Today (Sunday, December 17th) some members of ORC enjoyed a fun filled Holiday Train Run hosted by Jersey Shore Running Club. For those of you that are not familiar with how the Train Run works, the train is boarded at the Asbury Park station and heads south. Runners have their choice of exiting the train at Bradley Beach (2 mile), Belmar (4 mile), or Spring Lake (6 mile) to run back to Johnny Mac’s House of Spirits in Asbury Park. Since this was the Holiday Train Run, all runners receive a Santa hat at check in. After a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner trumpeted by local celebrity Dave Del Monico, the train was boarded for the start of our adventure. Imagine the look on the faces of the passengers as the train was taken over by a few hundred or so would be Santas! Our group of Sandy, Rudy and Jayne Rinderer, Chet and Jen Berghout, Jim Welshman, Caroline Costante, and Melanie Flavin decided on the Belmar run. Although the skies were threatening and the wind was blowing off the ocean, we were very lucky the worst of today’s weather held off. (We did the 2022 Holiday Train run in a monsoon!) This is not a race, so there is plenty of time for good conversation, laughs, and photo ops during the run. Chet even posed with a Christmas tree on the beach, but he could not convince a local pup to pose with him! Back at Johnny Macs all runners receive a ticket for a free beer or Bloody Mary, plus a pizza or omelet. Our group has started a tradition of enjoying breakfast/lunch at a local favorite, Toast on Cookman Ave. to end the day.
A great way to spend time with great friends around the Holidays.
Caroline C.
