Irish Eyes Six-Pack Series wraps up this weekend

The Irish Eyes 6-Pack Race Series will wrap up Saturday and Sunday with the fifth and final sixth race in the series taking part in Milton and Rehoboth Beach. On Saturday, the Irish Eyes 5K will take off from Irish Eyes in Milton at 8 a.m., while on Sunday in Rehoboth the 26th annual Father’s Day 5K will begin on Wilmington Avenue at 7:30 a.m.

Every runner who races regularly loves to compete in series events. A series is simply a group of races that you lump together at some time of the year or throughout the whole year that can be scored separately. Awards can be presented to the runners who complete the whole series, and points can be awarded as well based on the runner's placement in the race. There are so many opportunities to compete in a series.

Our area here at the beach is a hotbed for running and racing, with just about every weekend full throughout the year with some sort of road racing event raising thousands of dollars for many nonprofit organizations. We are very fortunate to have several series events in the local area, with the popular Seashore Striders Summer Series in its 26th year and the Dewey 10 Sisters Series in year No. 15. The remaining races can be found at seashorestriders.com and races2run.com. Keep in mind that everyone can participate in individual races, and they do not have to join or pay a special extra fee to be in the series - they simply enter the races, and the timers and organizers take care of the rest. Challenge yourself and complete a series!

Shields Jump Rope for Heart 

Shields Elementary celebrated the popular Jump Rope for Heart activities this past spring in February and March and has raised $8,300 for the American Heart Association.  Students learn about their hearts, how to take care of their hearts and how to keep them healthy.  Students also learn how to take their heart rate and the difference between resting and max heart rates.  Activities related to jumping were set up in physical education class, including jump rope, long jump, triple jump, plyometric jumping and more that allowed the students to take part and learn about having a healthy heart. Congratulations to the Shields students for setting an all-time school record in donations. 

Summer running at Killens Pond State Park

Coach Czar Bloom, head coach of the Polytech High School track and cross country programs, sent out an invite to anyone interested in doing some summer running together at Killens Pond.

Czar and his wife plan on meeting out at the pavilion near the start/finish area of the cross country course from about 6 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday evening.

Czar is hoping to have some runners, alums and even their friends and family out and about getting in shape. Feel free to pass the word and/or come out and join coach Bloom. There will be no coaching involved, just some extra motivation to get off the couch and jog. Hopefully if enough folks show, we’ll have a variety of paces and abilities to allow folks to find a partner or two or three.  The runs are open to all, regardless of ability level.  Those who come out are free to pick their own mileage, pace, trail, etc.  Remember, park entry fees are in effect.

This is in no way affiliated with any school or club – just an open invite to come out and run!

Go Fast Running Camp

It’s not too late to register for the inaugural Go Fast Running Camp, which will be held Monday-Friday, June 20-24 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes.  For information, call 302-983-6050 or visit gofastcamps.com.

Camp highlights include collegiate and high school coaching staff, daily runs based on ability and experience, trail running through the beautiful Cape Henlopen State Park, beach training techniques, strength training, plyometrics and agility drills for XC runners, education sessions and guest speakers, graduation run, official camp training shirt or tank, official camp notebook or zip drive. 

Camp topics include summer training plan, cross training, goal setting, nutrition and hydration, sports psychology, injury prevention, running technique, race tactics. Don’t forget, "A goal without action is only a wish."