Haddonfield kicked off its weekend of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 15 with the annual Adrenaline 5K.
Originally the Bancroft 5K, in recent years, the race has been rebranded by event organizer and owner of the Haddonfield Running Company, Dave Welsh.
“It was the Bancroft 5K, which I had run when I was in college, in high school, and then afterwards,” he recalled. “And then, when I bought the Haddonfield Running Company, we wanted to keep the race going because it’s also our anniversary. So we picked the race up and changed it to the Adrenaline 5K.”
Despite clouds and chilly temperatures, spectators lined up along Kings Highway, while nearby residents sat on their steps to watch as runners took off. The run began promptly at 8:30 a.m. at Haddonfield Memorial High School, with both start and finish on Kings Highway. It was followed by two kids’ races.
This year, the township asked Haddonfield Running Company to move the 5K up by half an hour since roads had to be blocked off and the borough didn’t want Kings Highway closed for the busiest parts of the day. Planning for the event takes about a year, with cooperation from the town and the high school necessary to ensure safety.
Dressed in a bright green leprechaun costume and a fake orange beard, Welsh gave the order for the runners to begin.
“It was nice that we didn’t have wind,” he said. “Usually, this is the windiest day of the year, so not to have any wind was great.”
About 800 runners from South Jersey and the Philadelphia area came out for the race. A large digital clock displayed the time as each of the runners finished the route’s loop and crossed the finish line.
Some participants ran as volunteers with Ainsley’s Angels – a nonprofit that pairs runners with disabled individuals who want to take part in athletic and endurance events – and ferried the disabled along the 5K route in special jogging chairs. Samantha Creamer and Stephen Waniak were among them.
“It’s always a blast to support them and to see the support they get from other runners and from the crowd,” Waniak said.
The 5K’s first-place winner overall was 26-year-old Jack Shea, whose time was 14 minutes and 27 seconds. Now residing in Arizona, the area native previously worked for the Haddonfield Running Company.
“Last year I got 10th,” he recounted. “I kind of prepared a bit better for this year, and sat for about, like 2- and-a half miles, and made a good push and got the win. So I was pretty happy with it.”
All runners were greeted at the finish line by the sounds of cheering, with one spectator ringing a cowbell as he sat in a folding chair.
Participant Ed Weining, a 76-year-old resident of Collingswood, has been running for four decades.
“I mean, I’m in shape for it, so it’s OK,” he said. “It was fun.”Â
The first four contestants to cross the finish line all had times under 15 minutes. The female overall winner was 30-year-old Charlotte Imer of Delaware, who finished in 16 minutes and 31 seconds.
The top five male and female winners, as well as three runners in the 40-to-49 and over-50 age groups, received monetary prizes. First-place winners earned the most money, a prize of $400, with $50 for fifth place. The top three male and female runners of other ages got smaller prizes like mugs and hats and all racers got a medal.
Cammy Wright, who ran races during high school and college, placed second in the female 20-to-24 group.
“I felt really great,” she said. “It was great weather out there, and it’s cool to see a lot of old friends out there, too … I haven’t run this race since I was like 16 or 17, so it was cool to come back.”
The final runner crossed the finish line at 56 minutes and 21 seconds. Following were the kids’ quarter-mile and 100-meter runs.
