newjerseynewsroom.com

BY JERRY MILANI

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

It is known as “The Mile Square City,” the birthplace of Sinatra and baseball and the home of the first American Brewery. Yet this weekend in Long Branch, the city of Hoboken will be second only to its neighbor across the Hudson, New York City, in number of entrants in the New Jersey Marathon.

A whopping 285 people who call Hoboken home will venture by car and rail down for Sunday’s race, either the marathon or the half marathon, more than bigger cities like Jersey City, Newark or even Camden or Atlantic City. For those scoring at home, the completion of the marathon for those Hobokenites would be akin to 26 trips around the perimeter of the city, 26 times past the train depot or even Buddy’s Bakery.

But how did Hoboken end up with the second-most number of entrants? Is it a large number of transplants from other cities, a younger culture that works in New York or in Jersey City’s Financial District but exercises at home along the river? Or is it a desire to escape running on the concrete streets where parking can be a challenge to take to the calmer, more airy avenues and Boardwalks of The Shore? Maybe it’s a combination of all of those.

“Our runners, they do come from all over the state, but we do want to encourage more people to come down from Bergen and Hudson Counties and New York to experience our race and all we have to offer,” said Race Director Art Castellano. “That’s why we have set up the free trip down on New Jersey Transit, a chance for all to travel stress free and enjoy the ride with their fellow runners and friends who will line the route.” (New Jersey Transit is providing a free train ride down to Long Branch the morning of the race for all).

For a better look at why the Hobokeniites are heading south this weekend, we asked a few. Here are some of the responses:

“Two years ago I joined the Hoboken Harriers and was amazed by how welcoming and supportive they were to new runners,” said Laura Bennett, one of a large number of participants who are a part of Hoboken’s inclusive and encouraging running club. “I was prepared for the physical challenges of training, but was surprised by the mental/emotional challenges. Never thought I would have to run so much in the dark, or deal with the amount of ice around this winter. Pushing myself to run 10-plus miles in single-digit temperatures or over the GWB in sub-zero wind chills.”

“I’m 38 years old, married, father of two (Samantha – 3 ½ year old daughter, Riley 2 ½ year old son) who has lived in Hoboken for 13 years and worked in Hoboken for 5 years,” said Derek Barnes, one of many running for a charity.” I started running around February 2010 (after a 25 year hiatus) in order to prepare for a 10K trail run called the Leatherman Loop. My first lap around my block was less than one mile long and full of aches and pains, but I persisted until my knees, hips and ankles grew strong enough to allow me to progress. Then, I simply got carried away and decided to run the 2011 ING New York City Marathon. I’m happy to report that I finished the race in a respectable 3:30:07 and I raised over $12K for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.”

“I am 42 years old. I am a School Designer for NYC Outward Bound/ Expeditionary Learning. I am a former rugby player and I took up long distance running to stay in shape and to keep competing in one way or another,” said Jamie Rice. “I am running this weekend with a group of parents from my daughter's charter school (Learning Community Charter School) to raise money for the school.”

Nicole Spano, a lifelong Hoboken resident, took up running as a tribute to a relative. “My uncle, Richard Spano, was diagnosed with leukemia in October and I knew I wanted to do something for him, but had no clue as to what that could be,” she said “A friend and I were talking about how we wanted to increase our mileage and suggested the Long Branch half marathon. I was a bit hesitant to commit- but then she mentioned that I could run with the leukemia and lymphoma society's team in training. That was all I needed to hear! I was all in, despite my fears of running that length! I figured I would raise money for a great cause and probably walk the race if I had to. I have also raised $3000 for the cause and am so grateful for all of the generous donations I have received from friends family and strangers. I am lucky to have so much support around me. I couldn't have done this without it!”

“The money raised for charity and the connections made through the collective experience of running our race is what makes the work all worthwhile,” Castellano added. “The stories we constantly hear from people not just across our state but from around the world make this race special and keep it growing, and it is what makes us so proud of all the time that the communities along the race path and all our volunteers put in to make this race…New Jersey’s Marathon…the best that it can be.”