Summer Pizza Part 5

The numbers do not lie. There is a middle of the summer phenomena in Westfield. In just its fifth year the Westfield Downtown 5K and Pizza Extravaganza has established a reputation and turnout that is the envy of many older and more established races. The event, which starts at 7 pm Wednesday at the corner of East Broad and Elm Streets, has shown phenomenal growth in its first four years, and is one of the top five overall races in New Jersey for attendance, ranking only behind the Flemington 5K among short distance races.
The race is organized by the Downtown Westfield Corporation(DWC) and was the brainchild of Alan DeRose, an avid runner and former Chairman of the DWC
and Meg Mehorter, a former Executive Assistant.
“They are both runners and wanted to create a health related event that would
promote our vibrant downtown as well.as our beautiful residential areas,”
said Sherry Cronin, Executive Director.
“It helps the DWC because it provides exposure of our business community, which is the goal of the DWC. “
After nearly a thousand finishers the first year, the race has continued to grow and had an impressive 1326 finishers last year. That total was held down by dangerous heat which prompted all sorts of precautionary measures.
With the heat index hovering near a dangerous 110 degrees much of the day, the organizers were prepared to make the race a fun run if the heat index was over 100 by race time. They also checked Doppler radar every ten minutes for the Fire Department in order to gauge the path of oncoming storms. Fire truck hoses were brought onto the course with hoses stationed near the finish line if necessary.
Amazingly enough, 33 more finished the race than the year before and with decent weather the number would have likely exceeded 1600. Many registrants were unable to get to the starting line and the race day signup, which was over 400 in 2004, was more subdued.
“We think that we can get 1800 runners with favorable conditions ,” predicted Cronin, who attributes numerous reasons for the runaway success.
“People love Westfield and this race is different that many others. It is a
night race which the runners respond very well to. It brings people
downtown on a night which is less busy than other summer nights,” noted Cronin..
“In the past, it was 43% attended by residents of Westfield and the five surrounding towns. So it proves that this race has a far reach beyond the neighboring community. “
After a packed start on the main streets, the course winds its way through Mindowaskin Park before heading down Tuttle Parkway past Roosevelt School The course heads down Edgewood Avenue and the two Mile mark is on Effingham Place. The last mile is an uphill straightaway down Elm Street
However, the end of the race only signals the beginning of an entertaining and pallet satisfying evening. There will be a DJ and live music by the Michael Craig Band and lots and lots of pizza. It will be a team effort of the downtown pizzerias and restaurants.
Westfield’s top running store, The Westfield Running Company has made its mark in many aspects of the race. The co-owners, Gene and Amanda Mitchell of Franklin Lakes in Bergen County are the respective men’s and women’s record holders and have won two men’s and two women’s titles respectively. They opened their seventh store in Westfield the day of the 2003 race. Gene Mitchell had finished second in 2002 and 2003 but has won the past two years.
Runnerup last year was another Running Company member, Brian Harris of Clinton, who manages the Westfield store and should be among the leaders again this year.
“We recognize the importance of this race,” said Harris.
“Westfield is a very good running town and this is one of the most successful races around.”
Harris recently won the Cranford Firecracker Four Mile on July 4 and would not think of missing this race.
“This is a pretty easy race for me to enter. There is no other race closer to where I work,” said Harris.
“Our store is strategically located neat the beginning and end of the course, so it gives us the opportunity to meet with and help runners before and after the race,” added Harris.of the store, located at 17 Elm Street. Another new sponsor this year is Overlook Hospital of Summit.
For the fifth sraight year the race production will be handled by Mark Zenobia, of On Your Mark Productions,” He does a terrific job ,” said Cronin who also mentioned the Westfield Jaycees who provides many volunteers for distributing pizzas. In addition, volunteers from the Downtown Westfield Corporation, the Westfield Y, and the Girl Scouts also assist. Businesses also support the event by sponsoring the event and providing promotional items for the runner’s bags
The first 600 registered runners will receive embroidered caps and the first 1500 get T-shirts, which use a dri-fit technology which retails for over $20.
The pre-registration fee is $20 and is $25 the day of the race. In addition, runners will have plenty of pizza to eat-no matter how long the race takes them.