Born to Run 5 Miler - Freehold, NJ

Time - 37:09
Pace - 7:26
Runners - 659
Place - 97
Age Place - 10th
Heart Rate Average - 146
HR peak - 156

After a tough race on Thanksgiving, one that I ran very hard, I was looking forward to taking it easy at the 18th annual Born to Run 5 Miler in Freehold. This is a tough race for most people because it is the day after Thanksgiving and not many folks can get the day off or want to get up to run.

The good thing about this race it starts at 11am and is a laid back event. Number pick-up is at the Freehold firehouse and all of the runners are happy and talking about their Thanksgiving races and of course there is the race within the race.

I have only run this race a few times because I couldn't get the day off when I was working in the city. The Senator aka Ken Vercammen loves this race and for good reason. After the race, everyone is treated to free beer at the Court Jester right across the street. Ken is injured and cannot run but he has been biking to keep himself fit and also not go stir crazy. I usually pick him up for this race because he gets his fair share of free beer at the Jester. His plan was to bike to the race via route 522 so I was instructed to take the same route just in case his knee prevented him from making it all the way.

I caught up to him with 3 miles to the firehouse and he was good to finish so I went ahead. The weather was windy and raining so I give him a lot of credit for biking 18 miles in suspect conditions.

After picking up my race number and helping Ken post his Freezing Cold Hash signs, I headed to the car to keep warm.
My goal in this race was to go easy, someone where between 7:15' and 7:30 pace. Ken also reminded me that it was important that I head straight to the Court Jester after the race to hopefully place in the race within the race. I usually end up in the Court Jester, but never right after the race. I sprinted from the finish line across main street, dodging a few cars to the bar. When I entered I was greeted with loud applause for coming in 3rd behind Mike Dixon, who won the race as well and Steve Apostalauus of Wanamasa. Another guy came in right after me but immediately recognized as a loser as was serenaded as such. The first woman, Meg Foley of Grand Junction, arrived soon after me followed by Sharon Weldy from RVRR. One thing of note, you had to drink beer when you came into the bar otherwise you would be Dq'd. The beer was flowing very shortly after the arrival of the top 3. The two ladies behind the bar were pouring glasses of beer for about 45 minutes straight and the runners were drinking.

It is always a fun time after the Born to Run and when there is free beer involved no one complains.