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More than 400 Runners Turn Out for 15th Annual Berkeley Heights 5K
Sunday, September 18, 2011 • 3:56pm
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - When 70-year-old Jack Gray of Basking Ridge started running again 10 years ago after a long absence, the first race he ran was the Berkeley Heights 5K.
“And I’ve run it every year since,” Gray said, just before accepting his trophy as third place in the 70-79 age group at Sunday’s 15th annual race. “I run a lot of 5Ks, but I never miss this one.”
Gray came in 175th out of about 400 runners, which pleased him.
“The older you get, the smaller your category gets,” he joked. “But when I cross that finish line and look back and see how many people younger than me are behind me, that makes me feel pretty good.”
The race, held at Memorial Field, drew runners from all age groups, from teenagers to over 80. The weather was cool and sunny, and the atmosphere was festive and, as race organizer Dr. Pat Smith noted, very patriotic. Red, white and blue helium balloons danced in the breeze, and men in uniform, from the local police and fire departments though the VFW, chatted with attendees.
“We wanted to keep it patriotic this year, in honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11,” Smith said. “For a lot of people, this was the first thing they did after 9/11, and we wanted to commemorate that.”
Race proceeds went toward local and area veterans organizations. Smith presented $1,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life; $1,000 to the local VFW, and $1,250 to the Berkeley Heights Fire Company.
“This year’s race put us over the $100,000 mark in funds raised since we started,” Smith told The Alternative Press.
The Red Cross hosted a blood drive during the event, and all who gave blood were entered to win a donated flat-screen television.
In addition to the race, which included runners and walkers and a few of the smallest residents in strollers, kids participated in a Fun Run across the soccer field.
First place overall went to Rufino Mendez of Elizabeth, who finished in 17:02. Mendez said he runs 5Ks as often as he can and while he’s pleased with the time he made in Sunday’s race, his best time is still 16:30.
Jane Albright of Basking Ridge was the fastest woman, coming in at 19:07.
“I’ve done this course before in the summer,” she said. “It was nice to do it today when it’s cooler. It’s a great race.”
Non-runners and families enjoyed the fun by participating in a 1.5-mile fitness walk, which wound through sections of the tree-lined residential 5K course.
For a complete list of winners, visit http://www.berkeleyheights5k.com.
The Berkeley Heights "Run for the Health of It!" Charity Road Race and Fitness Walk was established in 1996 to help lend support to non-profit organizations. Since its inception, the event has assisted more than 30 charitable organizations. It is sanctioned by the USA Track and Field Association and is a 500-point race in the New Balance New Jersey Grand Prix Series.
