10th Annual Event Draws over 200 Runners

By Jack Kearns

LONG BRANCH, NJ — At 8:17 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, the air temperature at the oceanfront at Long Branch's Seven Presidents Park was a breezy 60 degrees, give or take a degree. A steady, strong breeze had flags and banners straight out at times, but far from a nor'easter. The Windmill Restaurant had open parking places near the door where several teenage boys, Long Branch Police Explorers, were talking to "Trick or Trot" Jersey Shore Running Club officials about the course layout and how they would be helping when the race got underway.

Patrolman Kevin Condon was with the five but he stopped to talk about how Explorers help police with traffic assistance for events like parades, races, and Halloween gatherings like the one at West End that same day. Explorers help youngsters to mature and become responsible adults, and maybe become a policeman or a policewoman in the future.

But Sunday was a race day; and jobs were being laid out for the "Trick or Trot".
Over 100 volunteers bring their support to every race event. The Synergy group of "singles" members from the area were joined by other volunteers to man tents, hand out water and juices for runners, and provide visitors' assistance.

Sponsors played an important part, too, providing the financial backing for prizes, T-shirts for the runners, refreshments, and the collection of other required supplies. The sponsors were Celtic Cottage Pub, Windmill Restaurants, and Super Foodtown of West End (all of Long Branch), and the Third Avenue Chocolate Shoppe in Spring Lake! The JRSC gratefully acknowledges their support. They are all great places to patronize, and good race supporters.

The Jersey Shore Running Club sponsors the Trick or Trot around Halloween each year. Registration tables setup in the Windmill were covered with entry forms and news flyers of future events JSRC and other clubs will be sponsoring. Lou Malizioso, the race Director, Peggy Hinck and other JSRC members were readying for the 200 to 300 expected participants. Runners of all ages, including many little runners in age groups 4 to 12. The difference today was it was a Halloween celebration too, and costumed contestants would run in full regalia. The club expected witches, bats, ghosts or any other appropriate monster of the season. As it turned out, an even wider range of fun seeking costumers arrived to add spirit (sorry, I had to say it) to the festivities.

The kids' races started at 10:30, with the four year olds racing about the distance of two good Frisbee tosses. The five year olds did 4 1/2 Frisbee tosses, and so on up to age 12. Monsters (minor sized of course) contested along with a flamingo, a turtle, Batman, a most charming Cupid with a heart pointed bow, all kinds of masked men, and the list goes on. The one-mile race for the 12 year olds was the highlight of the kid portion of the program, but it is fair to say all the kids poured their hearts out to win, and there was a prize for every entrant.

But the more serious race began at 11:00 a.m. Then, more mature rivals for racing glory stepped up to the START line, costumes and all. There was a black cat, her age we can't say, eyeing three blind mice. A jester pranced back and forth waiting to be noticed for the bright leotards and his medieval "jestering". There was a Maine Lobster in a lobster trap, and angels and devils who co-existed staring at each other only on occasion. The official STARTER and FINISHER was Jack Cheer who "Veeps" for the JSRC. He was bedecked in a bright pumpkin-shaped coverall visible from afar so all could tell where this FINISH line was. And escorting Jack, AKA Mr. Pumpkin, was a giant hot dog that had escaped from the Windmill that hosted the runners' registration desk.

Walking from the Seven Presidents parking lot, kids were scooting ahead of the parents escorting them, anxious to "let the fun begin". Some parents and also runners were talking about the weather being good for the race, sixty, no strong sun, cool breeze, that wasn't as strong at 8:30 as it later became. In short it began as a great race weather day. If the rain would hold off. It did!

The breeze was in the racers' faces on the trip "out" in the 4-mile event. The boardwalk along Long Branch's shore was the course. The runners lined up in front of the Windmill as Dawn Ciccone of Highlands, one of the runners, sang the national anthem in wonderfully clear voice, accompanied by the reverent quiet of the crowd. Phil Hinck gave final cautions about the course layout and the race began. Runners, walkers, racewalkers and folks who just wanted to walk were on their way.

An hour or so later, contestants were rewarded with medals and pumpkins, and gifts of all kinds. For some their race timing was important, the challenge was the clock. For others the challenge was just doing it. Just being a part of it. For the kids it was a happy, happy day. In fact three hundred people at Seven Presidents Park on Sunday shared the feeling.

Oh yes, Eric Saraiva from Middletown, a Monmouth University Freshman was first for the men at 22.27. And an exciting runner, 12-year-old Briana Jackucewcz from Farmingdale was the women's winner at 23.06. Great job Briana and Eric! We will definitely see more of them. Second and third for the men were Daniel Grieshaber from Jefferson Township at 22.55 and Shane Hart from Point Pleasant Beach at 23.06. Women's second was Jessica Thomas of Somerset, 24.24, and third Erin Donaghy from Robbinsville at 26.31

Other finishers of the 4 mile challenge:

Rumson: Tom Coyle 29:56, Carol Irwin 31:43, D. Burke 37:28, Adrienne Ley 40:10, Ken Gahre 43:00, Kevin Gahre 55:42.

Red Bank: Mary Beth Glaccum 29:19, Jim Mergel 32:29, Tom Natoli 34:39, Virginia Lennon 34:45, Mark Bizub 35:55, Dan Rapella 35:58, Kristin Gaul 40:04, Rosanna Vescio 46:50, Madeline Bizub 49;20, Louise Barajona 1:07:51.

Middletown: John O'Connor 26:57, Regna Macla 28:34, John Stahl 28:37, William Crooks 28:51, Andrew MacLane 28:52, Elliot Olshwans 29:18, Patricia Andersen 29:49, Gil Eckert 32:15, John Marron 32:31, Kerry Lukcic 33:16, Heather Bushner 33:59, Lauren Kaiser 34:07, Kristin Oberg 36:03, Joanne Girard 1:07:52, Kelly Ann Keely 1:07:53.

Others: Tim McLoone 28:26, Little Silver; Stephen Andrews 29:21, Atl. Highlands; Dawn Ciccone 29;26, Highlands; Vivian Smith 30:11 and Kim Mazella 31:36, Oceanport; Michelle German 32:58, Monmouth Beach; Stephen Noglows 33:17, Fair Haven; Steve Rice 34:29, Monmouith Beach; Bruce Hanson 35:00, Little Silver; Melanie Armstrong 35:01, Atl. Highlands; Janice Rudow 35:03, Little Silver; Kevin Kubic 35:07, Oceanport; Mary Fox 35:08, Little Silver; Randi Cohen 35:16 and Rich Bayeer 36:00, Fair Haven; Dorian Kershner 36:36, Atl. Highlands; Kristen Padovano 39:26, Fair Haven.

Racers have the Hashathon 6 Mile Trail Race coming up at Cheesequake State Park on November 9 at 10:30 a.m., info call 732-528-0132. On November 16 is the Navesink Challenge 15K and 5K in Middletown at 9 a.m., info call 732-542-6090. Down the road is the Manasquan Turkey Trot, a 5 miler, on November 22 at 10 a.m., info call 732-223-9738.