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!