BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TENAFLY, N.J. —— Thirty-six runners were among the approximately 50 folks who braved winds, wet trails and cool temperatures Sun. Nov. 19 to participate in the first annual 5K Turkey Trot and Fun Run at Tenafly Nature Center.
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“It was an opportunity to get people out to go for a run and try trail running for the first time,” said Alex Braunstein, a Nature Center environmental educator and public programs coordinator. Due to slippery conditions, Braunstein said the children’s fun run was cancelled.
The male and female winners were Demitri Grigoryev, 21, of Fort Lee who finished in 18:05 and Veronica Rocco, 20, of Tenafly, who finished in 21:42.
The youngest finisher who took third place was Jaden Uram, 13, of Tenafly at 25:11 and the oldest finisher, Edwin Hudson of Nyack, N.Y., 65, finished 19th, ahead of his 12-year-old son, Farrell, who finished one second behind, Braunstein said.
He said there are 12 trails at the Nature Center that traverse seven miles of forests and woodlands for runners and hikers. “We want to get more people up here using the trails, enjoying the Nature Center and grounds. Our trails are nice and easy,” Braunstein said.
He said running Nature Center trails are “more of an adventure” than regular running routes such as a circular track and offer more “[than] just looking at houses and lamp posts.”
He noted running or walking trails at the Nature Center can help burn off calories from large holiday meals and desserts.
Braunstein said the event raised approximately $750 for the center’s environmental education programs and will be repeated next year. Tenafly Nature Center is a not-for-profit, member-supported nature preserve that comprises 400 acres of forest land and wetlands “to protect, improve, restore and sustain it as wildlife habitat,” states its website.
Established in 1961, the Center offers a variety of conservation, education and recreation programs.
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Photos by Murray Bass
