March often offers weather surprises

Track season opened March 1 throughout the state, with hundreds of middle school and high school athletes showing up to Day 1 ready to run, jump and throw. Locally here in the Cape Henlopen School District, the high school team, under the direction of George Pepper and Matt Lindell, kicked things off, while Mariner Middle School and Beacon Middle School got the ball rolling at their respective schools as well.

At Beacon Middle, coach Gilbert Maull and I had only the girls out on the first day - a total of 75. After a short video presentation of dynamic and static stretches, plyometric drills and a tour of where the track events take place, the Beacon team jumped right into a plyometric workout followed by hill sprints in a place we call “the ditch.” It was a productive Day 1 for the team. 

Mariner Middle School was set to began practice March 2 in Milton.

The month of March is normally very painful to get through, with Mother Nature throwing all kinds of weather at us. A few years ago, I remember practicing in the snow as hurdler Annie Judge fired up the team during the workout, while two years ago it was a workout in the rain that turned to hail balls, and the team loved it.

You never know what you will get in March, but it is sure to be interesting. 

CRN group takes on Myrtle Beach Half

A group of Certified Running Nuts will be competing this weekend in the 20th running of one of the flattest and fastest races in South Carolina, the Myrtle Beach Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, Grande Dunes 5K and Family Fun Run!

Good luck to the following who made the trip south: Rosanna Castillo, Joey Kwit, Mardiny Ung, Jay Epstein, Chris Stanley, Linda Stanley, Leeann Waltz, Jennifer Boutin and Greg Boutin.

Just two weeks ago, a group of 12 Certified Running Nuts ran the 20th Martha's Vineyard 20-Miler.   

Series races around the corner

Every runner who races regularly loves to compete in a series. 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 runners’ placement in the race. So many opportunities for a series of events.

The popular Irish Eyes 6-Pack Series takes runners through a group of six events from April to June and awards a jacket to all the runners and walkers who complete the series. The series will kick off with the opening race, the Seashore Classic, Sunday, April 9, in Lewes with a choice of completing the half-marathon, 5K or half relay.

Here are the races in the popular 6-pack series:           

Sunday, April 9, eighth Seashore Classic Half Marathon, 5K, Relay, Lewes, 8 a.m.

Saturday, May 13, ninth Mothers Day Remembrance 5K, Lewes, 9 a.m.

Saturday, June 3, inaugural Doug Strong 5K, Lewes, 7:30 a.m.

Saturday, June 10, 14th DFRC Blue-Gold 5K & 1-Mile Walk, Lewes, 8 a.m.

Saturday, June 17, Irish Eyes 5K Dash, Milton, 8 a.m.

Sunday, June 18, 27th Fathers Day 5K, Rehoboth, 7:30 a.m.

The 27th annual Seashore Striders Summer Championship Series will be held throughout the summer months, beginning with the 24th annual Masser 5-Miler Sunday, May 28, in Lewes at Cape Henlopen High School. Runners who complete five 5K events and one five-mile event will qualify for awards.

The seventh annual Triple Crown Series will consist of three races in three towns in three days and will kick off with the 14th annual Georgetown Public Library 5K Friday, June 16. Runners who complete all three events will qualify for awards.

The inaugural Strider Trail Run Series is a group of 10 races throughout the year from March to November where runners earn awards for completing eight of the 10 events. The trail series will kick off with the 11th Shamrock Shuffle 15K & 5K Saturday, March 19, in Rehoboth Beach.

In Dewey Beach, the Ten Sisters Road Race Series will kick off with the 15th annual Highway One Companies 5K Monday, May 29. Special awards for those who complete all Ten Sisters events of the Dewey Beach series!