The Love of the Run

SPARTA — A standout in Sussex County since the early 2000’s, still at the top of his game even now at age 28, is Justin Scheid of Sparta.

With personal best times of 4:09 in the 1 mile, 8:55 in the 3200m, 14:05 for a 5k (3.17 miles), 1:07:31 in the Half Marathon (13.1 miles) and a 2:27:47 in the Marathon (26.2 miles) that Scheid is one of the most well known and well respected runners in the area, and why he will be on this year’s Sussex County Sports Hall of Fame Ballot.

Several months ago, the highly accomplished runner came in 99th place out of 31,931 finishers and was the first New Jersey finisher to cross the finish line with a time of 2 hours and 30 minutes in the 2014 Boston Marathon. That’s an average of 5:45 minutes per mile which is faster than most of us can run one mile in, no less 26.2 consecutive miles.

Scheid is a CPA and manager in the tax practice at Pricewaterhouse Coopers and had to train for the marathon during tax season. He managed to work long hours while running 80 or more miles a week.

On April 21, the gun went off at 10 a.m. and 2 hours, 30 minutes and 20 seconds later Scheid came through the finish line in Boston.

There are 10 other nominees for the Sussex County Sports Hall of Fame. Five will be voted in.

The induction ceremony will be held Nov. 7 at Lake Mohawk Country Club.