Pennington resident wins Princeton Healthcare 10k
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
When Mahesh Sambasivam won Montgomery’s Rotary Run 5k, his wife wasn’t there to see it due to work commitments.
He made sure she had another chance to see him triumph at the Princeton Healthcare 10k on Sunday.
”I told my wife not to miss it,” said Sambasivam, a Pennington resident. “I told her she didn’t want to miss the winner.”
Sambasivam, 45, ran 33 minutes, 27.48 seconds to edge by nine seconds 25-year-old William Washer of Odgendsburg for the overall win.
”We both flew in last night, so I wasn’t sure she’d join me,” Sambasivam said. “She was happy.”
Defending champion John Reuland and fellow Princeton resident Chris Sallade were third and fourth respectively. There were 550 total finishers.
”I used to come in second or third,” said Sambasivam, who averaged 5:23 per mile Sunday. “I’ve been running faster paces lately. I wasn’t overly confident. I thought, maybe there’s a chance today.”
Kathy Rocker, the third female overall last year, jumped two spots to win the female division. The 47-year-old from Metuchen ran 40:10.98, a pace of 6:27 per mile.
Most of the field, including Sambasivam and Washer, missed a small part of the course that cost them between a tenth and two-tenths of a mile. It took only a little away from Sambasivam’s joy in running a time that was encouraging.
”We were left alone,” Sambasivam said. “We didn’t know where to go. I just said, let’s trace back our route. I think everybody followed us except one or two guys.”
Once they reached the final mile, Sambasivam pulled away from Washer to win the Healthcare 10k for the first time.
”It was just the two of us all along,” Sambasivam said. “I think after (Mile) 5, he kind of slowed down. I was kind of shocked. He was a stronger runner than me. I was surprised.”
Both Sambasivam and Washer had run the Boston Marathon in hot conditions in April. Sambasivam ran 2:52:11 while Washer ran 2:55:30. Washer, though, had run 2:50:22 in the New York City Marathon last fall.
”I wanted to do 2:45,” Sambasivam said of his Boston run. “That wasn’t the day.”
But his preparation for the Boston Marathon did help. It gave him a solid base to work off of for the Healthcare 10k and the spring/summer racing season. He plans to do the Run for Dad 5k on Sunday after coming in third last year in it.
”I trained for Boston and I usually do four mile-repeats or eight 800s or 16 400s on my long run days,” Sambasivam said. “I do a minimum of 16-20 miles. That helped coming out of Boston.”
Sambasivam has found more success the more time that he’s given to running. He works as a scientist at Convatec in Skillman doing design and exploring areas of innovation for ostomy products.
”I’d rather be a full-time runner,” Sambasivam said. “One pays for my living and one pays for my passion.”
Sambasivam moved to the United States from India, where he ran very little but could do 25 chin-ups at a time, in 1990 to complete his PhD. He started running almost 10 years later.
”I started late,” Sambasivam said. “I started in ‘98-’99 seriously. I’ve gotten better. I’ve changed my form. I always was a light weight. Keeping 110-112 pounds makes it easier. I’m pretty disciplined.
”The time’s have gotten faster as I’ve gotten older,” he added. “I’m a late bloomer.”
Sambasivam enjoyed a win in 16:32 at the Rotary Run 5k, and followed it up at the Healthcare 10k. His racing style is one that is fixed on more than winning, but the place comes with it.
”I love it,” he said. “I don’t even look back. I don’t care about the place. I don’t mind being 10th or 15th, I’ll take the time. They set the pace nicely today.”
While Sambasivam lives in Pennington now, he used to live in Princeton and still considers some of the best training routes to be in Princeton. He routinely does hill workouts on Washington Road and Rosedale Road. He’s hoping that his training helps him continue to progress. He’s looking forward to the chance to defend his Princeton Healthcare 10k.
”Next year, I want to be in a comfortable 33, or even high 32s,” Sambasivam said. “My goal is to get within six minutes of the elite winning time. That’s my ultimate goal.”
Sambasivam inspired himself before Sunday’s win by watching 10k world record holder Kenenisa Bekele.
”That’s my usual way before the race,” Sambasivam said.
Of course, he made sure he didn’t watch too much footage. Not because he couldn’t use more inspiration, but he mixed up the start time for last year’s Princeton Healthcare 10k.
”I’ve run it three or four times before,” Sambasivam said. Last year, I came late and I missed it. I was not happy. Today, I made sure I was there.”
And he made sure that when his wife also came, it was a worthwhile trip for both of them as Mahesh Sambasivam kept his success going with another win this spring.