Upper Freehold’s ironman running 220 miles for hurricane relief
By Jane Meggitt, Special Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD Township resident Ed Kloskowski is set to step off Friday on 220-mile, four-day run across the length of New Jersey to raise both money and awareness for hurricane relief efforts at the New Jersey shore.
Mr. Kloskowski, 46, who has finished four full-distance Ironman triathlons since 2007, is hoping to raise $2,200 for several organizations providing hurricane relief and restoration efforts, including Architecture for Humanity, a 501(c) nonprofit that provides design and construction services after natural disasters.
The idea for “Run4NJ” a trek from High Point State Park to the tip of Cape May came to him after he and his 16-year-old son, Jay, finished clearing fallen trees from their front yard on Elisha Drive the day after Hurricane Sandy. A neighbor and his son had seen them at work and came over to help.
”Later that night, while sitting in the power-outage darkness, I kept feeling like I wanted to be able to extend that same kindness to everyone I could,” Mr. Kloskowski said. “But I felt so powerless to help. Then it hit me: I wanted to highlight the hard work and kindness being extended throughout the Garden State by neighbors and organizations, and tell the country. I thought a run through the state would be an excellent way to showcase our state and draw attention to what we are doing for each other and provide a way for others to help who can’t be here.”
Mr. Kloskowski is a native New Jerseyan. He was raised in South River, moved to Sayreville in his 20s and to Upper Freehold as his family grew.
”I worked my way through school in my father’s painting business and also in Hercules, the chemical plant in Sayreville,” Mr. Kloskowski said.
Flooding from the storm surge in his old hometown of Sayreville, which left some homes under 7 feet of water, was devastating, but the widespread destruction down the shore in Seaside Heights also struck a nerve, he said.
”Since I was a boy, my grandparents and parents have taken me to the shore,” Mr. Kloskowski said. “Asbury Park on Sundays was a special favorite when I was a little boy. As I grew to be a teenager, of course Seaside was the place to be.”
Mr. Kloskowski said he spent every moment, and often every dollar he had, on that boardwalk in those years.
”My wife and I had our first date down the shore and ate zeppole and pizza at the Seaside boardwalk,” Mr. Kloskowski said. “I just can’t believe its gone.”
Mr. Kloskowski is glad his kids are old enough to have been able to experience those places.
”The Shore to me and my family isn’t just a recreation place it is a tradition. We cherished it, we looked forward to it,” he said. “A Friday evening at the boardwalk was looked forward to for days. We starved ourselves all day to pig out with boardwalk food.”
Mr. Kloskowski said he took up endurance sports when he was in his mid-30s, “to kick some bad habits.” He raced mountain bikes and rock climbed all over North America, until a climbing accident forced him to take up road cycling.
”From there, I decided I’d like to try a triathlon and found a passion for the long-distance Ironman triathlons, which are a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112- mile bike ride, then finishing with a marathon 26.2 miles.”
Along the way, the Ironman also became interested in ultra-distance running races involving distances of 50, 75 and 100 miles.
”The longer and harder, the better,” Mr. Kloskowski said.
Typically, these races take place in rugged backcountry venues and are continuous runs through tough terrain, Mr. Kloskowski said. He has attempted two 100-mile runs and completed several 50-mile and 100K races (about 62 miles).
While his athletic accomplishments provide a source of satisfaction, he said he regards his family as his true achievement.
”I want my kids to see how to give back and be community members and also how to set and achieve goals,” Mr. Kloskowski said. “My wife and I both played sports and our kids have become good athletes in their own right,” he said.
Athletics have given him a peace of mind and level of health, which has benefited his work and personal life. But as he grows older, he said he wants to connect his avocation with his sense of civic duty by giving something back to the communities that have supported him his entire life.
Another neighbor in Lynwood Estates, Deputy Mayor Steve Alexander, is an enthusiastic supporter of Mr. Kloskowski’s Run4NJ fundraising effort.
”I hope our community rallies behind Ed for this great endeavor since we all were very lucky after Sandy compared to the shore towns,” Mr. Alexander said.
For more information, on Run4NJ, or to make a donation, visit Mr. Kloskowski’s website at http://run4nj.org. You can also “like” his Facebook page and see the route he will run at http://www.facebook.com/Run4nj.

