increase.

TRACK AND FIELD 5,000 METERS AND 10,000 METERS

Road racers can venture into the world of track and field next Sunday, May 22^nd.   The New Jersey championship is being held for the first time at Newark Schools Stadium that is located just off Exit 148 on the Garden State Parkway – at the Newark Bloomfield border on Bloomfield Avenue.  Never heard of it?   Me either.  So I looked it up.  It was built in 2011 and from the photo I saw it looks like a beautiful facility. 

The 10,000 meter race (25 laps) at 8:30 a.m. and the 5,000 meter race (12.5 laps) at 10:00 a.m. are both in the NBGP as 500 point races.  Not sure about running all those laps?  Then you can choose the 1,500 meter race with less than four laps.  Even shorter is the 800 with just two laps.  All of the events in the track meet are part of the track and field grand prix.  There is no race day sign-up.  Mail in entries can be sent tomorrow, Monday, and the on-line deadline is Wednesday, May 18^th.

Two throwing events and the Steeplechase will be held on June 5^th at Monmouth University.

Information is on the USATF NJ website’s track and field calendar.  Notice that the Princeton Athletic Club and the New Jersey Striders host summer track series.

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Publish only when space permits.  Please do not cut for this tag.

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.

Choose your distance - take your pick from 5K to miles, and miles and miles

Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey

On Sunday, May 8, 2016

 

 

CHOOSE YOUR DISTANCE -  TAKE YOUR PICK FROM 5K TO MILES, AND MILES AND MILES

As any runner knows, it is easy to find races to run.  At the end of this column when space permits readers are directed to the USATF-NJ website, to Race Forum, CompuScore and Best Races. 

The USATF web calendar features all sanctioned races and is pretty comprehensive.  I took a look and found some interesting reading there.  Well not exactly a spellbinder, but interesting.

If you wanted to run a 5K in the next week or so there are plenty of them around, more than likely less than an hour away from your door.  On Sunday, the 15^th is a 5K in Basking Ridge, using the same course as the “Are you faster than a Ridge runner?”

If you were looking for a bit more of a challenge, there is the Lake Mohawk 8 mile challenge on Saturday the 14^th in Sparta.  Or choose to run with the girls in the Girl’s on the Run 5K at the same location.

OK, 8 miles is not challenge enough, then how about the Super Hero Half marathon?  That is on Sunday the 15^th at the Ginty Field, Morris Township staging location.  Dress as a super hero and you may win a prize for your costume.

Not enough distance in a half marathon?  Well, head up to the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta and you can run your toenails off at the 3 days at the fair.   Start on Thursday, May 12^th and see how many one mile laps you can do in 72 hours.  Or start on Friday morning and go for 48 hours.  Start on Saturday and run for 24 hours.  See how much fun this is?

A little too challenging? Well run for 12 hours, or just six.  On the other hand try for the 50K title.  Or maybe, just maybe you want a real challenge.  How about four back to back full marathons.

No way! You say?   Well, yes, there are runners who do these kinds of things.  And they are not just a handful.  A lot of people are doing ultras these days.  In 2015 Darren Worts of Chatham, who was featured here in May 2009 did those four marathons, and he wasn’t the only one, but the best at it.  He didn’t really slow down until the fourth marathon.  His times were 3:25:11, 3:28:00, 3:29:16 and then 4:20:22.

If you go to the NJtrail series website you might be amazed, as I was, to see so many people who competed in 2015.  Now, in 2016, the 50K that starts on Saturday, and the 48 and 24 hour races have been designated as New Jersey championships.

Last weekend a similar lineup of races was held at Bear Mountain; the North Face Endurance Challenge.   In the full marathon, and we are talking trail racing now, were 329 finishers, in the 50K were 466, the marathon had 204 and the half marathon a whopping 722.   I scanned the results and although there was a good sprinkling of New Jersey runners, almost no names rang a bell.  Two that did were Luke Falk of Rockaway who finished the half marathon in 2:26:43 and Peter Tummey, also of Rockaway who finished the half in 2:26:28.

LOCALS SHINED AT CLINTON COUNTRY RUN

Roberta Groner of Randolph won the women’s race in the Clinton Country Run 15K last weekend.  She finished tenth overall in 56:02.   Allie Clark of Morristown was second woman in 59:31.  Clark’s husband  Ben placed third overall in 53:45 while Karl O’Reilly, also of Morristown was second in 52:47.  Atilla Sabahoglu of  Somerset won the race in 52:06.

Next up for USATF runners is the Newport 10,000 this Saturday in Jersey City.

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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.