LIBERTY WATERFRONT HALF MARATHON
If there is one absolute absolute about the Liberty Waterfront Half Marathon, it is that nothing will be the same as in previous years. The race, which was started over ten years ago has never featured the same course. Given that it is run in Jersey City with a trip into Liberty State Park, it is almost a given that a part of the previous year’s route will be undergoing repair and a new street or streets need to be used.
Last year the race moved from its previous organization site in Jersey City to Newport on the Waterfront, where the Newport 10,000 race is held in the spring. This year it is at the same location at Newport, but the registration has moved as has the start and finish line.
Jane Parks of Morristown, well known for her running ability, is also a trained course measurer and certifier. She was in Jersey City just last week certifying the altered course. She said that the course will have slightly less turns than last year, but emphasized the word slightly, as it is fundamentally the same course.
What has not changed is the parking garage that was used in 2005, but instead of backtracking into the Newport shopping mall, runners need to walk out to 33 River Drive South to the Newport Swim and Fitness Center for registration.
Registration will open at 6:30 a.m. with the half marathon going off at 8:30 a.m. The non-championship 5K will start ten minutes after the half marathon.
Elite runners will be drawn to the generous prize money that begins with $250.00 for first overall. New Jersey members of USATF are also eligible to win money in the Championship division, also beginning at $250.00 for first.
Masters will win $25.00 for being first in their age division and there is also a purse for the top age graded New Jersey masters.
The Liberty Waterfront Half Marathon is the title sponsor of the club and team grand prix. Because of that, the race carries a high point value of 800 for the top male and female finisher. Teams are also rewarded for placing in the team grand prix, with two bonus points added to their scores.
Those bonus points become very valuable as can be seen by checking out the results of the USATF-NJ cross country 8 kilometer championship that was held this past Sunday. Both of the associations cross country races carry the two bonus points.
You have to be in it, to win it, and that became very clear at that race. Several teams were no shows at the cross country race and they fell behind in the team grand prix scoring. The clubs that put teams on the line have soared ahead of the others, displacing teams that on paper are faster. Not that leader, Raritan Valley Road Runners have slow members. Far from it. The club has now distanced itself from the Morris County Striders by 50 points. RVRR has 234 to Morris County at 184. The Sneaker Factory, which had only an open men and M40 team at the 8 K, is in third at 86 points.
Missing were the men and women from the Mizuno Runner’s High team and the Fleet Feet men. The Running Company that has open men, M40 and open women teams had none of those teams racing. Ironically, Running Company member Mark Bahnuk of Hackettstown won the challenging 8 kilometer race in 27:27.
NEW BALANCE GRAND PRIX – Half Marathon is a do or die for many
In addition to the two points for teams at the Liberty Waterfront Half Marathon, individuals need to check their scores in the New Balance Grand Prix. With the ceiling of 800 points in the race, this is the only chance that they will have to bring in premium points, until the ten mile championship in December.
One has to wonder if the fast open runners were reading their email messages or the press releases or announcements on the USATF-NJ website. In 2005 the top man and woman received a $100.00 bonus for first place overall, in addition to their age division prize money. The 2006 pot was sweetened considerably, with the top overall man and woman pocketing $1,000.00. With the way the open runners are lagging so far behind the good masters runners, it is puzzling.
The purpose of the higher prize money for the top spots was to assist the emerging New Jersey elite athletes. Is the state short of those runners, or are they not in need of financial support and happy to pass up the cash?
For information on the half marathon go to www.libertyhcs.org/runners_files/abouttherun.htm
Orignally published in the DAILY RECORD of Morris County New Jersey, Sunday, October 1, 2006.
Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2006.
