Midland Avenue Mile set for Sunday

by WILMA A. HURWITZ
for Montclair Local

The fourth annual Midland Avenue Mile will hit the streets this Sunday, Aug. 18, with as many as 700 runners of all skill levels expected to join in the festivities.

The race, coordinated by John and Dawn Fabbro, owners of Fleet Feet Montclair, features a one-mile straight-away route with no turns and a slight uphill course.

The race begins near the intersections of Midland and Watchung avenues, and the finish line will be near the intersection of Midland Avenue and Portland Place.

“Both our store and our home are on this street,” said John Fabbro. “For years we could envision a mile race on this road as it is wide, pretty flat with a slight upgrade and flanked by great houses with front porches that are perfect for viewing.

“The one mile race is a unique distance. Most everyone can walk or run for a mile. So it’s an opportunity for families to join in and have fun together no matter how young or old, how fast or leisurely.”

This year’s beneficiary is the Montclair Public Library.

To register in advance and for more information on the race, visit fleetfeet.com. For questions, email john@fleetfeetmontclair.com.

Online registration closes tonight, Thursday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m. Registration in store at 603 Bloomfield Ave. is Friday, Aug. 16, from 3 to 8 p.m.;  Saturday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and on the day of the race from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

All runners should report to the starting line at least 30 minutes before the approximate start time for their age group.

The Family Division race, for solo runners looking to run at their own pace, or for families look to enjoy the run together, kicks off the event schedule at 5 p.m.

After that, starting times are approximate; the men’s 60+ age group will run at around 5:30 p.m., the women’s 50+ follows at 5:45, the men’s age 40-59 group starts at 6, and the women’s age 40-49 division is at approximately 6:15.

The “Open Division” races are for competitive runners and are separated by gender and projected race times; these races are official USA Track & Field New Jersey championship events.

The women’s 7+ minute group begins at approximately 6:30, followed by the men’s 7+ minute at 6:45, the women’s under-7-minute race at 7 p.m., and the men’s under-7 at 7:15.

“We’re a Fleet Feet family, and running the Midland Avenue Mile has become a family tradition since 2017,” said resident Scott Flood, who plans to run along with his wife and two-year-old son. “It’s a fun community event with festivities along Midland Avenue that is all the better because kids participate, either running on their own or in strollers alongside their parents.