By Donald Wittkowski
Brooke Drumbore, a 50-year-old veteran marathoner from Basking Ridge, N.J., admits that her mind can try to play tricks on her when she is grinding out a tough run a few miles from the finish line.
“You can’t let your mind take over,” she emphasized. “You don’t ever want to go to that dark side.”
Drumbore avoided slipping into the dark side Sunday with an impressive showing in the 20th annual Ocean Drive Marathon, finishing 10th overall and taking top honors among the female runners with a time of 3 hours, 17 minutes and 3 seconds.
Altogether, 230 marathoners competed in the 26.2-mile run that took them along the scenic Ocean Drive through Sea Isle City, Avalon, Stone Harbor and Middle Township before they turned around and headed back to Sea Isle for the finish. It was the second time the marathon was held over a new out-and-back course.
Jeff Mescal, 52, of Hebron, Indiana, won the race in 2 hours, 54 minutes and 34 seconds. Mescal was among dozens of out-of-state runners who came to the Jersey Shore for the marathon. Runners from as far away as California, Washington state, Texas, Michigan and Wisconsin competed.
Francisco Dias, 29, of Boston, drove more than six hours from Massachusetts to Sea Isle on Saturday to compete in the marathon. He planned to head back to Boston on Sunday after the race over. Dias, who finished in 96th place in 4:33:16, said he wanted to run in the Ocean Drive Marathon to qualify for the Boston Marathon next year.
Drumbore was running in her 24th marathon overall, but it was the first time she competed in the Ocean Drive event. She noted that all of the hard training she puts in to prepare for a marathon is worth it when she crosses the finish line.
“This is why I do it,” she said. “It’s an amazing feeling.”
Marathoner Bill Addison, 44, of Skippack, Pa., runs between 40 and 55 miles per week to train for races. Addison, who competed in his seventh Ocean Drive Marathon on Sunday, explained that sometimes he simply has to ignore any pain or discomfort when he is running.
“I just try not to think of the pain. I try to block it out,” said Addison, who finished fifth Sunday in 3:11:58.
In addition to the marathon, a 10-mile run and a 5-kilometer race were also held Sunday. John Hogan, 52, of Washington Township, N.J., was first in the 10-miler in 1:02:19, while Nicholas Ferzetti, 14, of Ocean City, won the 5K in 19:11.
Daphne Brozyna, 11, a fifth-grader from Ocean City, had her own cheering section with her for her first competitive 5K race. Her parents, two sisters and another supporter carried signs bearing inspirational messages such as “Run Daphne Run … You Rock.”
Daphne won her age group, giving her fans plenty to cheer about. She finished in 29:56. Before the 5K began, she said she was feeling a little nervous competing in her first race.
“I feel good. I’m excited,” she said.
Proceeds from the races benefited Volunteers in Medicine of South Jersey, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine and local schools.
A total of 476 runners participated in all of the events, according to race director Ed De Palma.
De Palma said the turnout was the lowest since the marathon began in 1999. The high point came in 2011, when there were 1,800 runners overall, including 1,200 marathoners, he said.
Traditionally held in March, the marathon was shifted to April this year to take advantage of docile, spring weather. De Palma said unfamiliarity with the date switch apparently was to blame for the low turnout.
“We’re hoping after getting the April date established, we’ll get our running base built back up,” he said.
Sunny skies and 50-degree temperatures greeted the runners when the marathon got underway at 9 a.m., compared to biting winds, overcast skies and temperatures in the mid-40s during the March 2017 race.
Most of the marathoners were dressed in shorts and tank tops. At least one of them ran bare-chested in the mild weather.
“You want to be a little chilly when you start. If you’re warm when you start, you’re going to overheat,” said Addison, who wore a tank top and shorts.
For Addison, the marathon was simply the culmination of all the hours and miles of training he has racked up.
“It’s all in the training. This is just the victory lap,” he said, laughing.
