FROM DROUGHT TO FLOOD – RACES OF COURSE

Runners may feel like they are experiencing a drought here in Morris County – where have all the races gone?

Only a few years ago runners were looking forward to the highly successful Healthy Heart 5K in May that was organized by the Atlantic Health Systems, or better known as Morristown Memorial Hospital. Numbers were approaching a thousand when the hospital turned in a different direction and their community service event died from a lack of oxygen.

As was noted here last week, runners are pinching themselves today because they will not be driving to Far Hills this morning for the Midland Run. Instead they will be finding solace at other races a much farther distance than Far Hills, like Paramus for Gilda’s Run 15K or Integrity House’s 5 mile Run for Freedom in Newark.

Now here’s the real kicker, on the weekend coming up there are no races in Morris County as well. Two weekends in a row without a local race - and then what happens? You guessed it. The first weekend in June, you can’t get to all the races that might entice you.

First you have the Rockaway Rotary 5K on Saturday the third of June. For several years the Summer Blast 5K had taken place on a Thursday evening in July. It has gone back to a Saturday morning. The Rotary has teamed up with the folks who put on the Pamela Miller 5K for the past two years. That race raised funds for a scholarship in the name of the student and athlete who collapsed and died during gym class in November 2003.

This year the Rotary will donate proceeds of their race to the Pamela Miller Scholarship and to the Jimmy Benoit Fighting Knight Fund. Benoit is a graduate of Morris Hills High School who was critically wounded by a roadside bomb in Baghdad Iraq. Local residents are attempting to fund a handicapped accessible home for Benoit.

The race is taking place at the location of the Pamela Miller 5K, at Park Lake across from the Methodist Church on Hoagland Avenue in Rockaway Borough.

While not in Morris County, the Stillwater Stampede 5 K at Swartswood State Park in Sussex County draws a goodly number of Morris runners who enjoy the well organized and fun races put on by the Bears Running Club. It too is taking place on Saturday June third.

Last year the Spring Morris Mauler took place on May 8th. This year it is on Sunday, June 4th. The Mauler is a combination trail and cross country race at Lewis Morris Park with an obscenely difficult hill that must be climbed twice in the 5 kilometer race. Not only does the race draw local runners but trail racers come from out of state to test themselves on the hill.

Like the Stillwater race, another race on the schedule does not take place in Morris County, but draws Morris area runners. That is the Hackettstown 5K on Sunday, June 4th at Hackettstown High School.

For runners who have not had enough of racing, there is always the Pleasant Valley 5K Twilight Challenge in Basking Ridge that takes place on the first Sunday evening in June. While it is an off-road race like the Mauler, that is about where the similarities end. It features long grades that will look flat when compared to the Mauler’s hills.

WYETH RUN WITH PRIDE AT GIRALDA FARMS THIS WEDNESDAY

While it is true there are no local weekend races until June, there is a great race taking place on a weeknight this week in Madison. The Wyeth Run With Pride 5K, on Wednesday at Giralda Farms in Madison is the first of the summer night races.

It is also known for the corporate team participation with companies like ADP, Novartis, Roche, Schering Plough and Wyeth among the several dozen corporate teams. Just over 600 runners finished the race in 2005.

Published in the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey

edited for website

For Sunday, May 21, 2006

Copyright, MADELINE BOST, 2006