ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—On Aug. 4, Flat Rock Brook Nature Association held its 8th Annual 5K trail run.
Aptly named, “Run in the Wild,” the course followed the shaded forest trails of the 150-acre preserve and it is scenically magnificent.
Setting the festive scene, popular DJ/Emcee Scott Reddin was back once again. As the runners arrived beginning 8 a.m., they each received a commemorative tee shirt as well as fruit, energy bars and bottles of water donated by Whole Foods, Inserra Shop Rite and Trader Joe’s.
The “Run n the Wild” started from the Nature Center’s visitor center at 443 Van Nostrand Ave. in Englewood where 140 runners assembled at the starting line, pumped and ready for action.
Participants came from all around the region, and as far away as Boston.
At 9 a.m., Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes, this year’s official race starter, greeted everyone with a jubilant welcome.
Twenty-one minutes later, the first place racers began ambling through the last leg of the woods and up to the finish line to a hearty round of applause.
Medals were awarded for the first three male and first three female finishers in various age categories.
The first place male runner was Andres Dutan with a time of 21 minutes, 26.2 seconds. The first place female runner was Tanya
Marion with a time of 25 minutes, 7.1 seconds and the first place youth runner (and sixth overall) was Daniel Phillips with a time of 21 minutes, 43.4 seconds.
Dutan said that this was his first time racing in Run in the Wild and he found the course very challenging.
“Besides the rocks and tree stumps, the ground was wet from last night’s rain. But, I enjoyed this course very much and I will definitely be back next year,” Dutan said.
Marion, a seasoned runner from Oakland, previously won first place in Run in the Wild two years ago. This year, she enjoyed running with her boyfriend Michael Kerr, who placed 11th overall.
“In 2017, we decided to do a race every weekend for 18 months and then we took a break. We came back to Run in the Wild this year because it is a great race to prepare us for the New York City Marathon in November,” Marion said.
After the racers received their medals, at 10:30 a.m., there was a 1-mile Family Walk in which 25 children and adults participated. The Flat Rock Brook trails provided an opportunity for people of all ages, from 3 year olds to seniors, to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. Young participants in the 1-mile Family Walk received a souvenir animal plush.
Following the Family Walk, there was a Birds of Prey program led by Flat Rock Brook naturalist Sienna Stuki. She fascinated children as well as adults as she presented a hawk a great horned owl, a screech owl and a kestrel (a small falcon).
The 5K run is sanctioned by the USA Track and Field Association, and scoring was provided by Best Racing Systems. Proceeds from the run and walk will support Flat Rock Brook Nature Center.
Attesting to the wide support of Flat Rock Brook, there were many event sponsors including Benzel Busch, Age Friendly Englewood, Bank of America, NVE Bank, Lakeland Bank, PDQ Print and Copy, MQS company LLC and Whole Foods.
In addition, there were individual and family sponsors: Jill Abbott and John Blakely, Susan and Neal Klausner, Michael and Jane Murphy, Scott Reddin, Kathy Silberstein, Lisa and Burton Wisotsky and Phil Ball.
Stephen Wiessner, director of the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center was delighted at the event’s impressive turnout and sponsor support.
“Flat Rock Brook is thrilled to present our 8th Annual 5K Run in the Wild for everyone who wants to enjoy a fun and challenging run in the picturesque backdrop of our beautiful nature center trails. This event helps showcase our unique program offerings to Bergen County residents and beyond.”