WELCOME TO THE NORTH JERSEY MASTERS TRACK & FIELD CLUB
In 1976 Fred & Toshi D'Elia and a handful of friends founded the North Jersey Masters (NJM) as a running club that would be
"dedicated to the improvement of the individual road and track runner by providing professional coaching within a supportive club environment
...By running in groups with others of similar speed and by learning training techniques through shared experiences, members dramatically improve
and reach their potential. We race ourselves, other members, other teams, or just run for pleasure." (See Club History.)
Three decades later the NJM is Bergen County's premiere running club and still adheres to the basic tenets on which it was founded.
The title of "Masters" however, has changed in that it now reflects excellence rather than age. Today the NJM is larger, younger,
and more competitive than ever before. It is over 200 members strong with runners from all age groups, beginner to competitive, male & female.
Our members participate in all events that include the word "run": track, cross-country, road running, biathlons, triathlons, and marathons.
The Club's services are not only geared towards its basic mission, but to create an environment that can build a community of runners who will develop lifetime friendships.
To that end, the club has identified communications and club activities as the key components to our success.
Communications across all members of the club is addressed by:
- This state-of-the-art website, the primary venue.
- Good Times, the quarterly newsletter that trumpets member's accomplishments.
- Postcards - reminders for scheduled General Meetings and selected events.
- An annual Directory of Members - to be used by members for members use only; and
- E-mails for announcements, special situations and emergencies.
The available club activities are:
COACHED WORKOUTS - These workouts are conducted at a local High School track. They are held every Tuesday at 6:15 pm from
March until June, and September to November. In the Summer we move under the trees of the Dunkerhook area of Saddle River Park, on the same
day and time. A major advantage of our club's size is that finding a group that will workout at your pace is highly likely: attendance at
these sessions can exceed forty runners.
These interval workouts are intended to increase race speed. The workout consists of a series of repetitions of an exercise phase and
a recovery phase. The coach determines and directs the workout. "Intervals" or Speed workouts have been a staple of the club's activities since its inception.
INFORMAL RUNS - Over time, club members have formed informal groups for Endurance/Stamina workouts. The center of
gravity is Saddle River Park, which runs north & south from Ridgewood to Rochelle Park for a one-way distance of six miles. The route
has pole markings every one tenth of a mile. The Park has three main assemblage areas: the Ridgewood Duck Pond in the North - Dunkerhook off
Paramus Rd. in the middle - and the Otto C. Pehle area in Saddle Brook, less then a mile and a half from the South end of the Park. Throughout
the park, their distinctive blue logo shirt easily identifies NJM runners. Say hello and start a running conversation.
The oldest workout is the Sunday 7:30 am runs of eight to sixteen miles at a pace of 8 minutes or less. Runners meet at the Glen Rock area,
the western offshoot of Saddle River Park, and run to Tice's Farm and back. From late Spring through the Summer and into the Fall, a group meets on
Thursday evenings at Otto Pehle to run the length of the park, six to twelve miles, at a 9-10 minute pace.
Other informal activities are the Winter group that meets at the Ridgewood High School Track at 6:15 pm to run intervals, and spontaneous
meetings at the Ridgewood Duck Pond that carpool across the Hudson River for a two-hour run at Rockefeller State Park. Weekend bike rides
and/or road runs are often organized by individual members to enhance their endurance. Use the Bulletin Board to announce or find a current activity.
Now with this new website, you have all the tools to create your own informal work group. Begin with the Directory to identify members that
live in your area. Use the workout experiences and Race Results to identify those in your speed category, use the National USATF website to map
your run, and finally announce your workout on the Bulletin Board.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES - The club sponsors a variety of gatherings that stimulate camaraderie amongst the membership. The meetings
are another chance to find runners that would help you build an informal running group based on pace and distance preferences. Examples
are: informative general meetings, Picnics/Pizza parties, after-race assemblies, and the Bus to the NYC Marathon. Check the Bulletin Board often for upcoming events.
The two major social events of the year however, are the NJM's Award Banquet and the Ridgewood Run. The annual Awards Banquet in January is a chance
to celebrate the Club's success and to recognize our members for their accomplishments. Check the Awards Page to view the availble award categories and past achievements by club members. Most important of all is the organization and execution of the
Memorial Day Ridgewood Run. For more than thirty years this race is the must-run race in New Jersey and beyond. Runners have come from as far away as
Texas to the West, and Leighton Lodge in England to the East. It's our responsibility to put our best foot forward and put on the best show of the year
for all Ridgewood Run participants: Fun Run, Mile runs, 10K, and 5K. The club's members, family, and friends have done just that since 1976.
RACING IN NJ - The NJM is a member (Club #0102) of the governing body of NJ racing, the
USATF-NJ. It sanctions over 150 races per year in NJ, and each year conducts a "very popular Grand Prix of road races that culminate in an annual awards
banquet where overall and age group winners receive monetary awards and recognition". Throughout the year, the runner can track individual race scores and
his/her age group ranking at the USATF-NJ LDR web page. The individual athlete can choose to participate in one or more race categories: the Overall,
the Mini-1, and the Mini-2 New Balance Grand Prix series.
In conjunction with the Individual series, the Liberty Waterfront Club /Team Grand Prix provides "an opportunity for USATF-NJ clubs to
compete for year-end overall awards". The Club encourages and strongly supports member participation in these team competitions and provides
Club Team shirts for all team members. Additionally, at the beginning of each year, the NJM offers a set of member worksheets as planning
vehicles for the upcoming Grand Prix series. Lastly the NJM organizes carpools for members traveling to popular and/or distant races.
The NJM tries to track all of our member's NJ accomplishments, major out-of-state activities, plus upcoming races in the Race Calendar
and Race Results sections of our website. Other websites that provide races and results for our area are: CompuScore, Best Racing, Elite
Racing, and OYMP. If you compete in races throughout the County and Championship races throughout the state, you are likely to run into
the prominent blue logo of the NJM. Say hello and start a running conversation.
OTHER RACING & MULTI SPORT EVENTS - The Club's athletes also enjoy venturing out into the New York Metropolitan Area,
especially the many Track & Field (T&F), Cross-Country, and road races in the immediate NY State area. The New York Road Runners Club is the governing body and
offers many racing options for our runners including the New York City Marathon in November. For other Marathons the Marathon Guide website
provides a worldwide calendar and race results for all marathons.
The NJM runner has many options throughout the year. Indoor Track & Field competition in the Winter and outdoor Track & Field in the Summer.
Long Distance running in the Spring and Fall and Multi Sport events like biathlons and triathlons in the Summer.
New Jersey Track & Field is under the direction of the USATF-NJ. The NYRRC conducts indoor track events in the Winter at the New Balance Track & Field Center on Fort Washington Ave. in Manhattan.
Main sources for Multi-Sport event information is the Metro Race Forum and Bergen County's Glen Rock Triathlon Club.
QUESTIONS? Please e-mail them to the Membership Chair.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET US? Come to a Tuesday workout or a general meeting. General meetings are held the first Wednesday of
every month, except January, July, and August. Check the website for time and location.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT US, COME JOIN US!
To join, please download the MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION found on the Membership page.
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