TURKEY TROTS PROLIFERATING If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then the Flemington Turkey Trot folks should be beaming. But that flattery comes at the cost of loosing a few hundred runners. Once upon a time Flemington hosted the only Thanksgiving Day race in the state and at last count attracted close to two thousand runners. Such success doesn't go unnoticed and soon two others were on the map, one in Upper Saddle River and the other in Glen Ridge. This year two more were added - one right here in Morris County and the other just up Route 15 in Sparta. It may not bring a smile to the faces of the earlier organizers, but local runners may be happy to not have a lengthy drive to find a race come Thursday morning. Morris Township's Ginty Field complex is the site of the LVMC/IFP Turkey Trot 5K. Say what? OK, spelled out it is the Literacy Volunteers of Morris County and the Interfaith Food Pantry and those two community organizations will use the funds raised to support their programs |
The race is coming out of the blocks as a New Balance Grand Prix race, and features five year age divisions up to 75 and over. The course being used is the certified course that is used by the St. Paddy's 5K, the Run for Lawyers and 5,000 Strides.
You will earn your dinner as the course is a tough uphill in the first half of the race with a corresponding downhill to the finish.
Registration opens at 7:00 a.m. with the 5K race going off at 8:30 a.m. A fun run and kids trot begin at 9:15 a.m.
In Sparta the Education Foundation is hosting the Krogh's Restaurant Turkey Trot 5K, located at White Deer Plaza on East Shore Trail. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. with the 5K starting at 8:45 a.m. The race is offering a lot of amenities, but senior runners may object to the ten year age groups that end at 60 and over.
ASHENFELTER 8 KM THE PLACE TO BE FOR USATF TEAMS
Despite the attractiveness of Morris Township or Sparta, many Morris area runners will still go to the established runs like Flemington or to Glen Ridge for the Ashenfelter 8K. USATF-NJ runners have an incentive as the 8K is a championship race for open men and women. That gives it a high point value in the New Balance grand prix of 700 points as opposed to 500 for non championship races.
In addition the clubs will need to get their fastest men and women to the race to stay in the hunt in the Team and Club grand prix. Currently the Raritan Valley Road Runners club has the lead with 395 points with Morris County Striders chasing at 329. Sneaker Factory is in third with 231 points.
The Breakneck Track club from south Jersey trounced all the open teams at the cross country race, with Running Company taking second. Breakneck is only two points back from Running Company in the Open Men grand prix so Thursday's race is a must for both clubs.
The same can be said on the women's side with Raritan Valley's Open women holding a two point lead over Morris County in their grand prix series.
MIITCHELL AND ROSS LEAD GRAND PRIX
Gene Mitchell of Franklin Lakes has taken over the lead in the New Balance Grand Prix and appears untouchable. However, Ben Reynolds of Chatham can't be counted out. He won the Giralda Farms 10K this past Sunday and if he runs and wins today's Great Swamp Devil 15K and next months USATF 15K Championship we would surpass Mitchell with nine points to spare. Mitchell is at 5,784 and two Reynolds wins would give him 5,795.
Diane Ross of Flanders has the women's lead but has Misa Tamura of Ridgewood breathing down her singlet, back by just two points, 5,734 to 5,732. Sue Bessin of Madison could move into third place if she runs the Swamp Devil today, or the USATF 15K next month. She only lacks 439 points to go ahead of third place Tara Zimliki of Branchburg. Bessin won both cross country races last month giving her two nice round 700 point scores.
Runners have only two more non championship grand prix races to try to pick up a couple more points - the AMBS Reindeer Run 5K in Franklin Lakes and the American Red Cross 5K in Millburn the next day. The 15K USATF-NJ Championship will be the following Sunday at Mercer County Park.
Originally published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey on Sunday, December 23, 2007
Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2007
