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BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
HAWORTH, N.J.—Nearly 1,000 people including hundreds of runners, racing enthusiasts and spectators, enjoyed a sunny Saturday in Haworth Sept. 29 at the ninth annual 5K Run/Walk, which featured a first-ever “Color Burst” 1-mile fun run.
Eleven-year-old Haworth resident Ivan Timochko finished sixth overall with a time under 20 minutes and four other Haworth residents finished in the top 20. These included Jason Timochko, Ivan’s dad, who finished 12th, along with Jeremy Zirin (13th), Douglas Szukis (16th), and John Buckley (18th).
The top male finisher was Justin Jenkins of Ridgewood and top female finisher was Meggie Sullivan of Englewood.
During the 1-mile Color Burst race, held after the 5K, participants were doused with multi-colored non-toxic paints to create wild T-shirts of rainbow colors.
Race Director Dr. Jeff Pavell said in nine years the annual race has raised $250,000 to be donated to local and area charities, including nonprofits, the home and school association, public library, fire and rescue squads, and organizations such as Hearts For Hope, a pediatric camp for children with heart disease.
“The main goal of both races is to get adults and kids involved in running and physical fitness. Our [5K Race] motto is ‘Running for good,’ which means that most of the [race] fees go to charity and that if adults and kids participate and run or walk in the races, they will possibly keep jogging and running,” said Pavell.
He said every year “more and more runners” are entering the 5K race, including more than 350 competitors this year.
“For anyone who doesn’t have any kinds of [health] issues, we promote walking or running. As they say ‘Sitting is the new smoking,’” said Pavell, who has a private sports medicine practice in Englewood and serves as chief of rehabilitation medicine at Englewood Health.
Mayor John Smart, also a runner who finished in slightly over 27 minutes, said it was “a beautiful day with a better turnout than expected. But most important, this race has raised a lot of money to contribute to a variety of charitable organizations in and around Haworth.”
He said the race has become “a great part of our town’s personality and associated with outdoor recreation” locally.
The mayor said the new Color Burst race was much enjoyed and Pavell noted the new color-splashed race “was a 1-mile race, really for kids, but kids of all ages.”
Pavell said he plans to continue the fun color-filled race next year and open it to more participants. He said a shortage of ingredients for the colorful sprays limited the number of participants this year but next year, more colorful “bursts” will be ready at race time.
Photos by Murray Bass