Lake Takanassee Races 2016

    Each summer brings me back to the Lake Takanassee Races in Long Branch on Monday nights. Four laps around, approximately eight-tenths of a mile each. Flat and fast, mile and two-mile splits, plus the clock at the conclusion of each lap.
    Having run it at least once each summer over the past 35 years or so, I seem to know each step.
Fast start, try to get a good first mile split.....Incline near Ocean Avenue on the far side, sharp turn around the bridge.....hold pace till the two-mile mark...give everything you have over that last half-mile.
    My best time, about 30 years ago, was a 17:01, running in lockstep with former Shore-area stars Hoyle Mozee and Bob Bazley. Back then, a time like that only got you about 20th place. Now, it would win it, easily, just about every week.
    I ran "The Lake" twice this summer, clocking a 21:37 on opening night in late June, and a 21:47 this past Monday. Pacing with someone helps, and in the first week, I had two other well-known  veteran "legends" to do so: Bill Scholl and Harry Nolan, still running strong in their 60's.
    This Monday, I randomly got alongside the women's leader for two laps, in which we helped each through 5:01 and 10:30 lap splits. My first mile was between 6:35 and 6:45 both weeks, and I lagged a little bit in the second mile  (running alone by this point), before leveling off in the final lap.
    The crowd is smaller than the 1980's heyday, but it still can be competitive. Each week, there are high school teams that run en masse to prep themselves for the upcoming cross-country season. A few weeks back it was Ocean Twp., and last week, Asbury Park, The high school kids either blast out fast and fade, or hang back in a pack and blow by you in the last lap.
     I ran into Tony Giordano, who guided many championship teams at Asbury Park back when I was a sportswriter for the Asbury Park Press. I always admired the way he handled the kids on his team, with class and respect, which was returned to him. He stays in touch with a lot of his athletes through Facebook, and I'm sure their experience on the track team under his tutelage has helped them through adulthood.
    As always, there is a good sized crowd for the Kid's 1500-meter race proceeding the 5-K, and it's interesting to see the different methods the fathers use to encourage or cajole the kids through it. Hopefully, most of the young people will grow up to enjoy the sport through their life!