ATLANTIC CITY- The Seashore Gardens Living Center and MAPS Foundation Inc. will be hosting its third annual Enriching Lives 5K Run/Walk on the Atlantic City Boardwalk Sunday, April 14.

The 5K Walk/Run begins at 9am and registrations starts  7:15am on the Boardwalk just outside of Resorts Casino Hotel. All entrants will receive a commemorative event T-shirt. Awards will be given for the top-three overall male and female, and the top male and female finishing in the following age groups:   15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80+. There will also be a category for wheelchair participants  and awards including the “Tortoise Award,” the Top Fundraising Team, and the Largest Team.

The honorary race director and runner will be Barbara Altman, a WOND 1400 AM radio personality, along with Michael Weinraub, the executive vice president of Seashore Gardens Living Center.

If you are interested in participating, pre-registration begins April 7 at Active.com and SeashoreGardens.org.  The cost for registration is $25.  Participants will also be able to register online up to the day of the event, as well as sign up on the day of the race for $30.  For more information, contact Sharon D’Angio at (609) 748-4614 or e-mail dangios@seashoregardens.org.

— Christina Rodriguez

The 2013 Atlantic City Marathon Race Series (ACMRS)  will be part of a number of racing events throughout the state to support the Hurricane Sandy Relief Foundation (HSRF).  The ACMRS will donate a portion of each entry fee to the cause, and a total fundraising goal has been set for $100,000.

The next segment of the AC Marathon Series is the April Fools Half Marathon on Sunday, April 7, 2013 beginning at 8am. The Atlantic City Marathon is scheduled for Oct. 13, 2013.

Registration is available at Run to Restore the Shore rrcanj.org or acmarathon.org.
— Christina Migioia

ATLANTIC CITY — Event director DelMoSports Inc. announced that the second annual Atlantic City International Triathlon, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15, is sold out. More than 1,200 athletes will take part in the competition this year, as compared to just over 300 for the inaugural year.

“We are ecstatic that in only its second year, the event has grown by 400 percent,” says event organizer and Wildwood businessman Stephen Del Monte.  “The Atlantic City International Triathlon was already voted one of the top-eight vacation destination races by Active.com.  This really puts us on the map to showcase all that the resort has to offer to this new market of visitors.

“With over 1,200 athletes and 4,000 spectators, the economic contributions [to Atlantic City] from this event should exceed $750,000.”

The A.C. Triathlon is a featured international-distance event that includes a one-mile swim in the bay, a 20-mile bike on the Atlantic City Expressway, and a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) run on the A.C. Boardwalk.  This year DelMoSports has added a sprint race consisting of a quarter-mile swim, 10-mile bike, and 5k run to entice beginners or less-experienced endurance athletes.

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Pictured above are previous beneficiaries of the annual Sgt. Nutter Memorial 5K Run/Walk

The Eighth Annual Sgt. Nutter Run Memorial 5K Run/Walk, presented by the New Jersey Army National Guard Officer Candidate School Class 55, will be held on Sunday, May 6, in memory of Sgt. Sam Nutter (Jan. 28 1966 — Jan. 2, 2005). All proceeds raised are donated to New Jersey Army National Guard families in need.

The Sgt. Nutter Organization, Inc., is a registered non-profit organization administered by the Officer Candidate School of the New Jersey Army National Guard. The SSNO was established in the memory of Sergeant Sam Nutter. This year’s race will be held at the Army National Guard Training Center, which is located at Camp Drive and Sea Girt Avenue in Sea Girt. Participants can choose between two routes. Registration is between 8-9:30am followed by the race. The event will also feature games, entertainment and prizes.

E-mail dennis.shanahan@us.army.mil, call 862-222-6142, or go here for more information.

The 2012 Sgt. Nutter Run/Walk  beneficiaries are (CPT) Anthony Trocchio, (1SG) Clinton Drummond, (SFC) Miguel Colondres and (SFC) Joseph M. Martin.

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ATLANTIC CITY — The annual benefit for the Shirley Mae Run/Michael J. Walk will take place on Saturday, May 12. The event includes a 5K run, a 1.5 mile walk and a Kids’ Fun Run. All events will be held on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in front of the Tropicana. The event raises much-needed funds for the Shirley Mae Breast Cancer Assistance Fund.

Parking will be free at the Tropicana until 11:30 am the day of the event. It all starts with a Survivor’s Continental Breakfast from 7:30-8:20am at the Trop, in which all cancer survivors and one guest are invited. Registration is from 7:30-9am, opening ceremonies are from 8:30-9am, and the 5K run and 1.5-mile walk starts at 9:10am. The Kids Fun Run is at 10am, and the awards ceremony is at 10am. Go here for registration information.

Participants are invited to join the local Back Bay Ale House team in efforts to support the Shirley Mae Breast Cancer Assistance Fund. Two years ago, Jane Williams (above left, with cancer survivor Marissa Roffi), owner of the Back Bay Ale House restaurant in Gardner’s Basin, started a team with 10 members and raised $500. Last year, the team received a large support from friends and family and raised $5,515, which was deemed the largest “non-casino” contributor to the fund. This year, the team hopes to reach its goal yet again.

The fundraiser is being held to financially assist those suffering from breast cancer, in order to alleviate some of the expenses. Expenses include medications that exceed insurance coverage, breast prostheses, wigs and other related items. Anyone in the New Jersey area can join or support the Back Bay team by going here.

Participants may either walk or run in the event. If unable to attend, please consider contributing a small donation to support the fundraiser.  — Julie Pipitone

Last year’s Atlantic City Triathlon was voted one of the “Top 8 Vacation Destination Races of 2011″ by Active.com and 2012 event should be even bigger, with the event planners moving the triathlon to Bader Field, in conjunction with the return of the Atlantic City Seafood Festival also being held there.

Returning Sept. 15, the Atlantic City Triathlon will include: “a 1 mile swim, a 20-mile bike and a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) run, while the ’sprint’ race consists of a 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike, and 5k run (3.1 miles). The swim will move from the ocean to the bay, but the cycling portion will remain on the Atlantic City Expressway and the run on the Boardwalk.

A shorter race to include more athletes has also been added to the line-up.

For more, visit cityofatlanticcity.org.

Attendees of last year's Shirley Mae Cancer Assistance Fund Run/Walk survivor's parade head for the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

ATLANTIC CITY — On Saturday, May 12, more than 250 breast cancer survivors will gather to kick off the 10th annual Shirley Mae Run & Michael J. Walk. The survivors parade will take place on the deck at Fin restaurant at the Tropicana, which is the host sponsor of the event. AtlantiCare is the presenting sponsor for the newly named Michael J. Walk.

“We at Tropicana are very proud to have been given the opportunity to support the Shirley Mae Run and to play a role in creating a healthier future within our community,” says Tropicana president and COO Tony Rodio. “Every day, the Shirley Mae Breast Cancer Fund works to provide breast cancer patients with access to the tools and support they need to manage their health, so no woman ever has to feel alone.”

Established in August 2000, the Shirley Mae Breast Cancer Assistance Fund began with a gift from Atlantic City businessman and philanthropist Roy Goldberg, who created the fund after experiencing the determination and inspiration of his mother, Shirley Mae Goldberg, a breast cancer survivor.

“This year, we are proud to dedicate the 1.5-mile walk in memory of Michael J Neustadter, who recently lost his heroic battle with pancreatic cancer,” says Goldberg. “The newly created Michael J. Neustadter Pancreatic Cancer Fund will make grants for the benefit of individuals showing financial need and to fund medical and scientific research programs for the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.”

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ATLANTIC CITY — The luck of the Irish stormed in from the Boardwalk and swept through the Tropicana last Saturday night, March 3. To mark the start of the Irish holiday, at least 100 fun-loving St. Paddy’s day revelers decked out in green-themed outfits, hats and face paint gathered for the rambunctious and festive Running of the Leprechauns pub crawl.

Joe and Scott from WZXL 100.7-FM hosted the event,  of which a portion of proceeds went to the Ellie Koerner Leukemia Foundation.

The “race” was led by the famed Hooters girls, Boogie Nights characters and the renowned Boogie Beaver — who was seen dancing and having his picture taken with partakers. Throughout the night the leprechauns enjoyed food and drink specials all through the casino for this special annual event.

Participating leprechauns congregated in the marketplace with festive Irish chants that built up to the massive run that surprised and entertained guests and spectators both inside the hotel and on the Boardwalk.

Go here to see a photo gallery of the event.

“Whoever thought drunken guys only come out in the summer …  lied,” said Mattie Dunn, a highly entertained bystander.  — Josh Kinney

ATLANTIC CITY — Losing weight and getting in shape are at the top of nearly every New Year’s resolution list every year. Clinical studies show, however, that many people sabotage their resolutions by not being clear on their goals. Being specific, like saying “I want to lose five to 10 pounds,” instead of just, “I want to lose weight” can help goal-setters stay more focused.

This year, how about setting a goal to achieve a certain distance in an organized run? A New Year’s resolution to run in the Atlantic City Marathon Race Series offers various courses, distances and incentives to help you keep your 2012 running resolutions. Whether you have a three-month goal for the April Fools Half Marathon (which includes options for 7K, 11K or half marathon) or a 10-month goal for the Atlantic City Marathon (5K, 10K, half marathon or marathon), the Atlantic City Marathon Race Series (ACMRS), which manages these events, has a race to fit your resolution.

The April Fools 7K and 11K were launched in 2011 as a part of the ACMRS, and in 2012 the ACMRS introduces the inaugural April Fools Half Marathon. The half marathon begins on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and runs south into the beach communities of Ventnor, Margate and Longport before returning to Bally’s Dennis Court Yard. The finish line includes finisher medals for all half marathon runners, awards for top finishers, live entertainment — and complementary beer for runners! What more of an incentive do you need than that?
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