Summertime Pizza Part 6

It has taken the Westfield Downtown 5K and Pizza Extravaganza only five years to go from an interesting fund raising idea that promoted health to the state’s top attended non-corporate road race, a fact that even surprises the normally ebullient Sherry Cronin, Executive Director of the Downtown Westfield Corporation (DWC).

“Six years running and the pizza's still hot. The event just keeps getting
better,” said Cronin.

After four years of steady growth the race exploded in its fifth rendition to include a record 1525 finishers, a nearly 20% increase over 2005.

The race 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 five years.

“This event is successful because it is a healthy event on a fast and relatively flat course which allows runners at all experience levels to achieve their best race results. It also involves many people in the community: businesses, volunteers, organizations, and Town of Westfield departments,” said Cronin.

The event 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.

Needless to say, the race has been a tremendous boon to both Westfield and the DWC.
“The race is designed to profile Westfield, not only the downtown but also the
beautiful residential areas. It has also yielded a great benefit to the DWC
in building goodwill and awareness with our residents,” said Cronin

The event enjoys a wide and varied sponsorship list that is paced by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield that has returned once again to be a Gold Sponsor. Cronin is also pleased that over 75% of the sponsors are located Westfield’s Special Improvement District (the district which is managed by the Downtown Westfield Corporation). Bronze sponsors include: Lucky Brand Jeans,Verizon Fios, Lord and Taylor, Citibank, and Westfield Pediatric Dental Group and Rockn' Joes Coffeehouse and Bistro .

Contributing sponsors include: Rita's of Westfield, Needle Point Homes,
Qdoba Mexican Grill, The Town Bank, North Fork Bank, and Center for
Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Perla, and Stop and Shop. Supporting
sponsors include: Amper, Politniner and Mattia, Redco Engineering and

Construction, and J. Mark Albertson, DMD. Cronin also expects many local businesses to provide many giveaways and promotional items at the event.

In order to encourage more participation from local businesses in the
district, the DWC offered 15% discount on all sponsorship levels. The race is also going back to cotton shirts this year.

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 owner Gene Mitchell of Franklin Lakes in Bergen County has won three the last three men’s titles and is the course record holder. Mitchell had also finished second in 2002 and 2003.

Fourth 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 for the second straight year 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.

For the sixth straight year the race production will be handled by Mark Zenobia, of On Your Mark Productions,” He does a terrific job ,” said Cronin.

The first 600 registered runners will receive embroidered caps and the first 1800 get T-shirts 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