Inaugural Lobster Run draws 1,000 to Asbury Park boardwalk

Asbury Park

Inaugural Lobster Run draws 1,000 to Asbury Park boardwalk

Proceeds benefit American Littoral Society and Shifting Sands

By Michelle Gladden

Avid runner True Fahys of Middletown said she initially thought the 4 p.m. start time for Saturday’s Inaugural 5K Lobster Run/Walk held along the Asbury Park boardwalk, up around Wesley Lake and back was going to be bit tricky.

But in the end, the top female finisher, who also finished third overall, said it was a perfect.

“It’s actually a wonderful course because you see everyone, especially if you have friends in the race, the 41-year-old said. “The time of day, at first I thought it was tricky, but this is fantastic.”

Fayhs said she and her six friends who participated in the race, opted to spring for babysitters and will make it a Saturday night out event.

“We started it off with working out so this is awesome,” Fahys said. “The time of day was key for a Saturday out.”

A collaborative effort by Langosta Lounge, The American Littoral Society, Split Second Racing, and Shifting Sands, the inaugural Lobster Run/Walk to Care for the Coast drew over 740 runners and a couple hundred onlookers.

American Littoral Society Executive Director Tim Dillingham said the event was an opportunity to get out and educate people about the ocean, coast, and Asbury Park.

“It’s really important to come here and have an event where we were able bring 1,000 people to see the ocean, get out and run, and make the connection between their lives and the lives in the ocean,” he said. “It’s was a great combination and you can see from the lobster [hats and dress], people just really got into the spirit of things.

Proceeds from the Lobster Run will benefit coastal conservation and education nonprofits – The American Littoral Society and Shifting Sands.

“The shore and the ocean are facing a tremendous amount of challenges to their health and to our ability to enjoy them and use them,” Dillingham said. “They are so critically linked back to our communities, like Asbury Park.

The run/walk was followed by an after-party that featured ½ lobster paired with a ‘lite-bites’ menu by Langosta Lounge and a complimentary beer for the participants.