DENVILLE OR PEAPACK, GOOD CHOICES Finding something to do next weekend will be easy. Races abound throughout the state with two in Morris County. If you want a fast 5K then the choice is easy. The MK5K, aka Morris Knolls 5K, on Saturday is run on the old Harvest Festival 5K course and it is extremely fast. It has a net downhill due to the start being at a higher elevation on Diamond Spring Road than the finish near St. Clare’s Hospital on Pocono Road. On Sunday, the rolling course of the Miles for Matheny 5K in Peapack will be replete with grazing horses and cattle in a picturesque setting reminiscent of the Midland Run course. But first you need to get there. Because the little town of Peapack cannot handle the traffic that the participants would bring, they are shuttled in from the Pfizer corporate complex on Route 206. Potential runners need to check out the information about parking at www.milesformatheny.org or www.oymp.net. The 5K that starts at 11:00 a.m., and the bike races that kick off the day of racing, raise funds to support the Matheny facility for people with disabilities. |
BOSTON MARATHON NEXT MONDAY
Of course next weekend Bostonians celebrate Patriots Day by hosting a little marathon. Because you cannot even enter the Boston Marathon unless you have qualified elsewhere, “doing Boston” has a prestige that is unequaled in any other marathon.
If you recall, Boston 2007 was on the verge of a catastrophe with some calling for a cancellation due to the ‘nor’easter that blew into the area that weekend. For those who ran despite the weather it will be the one they will never forget.
Several Morris area runners will be at Boston with local running clubs sending members to compete on teams.
Making a team by itself will be Team Sikora, captained by Joe Sikora of Succasunna. He will be joined by his twin daughters Lisa, now living in Washington DC, and Sherry, coach of the Roxbury High School girls track team. It will be Joe Sikora’s 153rd marathon and his 23rd Boston. If there is any other Morris County runner with more marathon’s in his or her log book I would like to hear about it.
FORGET BOSTON, THIS IS THE ULTRA OF ULTRAMARATHONS
In 2006 Jody-Lynn Reicher of Midland Park ran from Port Jervis at the New York state border to Cape May Lighthouse to raise money for several charities. It’s not exactly what most runners think of when they plan a long run. But there is a breed of runners out there who run beyond what most think is reasonable, and they do it well. Reicher is one of those. She has completed several ultra marathons, including three Badwaters, which is 135 miles through Death Valley.
On Monday, April 21st, while thousands are running the Boston Marathon, Reicher will be starting her own version of a marathon. This year she will repeat her feat from two years ago, but when she reaches Cape May Lighthouse she will turn around and run back to Port Jervis. She will be leaving Port Jervis at 9:00 a.m. and expects to return on Sunday, April 27th with an estimated time of arrival of 9:00 a.m.
As one can imagine, such an endeavor can be a lonely one. Reicher will have a crew keeping her hydrated and fed, but she will be running solo unless she has some drop-in company. She will be coming through Morris County on Route 206 and would welcome runners who could spend some time and miles with her. This will be the only opportunity on her return to Port Jervis she will be on roads further east.
More information is on her website, www.ultrasforcharity.com
LINCOLN TUNNEL CHALLENGE
One race that you will never see this claustrophobic runner in is the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge, but there were 1,540 runners who are not like me, who in 2007 thought running through one of the tunnels between New Jersey and Manhattan was a great idea. If you are looking for a different experience of racing, and a course through meadows and pastures, like the Miles for Matheny seem much more foreign than a tunnel, then the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge is for you. It will take place next Sunday from Weehawken.
Before I hear from those who do this race, let me defend the race for them: the tunnel is thoroughly cleaned the night before and there is adequate ventilation throughout.
Originally published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey on Sunday, April 13, 2008
Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2008
