First thing's first: this is a Thanksgiving day race. It's a great way to start the holiday…read moreconsidering how much you'll be eating afterwards. If you drank a little too much the night before, that's okay. Because the 8k starts at 9:00, not 8:15. The "Ridger Romp," a 1 mile run, starts at 8:15 so don't make the same mistake as me and get there earlier than necessary for the 8k. Packet pick up starts at 7 AM on the day of the race or you can pick it up the night before from 5-8 at the high school. I've now run this race twice (2011 and 2013) and both experiences were positive. For $30 (2013 price), you get a long sleeve technical tee and the volunteers hook you up with food and drinks before and after the race. Just for example: Bloomfield's Best Bagels, Dunkin' Donuts, bananas, PowerBars, NutriGrain bars, OJ, coffee, water, and hot chocolate. As for the course, it's not super flat nor free of inclines. The last hill around 4.5 miles going back up to Ridgewood Ave. is a bitch! But by that point you're only about .47 miles from the finish line. There are 2 water stations throughout the course and plenty of supporters along the way. Once you're done, there are massage tables set up inside the school gym, but I'm not sure whether those are included in the $30 entry free. My guess is they're not otherwise the line would be out the door. As for parking, I arrived around 7:15 on the day of the race and couldn't get a parking spot in the school lot so you'll likely have to rely on street parking.

I had a great time. It was well organized. The run was nice. At the end was a hill I did not…read moreexpect but oh well. Food and drinks were served after the race. Overall a nice time. Luckily the rain held out.

I didn't run but had a great time volunteering! Rain and all! Chris and Karen, bravo! on organizing…read morethis wonderful event!

Well run day camp operated by the West Essex YMCA…read more The staff is excellent and lead by Joanne Browne -- a fantastic director. My daughter has attended for 2 summers and loves her time at Pioneer Trails. Archery, tennis, crafts, swimming daily, talent show, science, nature, computers, outdoor games and competitions, indoor facilities for those super hot days, field trips, pizza lunch fridays. All around great time. Wonderful also is how the groups get to know each other.

Wow! I loved the Muddy Marathon! I ran the quarter marathon (6.55 miles) I've participated in…read moresimilar trailing races, but this is my far one of my favorites. My first time running the race and it was amazing. I must admit, it was quite difficult with all the inclines (over 1600 of elevation gain and loss), rock climbing, and what seems to be an endless trails of mud (knee high) and swamps, but that made me love the race even more....the challenge. As on their website states, "The best time you ever had running so slow." - right on the money. Don't worry you can rinse of all the mud with the hose provided. Here's more to love about the race: * A nice techinical shirt * A sweet commemorative pint glass for post drink refreshment, BEER! supplied by Cricket Hill Brewery.. * Texas Smokehouse BBQ food (pulled pork), salad, peanut butter sandwiches, bananas, watermelon, oranges, pretzels, Hammer Nutrition...basically you'll be happy and full at the end of the race. * A medal that's a bottle opener?! Yup! No..typo there. One thing I wishd they had more of was water stations. They only had one at 3.25 miles so be prepared or you carry your own. Q:Will I be back next year? A:Hell yeah! I can't wait that I might sign up another race run by NJ Trail Series. Thank you Jen & Rick McNulty!

It's a fun no-thrill running event. I did one of the half marathons over hiking trail terrain in…read moreDecember. It was a very technical course.

I'm a spartan race addict so my opinion will be quite bias. As with all Spartan races this Spartan…read moreSuper is race is a test for both your body and your mind. This Super race took place at Mountain Creek ski resort which features the largest mountain in NJ-Vernon Peak. As you would expect the terrain is very mountainous with steep inclines and deep valleys. Super races are typically 8-10 miles long and consist of 25+ obstacles such as the dunk wall, weighted bucket carry, atlas ball carry, rope climb and more. The various obstacles take place on the mountain with a 1,040' vertical peak, with a base of 440 feet and a summit elevation of 1,480 feet. Your thighs, calves...and your whole body will be feeling it. The course will not have mercy on you and neither will the weather. We ran the course as the NE was getting hit with a Nor'easter. For safety reasons they eventually shortened the course as racers were experiencing injuries and hypothermia. Luckily, my team was able to complete the course without injury. In addition to the incredible views while climbing the mountain top..your reward for completing the challenge is the ultimate feeling of accomplishment! Not to mention, you get a finisher's medal, finisher's tee, headband, free post race refreshments (protein bars, bananas, fit aid recovery drinks) and one free beer. I am looking forward to my next race #aroo!!!

I'm a fan mostly because this was my first half marathon and the course is very flat. I can't…read morerecall a single hill. Other reasons I'm a fan: - Parking was no problem. The organizers cap the race at 1500 runners, but only about 225 people ran it. Most of us parked in the park's parking lot. Wow. That's a lot of parks in one sentence. - There's plenty of hydration stations. The race advertised that there would be 5, but there were more than that. - There was plenty of food after the race and they didn't run out. Some negatives: - The $70 entry fee is kind of steep, but you get a long sleeve technical tee and the rest I'm sure goes to a good cause. - It's an open course so you have to stay to the right and run with traffic, which is the exact opposite of what most runners are trained to do. Either way, there were plenty of staff and police controlling traffic at the intersections so I felt safe most of the time. Will I run it again? Probably. Just because it's so flat.

A Heartfelt Recommendation for Priyam Events…read more If you're planning a Rangapravesha or Arangetram and are looking for someone to bring your vision to life, I wholeheartedly recommend Priyam Events, spearheaded by Manju Bhargava. I first reached out to Manju nearly a year before my daughter's Rangapravesha. We had a brief but pleasant conversation, and she immediately understood the kind of stage aesthetic I was looking for. Life got busy, and we didn't reconnect for several months. Then, out of the blue, she sent me a simple, polite follow-up message asking if I was still interested. Something about that thoughtful check-in stayed with me, and we picked up right where we had left off. We used Priyam services only for stage decoration . I gave her a high-level vision for the stage, and about two weeks before the event, we spent nearly an hour and a half discussing every detail. I had a few décor pieces of my own that I wanted to incorporate, and Manju took the time to understand exactly what I was bringing. She carefully designed the stage so that everything blended beautifully, with nothing looking out of place. She also made time for a site visit, patiently walking through the auditorium with me, studying the stage, lighting, and overall setup. On the rehearsal day, her team arrived well ahead of schedule with everything they needed. They quietly waited while our rehearsal was in progress, never interrupting, and once the stage was available, they worked efficiently until everything was complete. The next morning, when I walked into the auditorium at 10 a.m., the stage was ready. It was absolutely breathtaking. It wasn't just beautiful--it was exactly what I had envisioned. Every detail reflected our discussions, and there were no surprises or unwanted deviations. What impressed me even more was the thoughtfulness she brought to the process. Without us ever discussing it, she provided elegant covers for the musicians' risers so they blended seamlessly with the stage décor. It was one of those details I hadn't even thought about, yet it made such a difference. From the very beginning, Manju respected my budget. She understood my priorities and worked within them without ever compromising on the final result. I also borrowed a few décor items from her. While some had a nominal rental fee, she very generously lent me a beautiful rangoli mat for our foyer décor at no charge. That gesture perfectly reflected her generosity and her genuine desire to make the event special. Working with Manju was effortless. She is professional, creative, dependable, and incredibly thoughtful. She doesn't just decorate a stage--she listens, understands your vision, and brings it to life with remarkable attention to detail. For us, choosing Priyam Events was one of the best decisions we made for our daughter's Rangapravesha. If you're looking for someone to handle your stage décor with care, creativity, and professionalism, I recommend Priyam Events without hesitation.

Great running / walking loop! Beautiful views along the way!…read more What I love about this track is that it is deemed a one-way track (counter clockwise) -- really helps avoid collision and keeps everyone aligned! (Grrr to the one or two people that go against everyone else.) 1.58 miles, so you can get in a decent run, if you don't mind going around and around and around again! 2025: 67/100

The Stephanie and Fred Shuman Running Track is located between 86th Street and 96th Street…read more So very close to my apartment this 1.58 mile running track offers beautiful views of the reservoir. I often walk around the reservoir including this particular area between 86th and 96th Streets. Along the side of the track you will find places to rest on a bench and drinking fountains. The landscape is beautiful if you want to see a variety of trees, plants and flowers. I love the birds which are plentiful near the reservoir and all over Central Park. It's just one of my favorite areas in the park. I also have easy access walking from the East Side to the West Side of Manhattan. I recommend you visit this area for exercise or relaxation.