Spring Lake Five Mile Run (NJ)

At first glance it may seem odd that a small town on the Jersey Shore would be home to one of the largest and best running events in the nation. Since it was first held in 1977, the Spring Lake Five Mile Run has grown from a small local fun run into New Jersey’s largest road race and a nationally recognized event. Despite this growth the race has remained a low key, non-commercial event.

The initial concept of the race fit perfectly with the mind set of this new group of running enthusiasts. The plan was to stage a low key event with the emphasis on having fun and treating each runner equally. Awards were kept to a minimum and each finisher received a commemorative T-shirt. The organizers designed a scenic course which looped through town and ran down the length of the boardwalk. The race started and finished in front of the Municipal Building immediately after the close of the town’s Memorial Day ceremonies.

The first race, held on the afternoon of Memorial Day was an instant success. Over five hundred runners of all abilities completed the course that May afternoon. While this sure seems modest by today’s standards, it was an extraordinary turnout in 1977. Road racing was a cult sport at that time and very few events could attract hundreds of participants.

The Spring Lake Five Mile Run welcomes runners and walkers of all ability levels and treats each of them all like champions. This concept of welcoming every participant, whether a five or fifteen minute per mile runner is an integral part of the race’s mission. This low-key accessibility is at the foundation of the race’s success and has caught the eye of the national running media. The race has been recognized by Runner’s World Magazine as one of the top 100 races in America. The reasons behind two decades of success are varied, but one is preeminent: this is an event that enjoys the support of a wide segment of Spring Lake. From the hundreds of residents who run or who volunteer, to the support the race receives from the governing body and the personnel of the police, fire, first aid and borough maintenance departments, this is a town project. These people come together and provide thousands of runners with a friendly and well-managed event.

The Spring Lake Five Mile Run is organized by the Spring Lake Five Race Committee, under the guidance, since 2002, of the Friends of the Spring Lake Five Inc., a not-for-profit organization, and Race Director Phil Hinck. After payment of Race expenses, all proceeds from the Race are donated to charitable organizations or allocated for town projects. Since 2002, the race has raised over $1,800,000 for the numerous volunteer groups that support the event, Spring Lake Recreation and other charitable organizations. Funds were also used in conjunction with the Borough of Spring Lake for work on extending the Spring Lake Boardwalk to enhance the safety of runners and walkers at its north end terminus.