PHOTOS: Eatontown 5K a Win for Friends and Neighbors

As I moseyed around the start of the course for the Eatontown 5K on Monday morning, I overheard one woman say to her friend that it never seemed to rain on race day.

"They always have perfect weather," she said of the event.

And so it was early Labor Day as racers arrived at the on Route 35 to register or pick up their packets and t-shirts for the . For those of us standing around outside and taking pictures or cheering on racers, the slightly overcast sky seemed to offset the heat and humidity creeping into the day. Racers might have felt differently judging from the looks on their faces as they rushed through the chute at the finish line where Dennis Connelly and Gloria Lawson congratulated them and ripped off their number tags.

This is the 17th year of the annual race that began as a commemoration of the town's 225th anniversary, according to Mayor Gerald Tarantolo. There were three legs of the race -- the 5K Walk, One-mile Run and 5K Run -- with three different start times. Although racers predominantly came from Eatontown, a number of folks traveled that morning to run it, including the Hall and Kus families from Jackson and race winner Cristian Abad, who drove down from Brooklyn.

Suzanne LaBurt, from Greenwood Lake, NY, said she was staying at the Sheraton for the Labor Day weekend and happened to look out her windown and see runners milling around wearing race bibs, so she entered that morning. She won the women's division with a time of 20:07.

Officer Ryan Hennelly helped walkers and one-mile runners stay on course atop his bicycle and ran interference for Recreation Director Janice Grasso. Janice not only organized the races and ran the 5K herself, she also was the only runner requiring (minor) first aid after a run in with a slippery sewer cover left her with a big scrape on her leg.

All racers and supporters were treated to a nice spread inside the hotel that included pastries, bagels, fruits and veggies with lots of water and juice (and coffee for organizers). Both Janice and the mayor lauded the Sheraton Hotel for its generosity each year sponsoring the race and donating use of its facilities.

Following the race, folks gathered in the Sheraton's Ballroom for an awards ceremony for winners in various categories. A raffle was also held with lots of prizes, including gift certificates from , , , , , , , , Rise n'Shine Lunceonette, Running 101, Athlete's Alley, water bottle from , gift basket from Coldwell Banker and chocolates from .

Friends and neighbors applauded winners, kids squealed as the raffle numbers were announced and everyone relaxed and enjoyed the finale of their Labor Day tradition.

For results, click here.