The third annual Asbury Park Half Marathon was held on Saturday April 16, 2011. All week prior to the race, the weather reports indicated very threatening weather with thunderstorms, rain and wind. Well the thunderstorms and rain held off but the wind persisted. So as they say “two out of three ain’t bad”. The wind was mainly from the east but with a northerly element it had some runners re thinking their race strategy.
The race started and finished on the south side of Asbury Park’s Convention Hall and made its way south along the boardwalks of neighboring towns of Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach, Avon, Belmar, Spring Lake and Sea Girt.
The race features a selection of two courses – a three loop out and back course and a one loop out and back course. But with the wind some runners decided that it would be better to fight the winds iin three chunks rather than all at once. So they opted for the three loop course. That was the case for women’s winner Jersey Shore Running Club’s Karen Charles of Wall who did the three loop course to Avon and back and finished in a time of 1:30:57. She was followed by Stacy Meitzler of Milan, Pa in a time of 1:33:59 and then Maggie Goussman of Bradley Beach in 1:36:08.
For the men it was Ocean Running Club’s Jonathan Castro of Toms River who opted for the one loop out and back course which turned around in Sea Girt in a time of 1:21:19. He was followed by George Linsky of Shillington Pa in 1:22:13 and Keith Lex of Hamilton, NJ in 1:25:25.
After the race runners were treated to a buffet of Pasta, Salad and Sub Sandwiches donated by Jersey Mikes as well as an open Beer Garden inside Convention Hall. It was refreshing for the runners to get out of the cold and windy weather inside for the giant post-race party.
Awards were then presented to the top finishers as well as the age group winners.
An expo with many vendors displaying was also held inside the hall.
The race was part of RunAPAlooza a fund raiser for Special Olympics New Jersey and was staged by the Jersey Shore Running Club.
It was also one of the featured events of the Tri-State Interclub challenge Series of races hosted by NYC Runs which covers metropolitan area.
Coming up for runners are:
Saturday, April 23, 5K, 11 AM, also 2 mile walk and Kids races, Celtic Tribute, Web Site, Long Branch, NJ, Register On Line
Saturday, April 30, 5K,10 AM, Lake Como 5K, Lake Como, NJ Info and Register
Sunday, May 1, XTERRA Jersey Devil Tri, Wells Mills Park,
Sunday, May 1, 10 AM, Colt 5k Trail Run, Lincroft, NJ
Sunday, May 8, Rumson - Fair Haven Run, Rumson, NJ Register On Line
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