René Rovtar is a longtime New Jersey public schools administrator who has run 11 Boston Marathons and lines up with Joey Chestnut at competitive eating contests.
Rovtar, currently the Mendham Borough school district’s interim business administrator, said she’s gotten used to “sideways glances” about her unconventional passion for eating as much food as possible in contests ranging from eight to 12 minutes.
She’s downed pork rolls in Trenton, baloney in Tennessee, fudge in Missouri, sweet corn in Florida and hot dogs on Coney Island.
Next up, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, is the Jack’s Donuts World Donut Hole Eating Championship in New Castle, Indiana. It is about a 630-mile drive from her Basking Ridge home, with Rovtar planning to depart on Friday morning and spend the night at a hotel.
Rovtar first entered last year, eating 43 donut holes in eight minutes. While that sounds like a lot, the winner, Geoff Esper, had 344, which averages out to a donut hole every 1.4 seconds.
Rovtar finished 11th, in last place — not unexpected, since she competes for the experience, not to win.
“I had such a good time, it was worth going back,” said Rovtar, a former Morris County schools superintendent who also led districts in Montville, Butler and Long Hill.
Rovtar was in Tennessee last weekend with a dozen others, trying to eat as much baloney as possible in eight minutes at the Ultimate Baloney Showdown. She polished off one pound.
Isn’t that a lot?
“Not when Joey Chestnut is eating 14 pounds of baloney,” she said, referring to the competitive eating champion’s latest win.
Rovtar may seem an unlikely ambassador for competitive eating. Her most recent Boston Marathon was in 2014 and she continues to run.
“I think by and large most of the competitive eaters really try to stay in good shape. They’re not just gluttons. They’re into all forms of exercise. They try to star healthy,” Rovtar said.
Her official bio on the Major League Eating website says that Rovtar “dives into each contest, not just for the thrill of competition, but for the sheer enjoyment and the vibrant events that surround it.”
“While the eating arena often witnesses messy and frenzied techniques, René stands out. Her calm and neat approach to consuming her food is a refreshing contrast, making her presence known and respected at the table,” the bio reads.
Rovtar’s immersion in the world of competitive eating began in 2017 when, at 58, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by entering the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island.
She decided to give it a try after watching a contestant in 2016 eat only four hot dogs. She said she figured she could do at least as well, and secured an entry by participating in a regional qualifying round in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Rovtar made competitive eating history the following year when she was joined by her daughter, Kristina, making them the July 4th event’s first mother-daughter team. Rene had 6 1/2 hot dogs in 10 minutes while Kristina, who again joined her in 2021, had five.
Elsewhere, Rovtar has also taken part in an annual pork roll eating contest in Trenton, finishing seven pork rolls in 10 minutes in 2022.
Rovtar has gotten to know Chestnut, a 16-time winner of the Coney Island contest and the biggest celebrity on the competitive eating circuit.
“He is a down to Earth kind of person. A little on the shy side actually but approachable. He’s always taking time to sign an autograph for a fan. He’s just an amazing eater,” Rovtar said.
In March, she went to Missouri with her husband, Peter, for a fudge eating contest. She ate just under a pound in eight minutes.
“It was like heaven,” she said.
Rovtar decided after the 2023 hot dog eating contest, her seventh in a row, to conclude her annual appearances on Coney Island, saying she no longer wanted to “totally monopolize” the holiday for her family.
But she remained committed to the small yet close-knit competitive eating community.
“I love the people. Very down to earth, friendly. Just a nice group,” she said.
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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
