FARC celebrating 25 years of Summer 5K Race Series
Series begins tonight at Battlefield Park
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

In the summer of 1983, a new club, the Freehold Area Running Club (FARC), was in its infancy.

Summer was approaching, meaning the runners would soon have a lot of time on their hands. So, they put their heads together and thus began the Summer Race Series at the Battlefield State Park in Manalapan.

"We wanted to do some running in the summer," recalled Avram Shapiro, a club member.

John Jennings, the first vice president of FARC remember, was there from the ground floor 25 years ago.

"It grew out of a race Freehold Township Recreation had," said Jennings. "We [FARC] got together and thought it would be great to have a summer series."

That brought up the question, where to have it?

"The [Battlefield] state park looked like a great place to go," said Jennings, who was the race director of the event that first year. "Hal Smith [club member] was a part-time ranger there."

That took care of the venue. Next was setting the night. In Lake Takanassee in West Long Branch, the first summer series of its kind was well-established since 1964 on Monday evenings. So, the club opted for Wednesday night, and a running tradition was born.

"We've seen families grow up together at the races," said Jennings.

The Freehold Area Running Club begins celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Summer 5K Series tonight at the Battlefield State Park, when the 2007 series begins. Crown Beer Distributors is the sponsor.

"We've had some ups and downs," noted Jennings. "We've found out over the years that the 20-29 age group is the smallest. The 50-plus are still racing."

He credits the inclusion of kids' races with getting more and more families involved and introducing youngsters to the sport. The highlight is the 100-yard uphill charge.

One of the things that had kept the series thriving, according to Jennings, is that the club has never gotten away from the idea that racing should be fun. It doesn't take long for runners and racewalkers to realize the health benefits as well as the camaraderie that goes with racing. What keeps them coming back is the way the club makes the races fun for everyone.

The series has been perfect for up-and-coming high school runners to train for the upcoming scholastic cross country season, or for college runners home for the summer, to stay sharp for their approaching harrier campaigns. For others, it's a good way to get a training run in with friends, and for others it's simply fun.

One way the club has kept the racing fresh and exciting has been offering unique events. One is the staggered start, held on the last night of the series. Runners go off at different times, based on their best time during the summer, against the runner with the fastest time. If a runner runs 20:00 for the 5K and the season's best time was 16:30, the runner would start 3:30 ahead of that runner.

"Theoretically, everyone should be tied," noted Jennings.

There's also been predicted time races where runners put down the time they will run and then race with no clock on the course or watches. They've had team relay races and team races as well.

The 5K will start at 6:45 p.m. and is preceded by the Half-Mile (6:25) and Mile Fun Runs (6:30). The Kids Summer Nights Running Series, sponsored by Pauline's Health Food Stores, starts at 6 p.m. and consists of a 25-yard Toddler Trot (18 months to 3 years old), 50-yard dash (age 4 and up) and the Monmouth Battlefield 100-Yard Charge (age 5 and up).

This year's series will run through Aug. 8 (no race on July Fourth). On July 18, all participants will receive a commemorative 25-year Summer Series T-shirt.

For more information on the Summer 5K Race Series, log on to www.farcnj.com or, call (732) 431-2627.