Races to benefit Viking Athletic Club, and other student organizations
By: Bill Greenwood
South Brunswick High School will be giving runners a chance to strut their stuff this weekend.
The Viking Athletic Club will be hosting its second annual Vikings 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Run on Sunday. Runners can sign up at the event, which will be held at the high school on Ridge Road. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m.
There will be an entry fee of $25 for the 5K run, which starts at 10 a.m., and entry for the 1-mile run will cost $15 for adults and $12 for children under 10. It will begin at 9:30 a.m.
The South Brunswick run also will feature the Kiddie Dash, a 150-yard run for younger children, according to race director Bob Tona. The event will cost $10 to enter and is meant to "get the kids off the couch for the day," he said.
"(The Kiddie Dash is) more to get the little kids introduced to the sport and let them see that running is fun," he said.
All participants in the Kiddie Dash will receive a medal, Mr. Tona said.
Any funds raised by the race will benefit the Viking Athletic Club as well as the student athletes and marching band at the high school.
Mr. Tona, who is a member of the club, said he was happy to help out by planning the event.
"(The club is) always trying to have fundraisers," he said. "So, instead of having another car wash, I thought we’d have this."
Trophies will be awarded for first through third place in 13 different age groups separated by five-year increments (10 and under, 15 through 19, etc.) for the 5K run, according to Mr. Tona. He said trophies also will be awarded to the top three finishers in the 1-mile run and every participant will receive a medal.
In addition to the races, Mr. Tona said there would be a variety of attractions for spectators. A disc jockey has been tapped to provide music for the crowd, and a number of sponsors, including Whole Food Markets, Quizno’sQuiznos, and Subway, have donated food for the event. Specialists also will be on hand to give massages and stretching assistance after the race, he said.
"I think it’s a great family day," he said. "There’s lots of music and lots of food, and I guarantee you if you run the race you will be feeling good."
The South Brunswick 5K race is the final leg of the Brunswick Cup, a four-race series that has legs in North Brunswick, East Brunswick and New Brunswick. He said those who run in three of the four races qualify for a shot at the series title, which is determined by lowest cumulative score.
The top three individuals in both the open and master’s (runners over 40 years of age ) divisions will each receive trophies, Mr. Tona said. In addition, every individual who runs in three of the four events will be given a coffee mug and anyone who runs all four legs also will receive a cooler bag.
"The goal (of the series) is to promote quality running," he said.
Mr. Tona said he would like to see over 300 runners come out for the South Brunswick race. He said he also expects around 200 spectators at the event.

