Coastal Delaware Running Festival is a happening of happy feet

The Coastal Delaware Running Festival offered a 5K, 9K, and half and full marathons. The two-day event clocked in 2,834 finishers April 22-23, all with a common finish at Hyatt Place in Dewey Beach.

It was a high-tech, everybody-gets-a-medal, positive reinforcement digital endeavor. Runners’ official time pinged on their cellphone before they got back to the cars. There was also a Challenge Run category for anyone who ran the 5K Saturday then one of the three Sunday races. Challenge runners got a heavier medal, which they paid for in cash and calories.

The 5K was won by Kameron Hatfield, 25, of Milford in 17:25. Stacy Pond, 29, of Milan, Pa., was the first female in 20:49.

The 9K overall winner was Evan Fuller, 25, from Caldwell, N.J., who ran 32:33. Michelle Poppiti, 32, of Wilmington was the first female in 40:21.

The half marathon winner was Chris Brennan, 26, of Reading, Pa., in 1:19:10. Jenny Swiderski, 30, was the first woman to cross in the half marathon, running 1:31:09.

The signature event was the full marathon. It left from Tower Road Bayside and went all the way to Lewes using the Junction and Breakwater Trail system. It was won by Jossi Fritz-Mauer, 32, from Westport, Conn., in 2:52:53. Mary Schneider, 29, from Monkton, Md., was the only female to break three hours, in 2:59:31.

Outriggers were needed to separate all the storylines, from the group Athletes Serving Athletes to the emergence of Black Men Run (complementing the established Black Girls Run group). Friends ran for absent friends, while others ran for those battling addiction. Many ran to celebrate recovery from illness, or weight loss since the new year.

The competitors call each other runners and everyone may get a medal, but you have to put yourself out there and you have to earn it.

Check out www.codelrun.com for expanded results.