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A passion guides lighthouse voyage in N.J.
The two-day New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge attracted an eclectic group of participants eager to tour the state's 11 lighthouses before tonight's deadline.
But none was more eager than Darrin Goldman, 31, also known as Larry the Lighthouse, who wore a 9-foot-tall Styrofoam lighthouse costume.
Goldman, a first-time challenge participant, started wearing the costume while training for this year's New Jersey Marathon, which he completed as Larry in April.
"The lighthouse is a powerful symbol -- it leads the way for others," said Goldman at the Twin Lights of Navesink lighthouse in Highlands, his second stop on the challenge.
By Jenny
Wood
Dear NJRRC,
I
want to thank you again for making me feel so welcome in your group! As I
have said before it is my first time being part of a club and I am
thrilled!...
Jenny Wood
PS: My friend (the 100 year old young one I told you about yesterday) LOVES marveling at the fact that we are running all these miles...for fun!! and she loved the desserts as well. thank you so much.
What is NJRRC?
By Christie Mazurek
I’ve been a NJRRC member for about a year – a
drop in the bucket when compared to some of my running mates – but long enough
for it to have a meaningful impact on my life. To state the obvious, the heart
and soul of the club is its members. Some join for a short time to prepare for a
target marathon; others are as dependable as night following day. To me, the
short timers are like ice cream – a nice treat but not dinner. The main course
is made up of those we see week-after-week, year in, year out.
It is to be with these people that I get out of bed at a ridiculous hour on
Sunday morning to run in hopefully beautiful but often nasty weather. They are
passionate about running, but more importantly, they are passionate about the
people who come to the club to run. The fast slow down to teach newcomers the
routes. The slow speed up thanks to the encouragement and training advice that
is always offered freely. Every distance is accommodated although most “go
long.” A dedicated corps gets up even earlier to ensure that the water stops are
stocked.
Then there is the camaraderie back at the club as everyone trickles in from
their various distances to feast on the fabulous food. There are the traditional
bagels as well as cakes and muffins. However, the real draw is the fabulous
creations of Chef Art. In the summer, there is always a smoothie chock full of
protein and fruit – easy to ingest and incredibly delicious. There are also
eggs, waffles and pancakes depending on the mood of the cook. In the winter, we
refuel with an amazing spinach pizza and probably the best vegetarian soup in
the entire universe.
The people are as diverse as the edible offerings, and we revel in that
diversity. We are fast runners, slow runners, fat and thin, tall and short. Some
run marathons, others 5K’s and still others just run. We are teachers, lawyers,
secretaries and doctors. It is running that binds us all together to create the
rich fabric that is NJRRC.
Not surprisingly, where we run is equally diverse. We run on streets, dirt roads
and trails; over bridges and through fields. We run up hills – lots and lots of
hills! – with awe inspiring views at the peak. We run past mansions, horse
farms, stores and golf courses. We run to the smell of the ocean, wild flowers,
horses. We run in the dappled shade, bright sun, pristine snow and cooling rain.
And we talk (some more than others). We talk about life, politics, religion, and
the weather. We share our problems, our goals and our successes. We tell jokes
and share insights. We complain about our wives, husbands, children and aching
legs. We brag about our husbands, wives, children and race times. Mostly we
encourage each other to keep running.
What is NJRRC? To paraphrase President Carter, we are not a melting pot but a
beautiful mosaic of different people, different beliefs, different yearnings,
different hopes, and different dreams. The mortar in this mosaic is our love of
running. This is what allows us to overlook each others idiosyncrasies and focus
on our contributions. It allows us to forgive the occasional sharp word and
focus on the supportive thoughtfulness. It allows us to forget the outside world
and focus on the pursuit our sport. Mostly, it allows us to be a family.
The Human Spirit
Personified....
Worldwide Stingers and friends at the NJRRC,
On Saturday, Feb. 28th, I along with some of our
other runners that attend our Saturday morning track sessions in Point Pleasant,
had the pleasure of meeting Jacqui Kapinowski and her husband Harry. As
many of you know by now Jacqui suffers from "Stiff Man Syndrome", a degenerative
disease of the spinal cord. It affects her balance when standing and walking but
incredibly she is able to run, and run very well she does!
Today (2/29) at the E. Murray Todd Half Marathon in Lincroft, NJ, I
witnessed my dear friend, Art Castellano, the President of the NJRRC finish the
race with Jacqui after running with her the entire way for support,
encouragement, compassion and guidance....
To me, Jacqui personifies and embodies all that is glorious and brave in
the human spirit and Art Castellano personifies the wonderful heart that beats
within the NJRRC ! It was majestic!
"Run Tall,Run Easy" !
Best wishes,
Coach GP
USA Track & Field Level 2 Coach
Head Coach, Team.RunningBuzz.com & The Stingers Running Club
'Helping Ordinary People do Extraordinary things'
The 3rd Annual
No Frills... All Hills 5K
July 27, 2002
Hartshorne Woods, Highlands, NJ--Over 130 runners came out on a somewhat cool and cloudy Saturday morning for a chance to earn an "I Survived the No Frills-All Hills 5K" T-shirt and, more importantly, to meet Bernie McCauley, veteran of many a road race and marathon.
The race took place on a very challenging 2 loop course, with extremely steep hills (and the sounds of Abba blaring from a boom box.) The Kid’s 2K took place on the same course minus the steepest of the hills.
Last year, the aforementioned Bernie held up the start of the race by making a last minute porta john visit. And, though Bernie wasn't the culprit this year, the tradition continued as runners waited impatiently at the start--yelling "Hurry up!"--for NJRRC member Sue Ann Ng, last in the porta john line, to join them.
As you can tell, a fun time was had by all! Click here for the results.
Running (and Walking) the Way It Was Meant to BeBy Art Castellano
October 2001
Question: How do you attract more than 50% women runners, runners from all parts of the state, runners from Pennsylvania and New York and nearly 30% returnees to a running event that benefits the Friends of the Parks?
Answer: Don't make it a race with a clock, timing and awards.
Question: How do you make it even more successful?
Answer: Make the running event "walker friendly" and allow for owners to bring their (well-behaved) dogs on a short leash (that's the dogs not the owners!)
The idea for this great experiment came during a very hot June training run through the winding trails of Hartshorne Woods. The shade and cooler environs made for a very enjoyable run in spite of the 90 degrees. A suggestion based on exposing others to the joys of trail Running was made by one of the runners and was quickly picked up and discussed by the others.
Most of the 5K races throughout the state move through the street, and only a few entrants leave with trophies. It was decided to avoid the typical and focus on the enjoyment of the course. Realizing that there would be a savings from not renting a clock or contracting for professional timing or purchasing awards, the newly formed committee decided instead to give all participants the best possible Tee and the refreshments that trail runners and walkers deserve.
And so, the first Hartshorne Woods Trail Run was born and held two months later, August 1997. It was to be a 7.2-mile adventure with walker cut-offs of 4 miles and 5 miles. It was to be challenging but safe. The Hartshorne Woods Summer Trail Run was such a big success that a second trail run was held in December and named "The Autumn's End Trail Run". In 1998 the trail run concept became the Four Seasons Trail Run Series, and as it turns out, the trail run series became an important reason to start a new running club, The New Jersey Road Runners Club, with over 400 members, celebrates its second anniversary the last Sunday of October 2001.
All through these many years - the 18th Hartshorne Woods Trail Run will be held December 16, 2001 - an ensemble group of very good friends, who just happen to be NJRRC members, have organized and nurtured the success of the trail runs.
Tom Schaefer is our "Trail Master" as well as our Start Coordinator. He put down the original 7.2-mile course back in '97 and continues to mark the trail (with its 4 and 5 mile cut-offs) hours before the arrival of the first participant. He is usually covered with flour as he exits the course.-
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Eva Castellano is the NJRRC Office Manager. This is a title that allows her to wear many hats. Eva inputs all registration and then oversees day-of registration. She also designs, selects and orders the quality Tees that all participants receive.-
Pam Allen is our Fluid Station Coordinator. She always makes absolutely sure that all of her volunteers show up early enough to get them out on the course with all of their supplies.-
George "Bosco" Boscarino is our Trouble Shooter Coordinator, filling in wherever needed while still managing to organize the first fluid station.-
Debbie Stuart is our Sweep Coordinator. With a compassion for the slowest runners and walkers, she makes sure that the last participants are not abandoned.-
Allen McKean is our Food Coordinator. He not only sets up the foods that have become a Hallmark of each trail run but makes sure that all participants (including the last finishers) get their fair share.-
Jim and Marie Trezza who take over the kitchen duties for the Autumn's End and Winter Trail Runs to create a most delicious vegetarian vegetable soup worthy of the finest restaurant.-
The "foot soldiers" Ian Lifchus, John Budzyna and family, Laura Murdza, Susan Mazzeo, Tom Gagliastro, Andy and Mary Casey, Kevin Kline and daughter Lauren, and the many others (too numerous to name) who do any job (including clean-up) needed for that day.The other ingredients of a successful event like the Hartshorne Woods Trail Runs are a Director and a Presenting Sponsor. Art Castellano has directed this event from the beginning and is currently the President of the NJRRC. He has been able to be a successful director because of the dedication of the volunteers. Recently, the trail runs have been blessed with the sponsorship of Oxford Health Plans. This sponsorship has helped guarantee that the Friends of the Parks and The Food Bank of Monmouth/Ocean Counties have been able to receive donations. We hope that our presenting sponsor Oxford Health Plans stays on board for many years to come! The Autumn's End Trail Run has a new beneficiary -The New York Firefighters 9-11 Emergency Relief Fund in Memory of Captain John Fischer Ladder Company 20 (nephew of one of our NJRRC members).
To sum up, we invite you to come, whether you run or walk, and experience the result of an idea shared with some friends who share the same dream, with a beautiful location (Monmouth County Park's Hartshorne Woods) and the will to overcome the naysayers. Experience the warmth of our volunteers and the beauty of the woods in any or all of the four seasons.
YOUR CORNER ON HEALTH (Condensed and reprinted from an NY Times article by Susan Gilbert) When TOO MUCH WATER HURTS a RUNNER Though athletes need to drink regularly during a race to prevent dehydration, experts say that excess water can lead to hyponatremia. This condition is an abnormal low concentration of sodium in the blood. The cause is unknown, but over-consumption of water is thought to increase the risk of diluting blood sodium.Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness, headache and disorientation. Doctors say that most of the marathon runners with hyponatremia were relatively inexperienced athletes who entered to raise money for charity. The condition seems more common among women than men. Dr William Roberts, a spokesman for the American college of Sports Medicine, says that people could calculate their “sweat rate” by weighing themselves and then exercising for 1/2 an hour at race pace. Then weigh themselves again to get the number of pounds lost through perspiration. For every pound lost they should drink a pint per hour during the race. The guidelines also recommend drinking a sports beverage that contains carbohydrates and electrolytes. Sports drinks help prolong an athlete’s peak performance and replace sodium lost in perspiration. |
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The
5th Anniversary New Jersey Shore Marathon Weekend |
| From the Race Director….
The weather was fantastic… There were over 2000 participants in the various events, to include nearly 350 Fitness walkers and 60-some Breakfast runners who had a ball on Saturday morning. What more could a race director ask for? My heartfelt thanks to the race committee and to all who participated and/or volunteered. Without your contribution, no matter how big or small, our 5th Anniversary Marathon Weekend could not have been the fabulous success that it was! Warmest Regards, The 5th Anniversary New Jersey Shore Marathon—A Glorious Weekend!
Headlines and Scenes from the Weekend…. Mike Harrison won again and set a course record of 2:29:19. Congratulations, Mike!
Wendy Locke captured the women’s title with a time of 3:04:03. Said Wendy, “It’s my third time here, and this is really big for me! Thanks to all!” Bravo, Wendy! The Wheelchair Division, which was dedicated to the memory of wheelchair athlete Julia Wallace, who raced the ’97 NJSM, came into its own with three top athletes—congratulations to John Reiches (1:38:30), Helene Hines (1:43:26) and Tony Nogueira (1:53:57) on their excellent rides! 8-year-old Ryan Lodato, who has spina bifida and walks with braces, was the official starter of this year’s marathon. Ryan also got to meet John Reiches and try out his handcycle. You could see Ryan’s eyes light up as he realized what it might be possible for him to do when he’s older! E-mail from runner Doug Rice….My first marathon since 1988, and I had a blast. Everything was organized well and the support was great. Several bands along the way as well as the St Michaels Church, doors wide open, the congregation singing Halleluya as I passed, immediately thinking of my friend Chrissy D'Alessandro, who was killed last year, who then kicked my a— and pushed me through the last six miles. Thanks to NJRRC for a great event. And thanks to Chrissy too. God Bless. And on the lighter side…. Race Committee member David Gross
loses cell phone and wife on the course…. Finds both. E-mail from volunteer course marshal
Nancy Edwards…. E-mail from “conehead” Larry
Marchak, of the Larry, Moe (or is that Joe?) and Curly Cone and Clean-up Trio …. |
| A Terrific First Year for Our Club As we approach the end of the inaugural year of the New Jersey Road Runners Club, I, and the Board of Directors, would like to thank you, and nearly 300 others from all over our State, for having the confidence to join this new venture. The year has been very full and rewarding for the organizers of the NJRRC, the directors of our many events, the many volunteers that are needed and the very grateful beneficiaries. I hope that you were able to participate in some of our NJRRC events. The ever-popular Hartshorne Woods Trail Run Series drew nearly 1400 participants, the Bayshore Henry Hudson 10 Miler nearly 300 runners, our new event the No Frills…All Hills 5K, thanks to the linkage to club member Bernie McCauley, drew nearly 200 brave runners. Our New Jersey Shore Marathon Weekend, which had a record number of participants this year, is now taking registration for its 5th anniversary on April 29, 2001. We are a running club of very successful events that draw participants from each of NJ’s 21 counties and well over 150 NJ cities, but the Sunday Run is the cement that binds the club together. I hope that you will be able to join us and experience the fun and challenge of our various Sunday Run courses. (And remember, we also have weekday evening runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays!) Here are some of the highlights of our club’s first year:
A special “THANK YOU” to all the volunteers who have put aside their own personal time to help with the success of our club events and ultimately, with the success of the Club itself. All of this would be impossible without your dedication and love of running. All of our events owe a debt of gratitude to our many sponsors (Hot Bagel Bakery of Oakhurst, Bayshore Community Hospital, The Provident Bank, Finnair, The WindMill-Gourmet Fast Foods, The Holiday Inn of Tinton Falls, Oxford Health Plans, Harmony Technology-Super Energy, Budget- Car and Truck Rental, CLIF BAR and CLIF Shot, Gatorade-The Official Thirst Quencher, Pathmark Stores, Inc., The FROZFRUIT Company, Ocean Fitness Center of Middletown, Loews Theatres) who have enabled us to benefit many local charities such as The Friends of the Parks, The Food Bank of Monmouth / Ocean Counties, Middletown PBA 124, The Leonardo First Aid and Rescue, Barrier Breakers, Long Branch P.A.L., Long Branch STPO, Campership of Monmouth County, and more.Hope to see you on the run! Best personal regards, Art Castellano, Chairman |
A Running Club is Born Welcome to the New Jersey Road Runners Club, New
Jersey’s new statewide running club. Who are we? We are runners of different ages and of different abilities with a common
vision. Why are we doing this? The objective of this new club is the promotion and encouragement of long distance running and the education of the public to its benefits. The club will engage in community activities, support charitable organizations and publicize by appropriate means the benefits of long distance running as a means of physical fitness. How did this all start? It started as a conversation between two friends who love running and the desire to share that love with other runners and “would-be” runners. |
Articles Submitted by Club Members "Tails"--The Chronicles of The Running Gladiators Runners Vs. Muffette By LAURIE GORDONSpeed lights the fire in the runner's engines. He was mad. He was really mad. And, hey, you'd be bitter too! See, HIS name was Muffette. Yet, HE was a HE and Muffette is a name for a SHE. Strike one. On top of THAT, this past weekend, the annual "Hunt" had taken place in the next town...you know, hounds chasing a fox. Well, Muffette knew, without a doubt, that he could have caught any fox around, but they'd picked rival farm-dog, Bozkatz, over him to compete in the festivities. Strike two. There he sat, on a sunny, October morning, wallowing in his grief, left alone to guard the farm while Bozkatz slept off the excessive amount of Kibbles and Bits he'd indulged in after The Hunt. Then, in a flash, the gods gave Muffette his chance. There on the horizon, he spotted some unsuspecting runners who had dared to venture up HIS driveway. Strike three and...THEY were going out! He'd prove himself by catching those runners. He waited, as they came closer ...biding his time... It was a pristine, absolutely gorgeous fall day. The kind of day when the air is crisp and the sky is blue and nature is in all her glory. The workout was over and we had discovered a beautiful trail for our warm-down. The trail looked like something out of a Gone With the Wind, the way it meandered under the canopy changing leaves. The soft dirt and gravel was a relief to our legs, the light, autumn breeze felt great, and we were experiencing one of those runner's highs you get from time to time that makes you just love the sport. After a little while, a farm house came into view and we realized it was really a driveway. On the left, there was a large field with a cow in it. What a beautiful day to enjoy the beauty of the sport, but then... Like a black bolt of lightning, Muffette exploded across the field and under the fence, his high- pitched bark resonating throughout the trees. Quickly realizing Muffette's intentions, one of my friends attempted to reason with the mutt..."Go home!" No response, he was on a charge. "Go Away!" he charged faster. We turned on a dime and started running, surly a dog of that small size couldn't keep up for long. WRONG! Muffette was on a rampage. He'd show his owner he was faster, stronger and more worthy than Bozkatz! He could already taste their calves. He gritted his teeth and ran faster. "Get out of here," the runner closest to Muffette yelled, turning sharply toward the dog. Muffette kept coming, eying the runner with evil vengeance when he tried to throw pebbles toward Muffette to scare him away. This was foreplay to Muffette...he'd surged and chased faster. I was further down the road. This was no longer a cool down, it was an all out sprint for me. I may have had a slight injury, but fear tends to have a fabulous numbing effect on pain. "He's still coming," I heard them yelling from behind. I was sure the dog would go after those behind first and I appreciated my friends' chivalry trying to chase the dog away while I escaped. But then, to my horror, I heard, "He's between us and gaining on you!" Muffette was going after me! I turned and saw he was closing. I surged but could hear his claws hitting the rocks behind me getting closer and closer with every step. I couldn't run any faster. "Here he comes. Run, Laurie!!!" Then, amidst the barks and shouts from behind and my own screams, I heard an automobile. "Muffette, get over here," a voice boomed from the big sedan. I turned to see Muffette dart off of the road and into the bushes. His owner was coming to get him and Muffette was in trouble. I bent over, completely spent from the sprint. My friends caught me and we were quiet for a moment. After about a minute, one of them said, "That was a great workout!" And it had been. Sure, dogs are unpredictable and yes, we could have been bitten but we're Gladiators and, you've gotta love it when you get a little unexpected speed workout. Thanks Muffettee....and hey, what are you doing on February 26th? Laurie Corbin will compete in the Olympic Marathon Trials on February 26th in Columbia, South Carolina. She works for the MAF Group, makers of the Phil's Bar nutrition bar, and is also a freelance writer. Laurie is a distance runner whose passion is the marathon.October 10, 1999 A Visionary and a Winner in the Race of Life Related Articles The New York Times on the Web Sports By FRANK LITSKY The first time Grete Waitz met Fred Lebow, she did not like him. "By 1978," she recalled Thursday, "I had been a world cross-country champion and a world record-holder on the track. But there were no distance runs in the Olympics, no pro track and no opportunity to make a living in the sport. "I was going to retire. But Fred had this New York City Marathon and I thought maybe I could run in it if they paid my expenses. When I called, the secretary asked me what my fastest marathon time was. I said I had never run a marathon. She hung up." But she had written Waitz's name on a scrap of paper. When Fred saw it, he knew who she was and invited the Norwegian to run in the marathon. "I flew in a couple of days before the race," Waitz said. "I got to the hotel in the middle of the night, and all I wanted to do was sleep. He wanted me to come to Tavern on the Green and meet sponsors. I didn't like him that much because of that." She soon liked him, and they became good friends. Limited sleep or not, she won that first marathon in 2 hours 32 minutes 30 seconds, a world record. The next year, she won it again in 2:27:33, the first time a woman had bettered 2:30. Five years ago Saturday, Lebow died at 62 after a four-year battle with brain cancer. On Thursday, Waitz and Allan Steinfeld, Lebow's right-hand man and successor, reminisced about the visionary who, Waitz said, "sort of invented the marathon." This was not a memorial of death, but a celebration of life. At the townhouse headquarters of the New York Road Runners Club on East 89th Street (the street sign reads "Fred Lebow Place"), Waitz and Steinfeld told Lebow stories. He was born Fischel Lebowitz in Transylvania. He fled the Nazis and then the Soviets, got to the United States and created a successful garment-district business knocking off designer merchandise. Steinfeld told how Lebow had given up recreational tennis for running and had become the co-director of the first New York City Marathon in 1970. That race, entirely in Central Park, drew 200 runners. With his creative genius, Lebow nurtured the marathon to where it now encompasses the city's five boroughs and attracts 30,000 or so runners (plus 25,000 other applicants who can't get a race number). As the president of the New York Road Runners Club from 1972 to 1992, he also created the Women's Mini Marathon, Chase Corporate Challenge, Fifth Avenue Mile, Empire State Building Run-Up, New York Games and more. Every picture of him seems to have the smile of a man bursting with ideas. Who else could persuade a bagel maker to sponsor an annual race in Central Park, call it the Bagel Run and give the runners a free bagel breakfast after the race? Except for the most formal occasions, such as Steinfeld's wedding, Lebow dressed in a painter's cap, sweatsuit and racing shoes. When he met King Olaf in Norway and President Ronald Reagan in the White House, he wore a jacket, a tie and sneakers. In 1992, his life ebbing, he wanted to run in his own marathon. Waitz, long retired, returned and ran with him near the back of the pack. It was rough going, Waitz said. "But when we came in the park with three miles to go," she said, "it was like someone gave him energy. He was on home ground. The number of people in the park waiting for us was amazing. At that point, I knew we would make it. I was crying. He said, 'Are you hurting?' I said, 'No, just realizing we're going to make it.' He started crying, too. It was more than just running a race. It was about life." When that life ended, Lebow was buried in a cemetery in Queens. At his gravesite was a marker used during his race. It said: FINISH 26.2 MILES NYC MARATHON. After his death, people flocked to the club headquarters to write farewells in tribute books. Some of those tributes said:
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