Welcome to Second Capital Running Season FIVE
It feels good to say this: It’s finally race week again. After a much needed 3 month break, the 2023 race season kicks off this Sunday with the Industrial 5 Miler, Scholarship 5K, and Little Trucker Mile. This is one of my favorite races for a few reasons. For one, the venue that hosts this race, the Vineland Industrial Park, is a cornerstone of the city and an essential piece of its past, present, and future. The other reason I love this race is the courses for both events. While recognizing how very cliche it is to state that a race is flat and fast, many a PR has been gained in the pancake flat 5K since it’s first running 6 years ago, and the 5 miler has grown to become the local favorite this year (its third year), which is an exciting development since 5 mile races aren’t as common as they used to be. These races set the stage for an exciting start to the racing season for our runners. Last, but not least, I’m proud to be a part of a race that’s been awarding a $500 scholarship to one high school boy and girl for the last 6 years thanks to our sponsor, SupplyitAll.
On a personal note, I’m particularly excited to launch this season because it’s the first time that I have 99% of the years lineup lined up and on the books. Whereas in years past, development of races and the schedule has been mostly configured as we go, this year it’s all pretty much done, allowing myself the freedom to focus on other aspects of “running the show.” The 2023 Second Capital Running lineup, as it stands, is listed below:
March 12 - Industrial 5 Miler & Scholarship 5K
April 8 - Harbor Hop
April 23 - Run Wild for the Cape May County Zoo
May 6 - Christopher Reeves Scholarship Run
May 7 - Ian Bradley Benefit Run
May 20 - Pittsgrove Day 5K & Youth Mile Championship
June 11 - Ship Bottom Brewery Running With the Sharks 5K
June 25 - 5th Annual Running The Ave 5K
July 3-Aug 2 - Vineland Grand Prix Summer Series
July 8 - Hot Mess Trail Races: Half Marathon & 6 Hour (collab with Endless Endurance)
July 13 - NJMP Charity Challenge
Sept 23 - Run For Nurses 5K & Youth Mile
Oct 7 - Ship Bottom Brewery Ecto Ghouler 5K
Oct 14 - Always Ready 5K
Nov 23 - Parvin Turkey Trot
Nov 24 - 28th Annual Jolly Holly
Dec 16 - Parvin Winter 5K, 8K, & Polar Plunge
This season's lineup is simple, familiar, and stacked with surefire favorites. Sprinkled in are a few new additions and new versions of previous races, but I went into season 5 with the intention of not loading up on new races so that I could focus more on refining what we’ve been working on for the previous 4 seasons. Recently I’ve learned through my own personal growth the importance of “getting in the reps” to build better habits and systems; and this year is dedicated to just that. If I can, above all else, achieve consistency in things like the efficiency of the race day process for runners and my staff, or a standard of service that is recognizable in all of our events, then this will be the most successful season yet. If I can replicate that consistency year after year, with the secondary goal of improving by at least 1% with each race, then continued success is virtually guaranteed.
There is a phrase that will be seen by every runner that crosses the start and finish line at our races this year: STRIKE LIKE YOU MEAN IT. It’s a battle cry for all of our runners to figuratively and literally put your best foot forward at both the start of each journey, and at the end. It also serves as my own reminder to never treat any iteration of any event as simply another rep in the exercise of race production, but a meaningful attempt at delivering something of value to people of value.
My hope for this year is that there’s a noticeable improvement in the look, feel, and overall atmosphere of your race experience. So I ask you this: if you see something (good, bad, or just even weird), say something.
And don’t forget to strike like you mean it.
- Andre “Andy” Rivera
Founder & Race Director