April & May 2019

Escape the Cape, on June 2 this year, has become
a juggernaut and sells out quickly. Clearly, there’s
a big market for masochism around here (see
previous page for the ferry leap).
The winter gnomes have been at it
again, shrinking all the pants in
my closet. Treadmills make me
feel like a caged hamster. With
the warmer weather rolling in,
it’s time to dig out the sneakers and hit the
road. I checked in with Harry Back — who,
along with Michael Mader, has launched the
Cape May Running Company on the beachfront
— looking for motivation and some
direction.
For someone trying to get in shape, or
back in shape, “the first step should be to ask
questions,” he says. This may not be surprising
advice from someone whose business is
training runners, but Harry says even those
who do not plan to hire a trainer should talk
to someone knowledgeable about running.
Static training plans from Runner’s World or
other sources can be a starting point, but it’s
important to adjust your training for how
your body is reacting.
“The biggest mistake I see is people tend
to do too much, too fast,” Harry says, adding
that it’s important to do your research
and listen to your body. Most injuries occur
when someone tries to train too much.
That’s not permission to spend this spring
working through your 300-title Netflix
queue. It’s a matter of giving your muscles
time to heal.
“The main thing is recovery. Your body
gets more fit in recovery,” Harry says. Bad
stress can do real harm to our health and
outlook, but good stress helps us grow,
pushing us to do better in our careers, our
lives and our training. Push your body, then
allow it to recover before asking more of it.
Then repeat.
Harry has run his entire life but didn’t
race until much later. He grew up in Cape
May. As a kid he was a competitive surfer,
with little time for or interest in other sports.
He came to competitive running as an adult,
while his business partner didn’t start running
seriously until he was in his 40s. Now,
through Cape May Running Company, they
organize local races, provide endurance
training and offer all the running-related
gear you could need in their brick-andmortar
store.
One of their main refrains? There is no
single path to fitness. Some people should
only run a few days a week, while others can
exit zero 94 april-may
put down some miles five or six days a week.
“It’s all individual,” Harry says. “There’s
no set formula.”
For some, competition is key to motivation.
These days, there are plenty of events
available — no, really... it’s pretty much
every weekend and two times a weekend if
you really wanted.
Hoping to join Cape May’s running
community? Or perhaps you’re a seasoned
athlete looking for your next fix. Here’s a
guide to some of the best runs, swims and
triathlons in the area this year. See you out
there!
THE GREAT CAPE MAY FOOTRACE
Saturday, May 11
5k, 10k
Fitness requirement: Weekend Warrior,
Regular folks willing to feel sore on Monday
This venerable Cape May tradition seems
like a good place to start. Almost anybody
can tackle the 5k portion.
The race has taken place for 40 years, but
it had begun to dwindle, with 86 runners
in 2016. The Cape May Running Company
recently took over, and they expect hundreds