Normally when something goes under renovation, you expect a lot to change, and for the changes to actually be useful.

The Rothman Orthopedic Sports Complex in Toms River, otherwise known as “The Bubble”, went under renovation prior to the 2025-2026 Winter Track season. As a track athlete myself I was pumped to see these renovations for myself during my first trip there. As I got a closer look, I realized it was more of just a color change and the movement of the field events which was very underwhelming. Now I can’t say that I expected it to be perfect, but some minor tweaks could have made it close to that.

While there is now a new and improved shot put pit for throwers, they still cannot always throw in the Bubble, which is a shame because the new area was supposed to be so they had all the space they needed to get their throws in. The NJSIAA (who runs most high school sports) still has to resort to using the gym which is all the way inside of Toms River High School.

For the fans and parents who planned on watching the athletes race, it was not a great experience for their legs; they were almost working as hard as the runners just to stand up for the whole meet. This is because chairs are not allowed in the Bubble, and none were provided this whole winter track season. This was odd since before the renovations, there were bleachers for plenty to sit at. The Bubble without chairs really ruins it for many parents since they will have to stand up for hours just to watch their kids run.

For athletes like me, the main thing to complain about is the spike requirement. The Bubble requires ⅛ inch spikes which make getting good times a lot harder. Other high level indoor tracks like The Armory in New York City, and Ocean Breeze in Staten Island require ¼ inch spikes, which is the professional level size for spikes, making it best for athletes trying to get PR’s in their events. Running in ⅛ spikes can cause you to slip in the beginning of your race, and not use your full force of power when running fast. The NJSIAA says it is to preserve the track but the track surface is made to withstand the professional level spikes that are used at the higher levels.

Aside from the spikes, one aspect that could have been changed but is a little ambitious to ask for, is an elevated bend in the track. The Armory and Ocean Breeze both have this bend, which makes any indoor track faster by seconds. If Tom’s River had this bend in their track they would become a powerhouse for US ranked times during the indoor season, and a venue that all teams would love to run at without a doubt. The bend can make meets more fun and enjoyable than they already are for runners and get them more excited for the long bus ride to this indoor track facility.

Moving on from the negatives, the color change in the Bubble was great! The new colors are very appealing and really fun to run in as an athlete. I enjoyed seeing the new colors for every trip that I took there, and they complimented the Bubble really well. While I expected more from renovations, I believe the color change is a start, and something to be grateful for considering the color from past years was boring and outdated. The regular red color from last year was a complete eyesore, and I’m sure all current indoor track athletes are glad that it’s gone.

When taking into account how the long jump area was in past years, it makes the long jump pit now look amazing, with jumpers not having to run in the middle of the track just to get a run through. While the pit being in the corner isn’t the best, I can gladly say it definitely has improved. Long jumpers now have no interruptions and can run through without having to worry about racers being in the way.

While the renovations were for the most part underwhelming, and more could have been expected from a track that hosts all of the NJSIAA meets that can qualify runners for state championships, there is some good to look at when comparing it to how it looked before. It still doesn’t hold a candle to the Armory or Ocean Breeze but that’s fine, we never know how it can be changed in the future.