Return to Lake Takanassee

During my college years and after, the races at Lake Takanassee were a weekly tradition for me. Most of the top runners at the Shore would gather by the small lake just off the ocean in Long Branch for a friendly, but very competitive 5-K (no T-shirts, trophies, or port-a-johns!) every Monday night through the summer. Four laps, no hills, no excuses!
Established in the late 1960's, it is the oldest continuous racing series in New Jersey. Back in the early 1980's local legends like Bill Sieben and Bill Scholl were winning the race regularly in sub 5:00 pace!
I ran my best 5-k there in my mid-20's (over 25 years ago!) with a 17:01, sandwiched between two other longtime Takanassee standouts, Hoyle Mozee and my former coach at Monmouth College, Bob Bazley.
Since moving out of the area, I hadn't run Takanassee in over 20 years before returning there for the season-opener this summer. Most of the faces had changed, and frankly, the race was smaller in number and not quite as competitive (I wasn't complaining!).
My last 5-k in Millburn was a 19:50, so I put "breaking 20 minutes' as my over-under for the race.
I found myself amongst the lead pack as we got off the line, and I guess that adrenaline pushed me through a 6:03 first mile. I felt within myself, and by this time, was with the "second pack" behind the leaders.
One familiar face in the race was Harry Nolan, one of the pre-eminint runners in New Jersey for decades, and still in great shape at 64! I passed him near the mile mark, and we traded places for the next mile, with no one else passing us. The second mile was slower (6:47), but I was still on pace for a credible finish as we passed two miles in 11:50.
Knowing Harry (a nationally-ranked Master's track runner) has great finishing speed, I tried one more surge on him with one lap to go. I created a little space, but he turned on his jets with about a half-lap remaining and passed me back, ultimately finishing sixth overall in 19:38. I was next, in seventh, in the exact same time as my last effort, a 19:50. I, of course, had to wait for the small medal awarded for winning the 50-59 division, and had a pleasant time catching up with Harry, Hoyle, John Kuhi, and John Skislak, all friends from my college days.
While this race shows my times have slowed as I've reached middle-age, I take comfort in still being around the leaders in a small race like this. Plus, it's always great having an opportunity to share memories with people you haven't seen in years. I had an hour's drive home, but cranked the Springsteen loud in the early-summer sunset up the Parkway. An enjoyable night, overall!

New Jersey - The Asthma State?

Here in New Jersey, Asthma became front page news with the hospitilization of Gov. Chris Christie for the breathing condition on July 28th.
According to the N.J. Dept. of Health and Senior Services, New Jersey has the highest rates of Asthma in the country, affecting 7% of all adults (about 511,000) and 9% of children (around 188,000). Nationally, about one in 12 people have asthma.
Asthma basically cuts off the body's oxygen intake, and can be triggered by many factors, including enviornment, allergies, and exercise. New Jersey's humid summers, cold winters, pollution, and pollen are the theories why the rate is higher here.
Asthma actually begins as a protective reaction for the lungs against irritants. The muscles in the lungs contract, swell, and form mucous. But as it becomes excessive, the airways becomes narrower and blocks breathing.
With chronic asthma, muscle tissue in the lungs become thicker, exasperating the problem. The sufferer has shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. The chest also tightens. Asthma accounts for about 500,000 hospitilizations every year in America, and over 3500 deaths.
Overweight people have a greater tendency to develop asthma, because of more inflammation in their lungs. Exercise can help open up the breathing passages, but it is recommended to always have an inhaler handy.

Freedom Tour 2011

While I enjoy competing, sometimes athletic events can be fun to attend as a spectator, as well. I had one such experience on July 24th, as I attended the annual Freedom Tour Bike Races in Stirling (N.J.).
I went to cheer on a friend, Dave Miller, as he competed in the two-lap (2.5 mile) Fireman's Race, which benefited the Burn Center at St. Barnabas Hospital. The race attracted over 125 firefighters, from as far away as Wilkes Barre, Pa.
Each firefighter had to compete in full gear, which weighs approximately 40 lbs. The race is short, which means it's pretty much an all-out sprint for the top competitors. Dave is a big guy, about 6-3 and 240, and without much fat. He also rides regularly, so he is in good biking shape.
While most of the firefighters did it for fun (there was even a two-man tandem), about a dozen, including Dave, were serious about the race.
As they came around on the first 1.2 mile loop, he was with a pack somewhere in the top six, riding along side two other racers.
By the time they came in for the second, and final, lap, Dave broke away from the other two, and finished a very respectable fourth.
There was also a pro race after, and various age-group races that preceded the Fireman's event. It was well-attended by local residents, and it was just a great small-town, summertime feel.
I found myself wishing I was out there, but enjoying the day as a "fan" as well. My racing bike got destroyed when it fell in back of my car while pulling out of the garage a few years ago. Now, I've been content in tooling around on my "hybrid" with my son, and leisurely partaking in the MS 25-mile bike tour every year. This certainly stoked my interest, though!