RUN SAFELY THIS WINTER

I’m on the mailing list of a number of New Jersey running clubs. An article in a Middlesex County club newsletter caught my eye as it illustrated the vast differences in our state.

The article was about the perils of winter running, primarily the lack of daylight in the morning or evening run times. The writer recommended that for safety sake runners stay off the roads and on the sidewalks.

Sidewalks! What a novel idea. Out here in rural Randolph Township, in the little hamlet of Ironia, sidewalks only turn up where builders of the new McMansions have been forced to install them. Many roads within the daytime ghost towns do not have them and they sure don’t have them along any of the main thoroughfares. I suspect this is true of most townships in Morris County.

After a snowfall like we had this week, after the plows have been through, the shoulders of the roads are now buried. Runners would love to find a sidewalk but even when they exist they are often left un-shoveled for several days.

If you thought I was going to now offer the ideal alternative to running on the roads, you are mistaken. Many make the transition to treadmill running, but I am not one of them. I will do it if I must, but I am not really comfortable running on a belt that is primed to catapult me backwards if I falter.

No, my less-than-perfect solution is to go back to one of those ghost towns to run. Yes, ghost towns. The new developments have only service vehicles and a small number of homeowners traveling the roads during the day. This is not an ideal alternative, as it may involve running multiple loops within a development in order to get the desired mileage.

But this advice only applies to runners who can go out during midday, after commuter morning hours and before commuters begin to return home. Not too many can do that. Those who themselves commute into less rural areas, noontime running, on those blessed sidewalks, is another answer.

One thing that all runners must remember, especially in winter, is to run on the left side of the road facing oncoming traffic. Running on the right with your back to potential killer machines is idiotic. It should go without saying that running at night or before dawn requires reflective clothing.

USATF-NJ TEN MILE CHAMPIONSHIP TODAY

After today’s ten mile USATF-NJ Championship at Mercer County Park (www.usatfnj.org) the racing season comes to an end, with one exception. While the ten mile race will be the final deciding race for most people, the Ramona’s Run four mile in Perth Amboy on Saturday, December 17th is be the final, last chance to up points in the New Balance Grand Prix and in the Mini One Grand Prix.

Ramona’s Run takes place at 4:00 p.m., giving runners accustomed to evening running a little edge over their first-thing-in-the-morning brethren. Post run amenities feature one of the best spreads of food all season. While the trip is a distance, if you are still hungry for racing, Ramona’s Run may hit the spot. Check it out at www.oymp.net.

Originally Published on Sunday, December 11, 2005 in the DAILY RECORD of Morris County

Copyright MADELINE BOST, 2005