Morris Township will host the second annual St. Patty’s Day 5K Kicks off the early spring racing season
Runners who have been eager to get started with the 2006 racing season here in Morris County will be on the line next Saturday in Morris Township when the St. Patty’s Day 5K goes off at 10:00 a.m.
The location of the staging area has moved from South Street to Ginty Field, near the Morris Township police station, using the same course as was used for the Country Squire race in 2005.
Over three hundred runners finished the race in 2005, proving that the Morris Township location is prime territory to hold a road race. First place was taken by Nick Ricco of Califon in 15:59, and on the women’s side Jeanne Pare of Mendham was first in 19:25.
Organized by the Running Company running store on South Street in Morristown, late registrations will be taken all this week at the store, with the $15.00 pre-registration still being honored for walk-ins.
The International Trade Center in Mount Olive is the location of the next Morris area race when the Leprechaun Leap goes off at a very leisurely one o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the 19th of March.
New corporate run in the works for Morristown?
Rumors have been swirling this week that a corporate type evening run is being planned for Morristown this July. Runners were disappointed when they learned earlier this year that the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge was not going to be held this year. This new, as yet unnamed event, appears to be set to replace the highly popular race that had become a fixture in Morristown.
The town clerk office confirmed that the Morristown town council had given approval for the race that would be run on Thursday, July 20th. Expect an official announcement as early as next week.
Longer Distance races making a comeback
Category Three races in the New Balance Grand Prix series have dwindled in recent years, with the demise of the Midland Run seeming to be the ultimate blow. But USATF-NJ recently announced that all is well in the distance category with the addition of three new races.
First up on the list is not a new race, but new to the line-up. Make that a two-some. The Ocean Drive Marathon and the ten mile that is run with the marathon in Cape May have both signed on to be NBGP events. While that is a distance for “northerners” it may be well worth the drive, or the sleepover to capture a 500 point event so early in the season. March 26th is the date of the two events.
Closer to home and a space down the calendar is the brand new Gilda’s Run 15K taking place on Sunday, May 21st, the date that would have held the Midland Run. Gilda’s Run is being staged in Saddle River County Park in Paramus. The race is being organized to benefit Gilda’s Club of northern New Jersey, and named for the late comedian and actress, Gilda Radner, who died of cancer. The organization provides support to cancer victims.
In addition to those three new additions, are the ever popular roller-coaster Indian Trails 15K on April 2nd, the Long Beach Island 18 Mile run on October 8th and the Great Swamp Devil 15K in November on the 19th. The Newark Distance Classic 20K, taking place this morning is one of three championship events this year, along with the Liberty Waterfront Half Marathon on October 8th and the USATF-NJ ten mile race on December 10th.
Published in the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey on Sunday, March 5, 2006
Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2006
