GREAT SWAMP DEVIL WOOS RUNNERS WITH DISTANCE

Not every runner goes out looking for a long distance race to run. It’s far easier to race a 5K than it is to go hard for 9.3 miles, but the Great Swamp Devil 15K entices both the distance lovers and the “road sprinters”.

It’s all tied into the USATF-NJ long distance running grand prix, sponsored by New Balance. If a runner wants to maximize his points, he must run in at least three races that are 15K or longer. Two of them can be a championship, with its attendant higher point value, but one has to be a non-championship with a high point value of 500.

That doesn’t sound too difficult, does it? After all the season lasts all year so there’s plenty of time to run in a distance race. Right? Wrong. Once upon a time, as in only two years ago, it wasn’t so hard. Now it is much more difficult. That is because the choice has narrowed down as some distance races have dropped out.

In 2003 there was a nifty 15K in Pottersville in April. You had to like to go up long hills and back down the same grade for the Hacklebarney Hill Climb, but once you had it done, it was there in the bank all year long. But 2003 was the last year that you could do the Hacklebarney. It’s gone.

In February 2004, the Chill Out ten mile race, down the coast in Seaside Heights, was brought back. People loved the race but it’s gone.

Not to fear, there is always the Haybale 25K running out of Raritan Community College. Well, not any longer. That race, through long and sometimes tortuous country roads in October has also gone.

Well, what about the Hamilton Half Marathon, also in October out in Mercer County? Great race I have been told. Gone.

Distance races that are not championships that are still going strong can be counted on one hand. There’s the roller coaster Indian Trails 15K in April. In the fall, if you can get through 18 miles, you can get down to Long Beach Island in October. If you have failed to get one of those two, where will you be on the 20th?

Right. You’ll be lining up to run in the Great Swamp Devil 15K. There is a last-chance race at the USATF-NJ ten mile championship in December but some folks need to get both races in order to have their maximum points in their grand prix score.

Stephen Ondieki of Hackensack is one of those. Ondieki won the grand prix in 2004 but is sitting way back in 20th place with two goose eggs in Category Three. He must run the 15K next week and also the ten mile race. He cannot go ahead with out those two races.

Rick Pingitore of Fairlawn, in eleventh place is another who needs the Great Swamp race. He has the Midland Run 15K and the Newark Distance Classic 20K, both 700 point championships. That means that he must run the ten mile race in December using 800 points as his wild card, and then run the Great Swamp Devil for his 500 point race.

Currently John Sabatino of Morris Plains is leading the New Balance Grand Prix. He may be looking over his shoulder next Sunday to see just who is chasing him. Not many men in the state can outrun Ondieki. On the other hand, while Pingitore is a worthy opponent he strained a hamstring in October and may not be at 100%. At the Newark race in March, Sabatino was more than a minute ahead of Pingitore. They traded places at the Midland Run in May with Pingitore a bit more than a minute ahead of Sabatino.

Catherine Glamkowski of Bridgewater looks better than Ondieki since she is in fifth place in the overall women’s division, but she also must run the 15K and the ten mile to move up.

Doris Fego of Clifton is in second place and needs to run the Great Swamp Devil so that she can then run the ten mile race as a wild card 800 point race. She did not do the Liberty Half Marathon, which is the only other race with a high value of 800 points. If Fego gets them in, she will move ahead of Beth Moras of Ridgewood, who is currently leading the women’s grand prix.

Down the line through the age groups there are other runners who will be looking to fill in a spot with the 15K, but that is not the only reason to go to the race. If runners are looking for a respite from hills, after today’s Giralda Farms runs, they will find it at the Great Swamp Devil. In this area it doesn’t get any flatter than this course. While that might make it a little dull, the fact that there are two double backs heightens the excitement. Runners get to check out the runners chasing them and can see how far ahead their targets are.

Race packets can be picked up at the Sneaker Factory in Millburn from November 17th on through Saturday. Race day registration begins at the Lord Stirling School at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday with the 15K going off at 1:00 p.m. and a 5K starting at 1:15 p.m.

Be aware that the 15K course is certified, but the 5K is not, and is also not in the grand prix. The 15K, of course, is a 500 point NBGP event.

Originally Published on Sunday, November 12, 2005 in the DAILY RECORD of Morris County

Copyright MADELINE BOST, 2005