Cranford Shark Finns 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run

ABOUT OUR VIRTUAL RACE:

Join us for the inaugural Cranford Shark Finns 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run this Thanksgiving! 

Since we can't host a "live" race, a virtual race is a fun and safe way to get involved. You choose the course and day you’d like to complete your run or walk.  All proceeds go to Special Olympics New Jersey, which supports over 25,000 youth and adult athletes with intellectual disabilities in their training, competition, and success on the field and life, including the Special Olympics Young Athletes program at the Community Center in Cranford, New Jersey  for children with special needs from 2-7 years old. 

Of course, we'd love to see you run with us on Friday, November 27 at Memorial Field in Cranford anytime between 11am and 1pm that day to celebrate Cranford Track Friday!  (A 5K is about 13 laps around the track and the 1 miler is only 4 laps.)   To submit your race time, go to the main race page, click on "Results" and then "Submit Virtual Results" to find your entry and upload your time!

ABOUT TRACK FRIDAY:

Track Friday is a celebration of charitable giving, held on the day after Thanksgiving, a day commonly known for mega sales and commercialism. Participants are encouraged to redirect some of their Black Friday dollars to charitable causes, while also spending time with their community and burning off some Thanksgiving calories.The Cranford Jaycees have been hosting a Track Friday event at the Ray White Track at Memorial Field in Cranford, New Jersey since 2016. In light of new considerations for COVID-19, the Jaycees will host a hybrid version of the event that allows us to continue our tradition of gathering at the track while also offering a town-wide virtual option. Cranford residents are invited to participate at the track or by running/walking virtually, anywhere, anytime on November 27th. 

If you'd like to find out more about Cranford Track Friday, or donate directly to one of the charitable causes, go to the Cranford Track Friday homepage at https://www.mightycause.com/team/Cranfordtrackfriday2020

If you can't make it that day, you can run anytime and anywhere between Thursday, November 26th through Sunday, December 13th - just upload your time before midnight on December 13th!

All ages and fitness levels are welcome to participate. Online registration is easy and secure, and you get a commemorative t-shirt with your entry!  For those who register by midnight on Friday, November 27th, your t-shirt will be available for pickup in Cranford  by Saturday December 12!  If you register after that date, we will schedule a second pickup prior to Christmas! Don't forget to send us your pictures to SharkFinns5K@gmail.com to upload on our Facebook and Instagram pages! 

WHO ARE THE "SHARK FINNS" & WHY WE SUPPORT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW JERSEY:

In 2011, Finn Morin, the son of our race founder, Phil Morin,  was born with Down syndrome. In 2012, Phil got a group of local dads together to play in the Special Olympics New Jersey Snow Bowl flag football tournament at MetLife Stadium and help raise money to support SONJ as Finn has been an active participant in the Special Olympics programs.  Our team, the Shark Finns, is named after Finn. Nine years later, the Shark Finns are still going strong and doing our best to continue to raise money and awareness for this amazing organization. For more information on the Special Olympics New Jersey and the Shark Finns, go to https://www.sonj.org/about/blog/fundraising-profile-the-shark-finns/