Health & Fitness
New 'Belmar Chase' Road Race on July 28!
The new Belmar Chase, a 5K road race, is set for July 28 at 8:30 a.m., with a Belmar Kids Chase the night before on the beach near Taylor Pavilion.
A new 5K road race, directed by an Olympian and making its debut on the first day of competition at the 2012 Olympic Games, will raise funds for local recreation departments.
The Belmar Chase 5K, (3.1 miles) on Saturday, July 28, will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Ocean Avenue in front of the Taylor Pavilion, with prizes awarded to both overall and age-group winners. The field will be limited to 5000 runners.
The night before, the Belmar Kids Chase will make its debut, with sprint races on the beach for children ages 5-14 and a free kids' dash for children ages 2-4. The races, from 20 meters to 250 meters according to age, will begin at 6 p.m. near the Taylor Pavilion.
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For more information or to register for the races, visit www.belmarchase.com
Both events will be directed by 2000 U.S. Olympian Rich Kenah, a New Jersey native who with his family has resided in Monmouth County for the past seven years.
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"I've seen the impact running can have on people of all ages and abilities," said Kenah, who as a child ran New Jersey road races with his father and went on to win a bronze medal in the 1997 IAAF World Championships before realizing his dream of becoming an Olympian. "The world's best get to compete for gold every four years, but almost anyone can go out and run a 5K. That's the message that I hope will resonate in this community."
In a special twist, the Belmar Chase will feature a "race before the race" with a Celebrity Chase. Mayors or their designees from local towns, along with other celebrities, will compete in a handicap race on the same course, just before the main event officially starts. With the slowest celebrities getting a pre-determined head start, the faster ones will try to chase them down. The first runner across the finish line wins $5000 for his or her town rec department.
Keep your eye out here for ways to support your favorite celebrity!
"Our town leaders pride themselves on their concern for the health and fitness of their constituents," said Kenah. "Now we're giving them a chance to lead by example."
