Sgt. Maggie Freeman of the Manalapan Police Department confesses that she is a junkie – a race junkie, that is. Freeman enters between 25 and 30 endurance events a year, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons.
Maggie Freeman “I’m really addicted to races,” said Freeman, 38. “I just love them and I am a race junkie.”
Freeman has run the Boston and Philadelphia marathons, which are 26.2- mile races. Duathlons, she explained, usually involve running 2 to 3 miles, biking 10 to 18 miles, and then running another 3 to 4 miles.
So far this year, duathlon race results have garnered Freeman first overall in the Bassman, Hammonton and Belleplain duathlons.
Triathlons, she explained, vary in distances of swimming, biking and running. The International Triathlon Union has distances of swimming 1.86 miles, biking 49.6 miles and running 12.4 miles. A standard or short course triathlon is half those distances.
Freeman said the full Ironman or long distance triathlon is swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles. The half-Ironman is one-half the distance for each discipline.
Usually a triathlon, she said, is swimming one-quarter to one-half mile, biking 10 to 18 miles and running 3 to 4 miles. In 2007, the USA Triathlon gave Freeman an honorable mention ranking of eighth nationally.
The Jersey Shore Triathlon Club named Freeman its 2007 Triathlete of the Year. Other 2007 triathlon results in her age group (35-39) include: first in the DQ at Marlton; fourth in the SheRox, Philadelphia, and first in the Jersey Genesis and the North East, Maryland. Currently, her sponsors are Goody hair products and Astavita, a supplement company.
Freeman came in first overall in the 2007 Danskin Triathlon at Sandy Hook. She was sixth after the swim segment, but was first after the bike segment.
“My strong segment is biking,” said Freeman, who when weather and terrain are favorable can bike at a speed of 20 mph. “Swimming is my least proficient race segment [and] I can run a mile in around 6:30 to 7:30.”
Freeman has gained international recognition for her athletic skills. In 2006 she won a silver medal at the Long Course World Championship Duathlon held in Barcis, Italy.
“This was my most memorable duathlon to date,” she said. “Just being in Italy with the scenery of the Dolomite Mountains, the culture and the people was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
She has won gold and silver medals at the International Police and Fire Games, held last year in Canada. She is preparing for this year’s games that will be held in Orlando, Fla., and will compete as a member of Manalapan’s PBA 229 and receive individual awards.
Freeman is a graduate of West Chester University, West Chester, Pa., with a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education. She worked as an aerobics instructor during college and started competing in endurance sport events after graduation.
“I got a late start and have been competing about 10 years or so,” said Freeman, who now trains between 10 and 15 hours a week. “You’re never too old to start or to continue. It does take drive and organizational skills to fit it into your schedule.”
After doctor approval, she recommends exercising slow and joining a running or bike club.
“It’s not all about fast and races,” said Freeman, who is vice president of the Freehold Area Running Club. “There are many pleasure rides and runs. It’s a great place to meet people. I’ve made great friends. Sometimes we just ride, have a meal and come back home.”
Freeman, who is a graduate of the Ocean County Police Academy, Lakewood, said she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps. Her father, Ted, was a police officer in Spring Lake and is now a Monmouth County undersheriff.
“I love my job, and the races help reduce the stress of my work,” said Freeman, who is a road patrol supervisor. “Also, I love running with my dad and share his love of motorcycles.”
Many races that Freeman competes in benefit educational scholarship funds and charities such as breast cancer awareness and the Special Olympics.
As a participant in the 25th annual New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics held June 6, she ran the torch from Freehold to Marlboro. On June 7, she presented the track and field awards to the Special Olympic participants.
In her spare time, Freeman likes to visit friends and family, especially Gabrielle, her 8-year-old godchild and niece. Gabrielle is the daughter of her sister, Katherine, who is married to Nelson Schaffner, and they reside in Pennsylvania.
A
lso, there is a new resident in her
household, Bella, an abandoned kitten that she adopted and is acclimating to her home.
“I’m really in a good place right now,” Freeman said. “I have a great balance in my life. I love my family and friends, my work and my races in that order. And I’m going to continue to race as long as I can because I love it.”
Freeman’s father and mother, Ted and Toni, and brother, Theodore, reside in Spring Lake. Her other sister, Teresa, lives in Florida.