Local Runners Take on the Res

One hundred and twenty-five runners were undeterred by freezing temperatures and finished the annual Sneaker Factory 10K Run in the South Mountain Reservation on Sunday, March 17.

Five members of the South Mountain Running Collective, the local distance runners club, enjoyed the home field advantage to the fullest and gave strong performances.

In third place, and first in the men’s 40-49 age group, was John Parry, 49, of South Orange, setting a personal record time of 36:18 -- a 5:50/mile average pace; Eliot Bank (36, West Orange)  was 6th overall and second in his age group, with a time of 39:15 (6:16/mile); Hamish Wright (40, Maplewood) ran the course in 39:32 (6:21/mile), coming in 8th overall and third in his age group; Paul Sinclair (37, Maplewood) was12th overall and third in his age group, at 40:27 (6:31/mile); he was followed 0.26 seconds later by David Mintz (54, South Orange), 13th overall and first in his age group.

SMRC head coach Bill Haskins (43, South Orange), himself an accomplished long distance runner, helped his runners prepare for the event and was on hand to provide advice and encouragement -- as well as supervision for some of the runners’ kids who came to watch.

Two weekends before this race, a South Mountain contingent turned out for the E. Murray Todd Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in Lincroft, NJ, and likewise posted strong results on the hilly course under cold and windy conditions. Patrick Love (57, Maplewood) won his 55-59 age group with a time of 1:28:55 (6:47/mile); John Kerner (40, South Orange)  was second in his age group at 1:21:43 (6:14/mile); Yair Greenbaum (39, Livingston) came in at 1:26:11 (6:35/mile); Ann Thoroman (44, Maplewood) set a personal record 1:38:57 (7:33/mile); and several other SMRC runners gave age-competitive performances at this event, which drew over 500 runners.

Full results from the Sneaker Factory 10K are posted here.

The E Murray Todd Half Marathon results are here.

Fanaticism Not Required

SMRC is an informal, friendly club that charges no dues and prides itself on its welcoming attitude toward runners of all levels of ability, and from all the local communities beyond just Maplewood and South Orange. The group is also increasing its volunteer activities:  members are involved in the Achilles Foundation -- an organization devoted to supporting athletes with disabilities, for example, by providing guide runners to blind athletes running marathons  -- and are planning to volunteer to help staff the Seth Boyden 5K Race and Fun Run in the Reservation on April 20.

The South Mountain Runners have a Saturday morning group run as well as track practice on Thursday evenings, in addition to smaller ad hoc groups early weekday mornings. For further information go here to learn about the Google Group that SMRC uses to coordinate its activities.