Sundance Running Festival celebrates eighth year

CAMP Rehoboth’s Sundance is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, while the Sundance 5K Run, Walk, Biathlon and Swim will celebrate its eighth year. The event is produced by the Seashore Striders, hosted by CAMP Rehoboth and organized by a hardworking volunteer, Roxy Castillo.

CAMP Rehoboth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community service organization dedicated to creating a more positive environment in Rehoboth Beach and its surrounding communities. Its mission is to promote cooperation and understanding among all people, while working to build safe, inclusive communities with room for all. Proceeds will support the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. Go to CAMP Rehoboth at www.camprehoboth.com.

The event will offer a preregistration pickup from 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 26, at CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach. There will also be a swim clinic at 3 p.m.

The main event will be held Sunday morning, Aug. 27, as participants can choose from a 5K run, a half-mile swim, a walk or a biathlon. There is a little something for everyone at Sundance. For more information or to get registered, go to www.seashorestriders.com. 

Irish Eyes 6-Pack Series

Runners who finished the Irish Eyes 6-Pack Series, a group of six races sponsored by Irish Eyes, will be treated to a custom embroidered jacket as a thank you for their participation. The jackets will be presented at the Last Blast Prediction 5K Saturday, Sept. 2, in Rehoboth Beach.

A record 48 runners qualified by finishing the Seashore Classic Half Marathon/5K, Remembrance 5K, Doug Strong 5K, Blue Gold 5K, Irish Eyes 5K and finally the Fathers Day 5K.

Irish Eyes hosts and owners Tom and Charlene Jones should be commended for being the driving source behind the series, and providing a challenge and some fun at the same time to so many runners. 

The Harvest Running Festival

This event, which I thought I would preview this week, is a celebration of human potential and will be held Oct. 13-14 in Landenburg, Pa.

The Harvest Running Festival embraces this spirit by combining a trail and road course into one weekend event. The Geoghegan Greenway Trail, an Eagle Scout project, runs the perimeter of the 148-acre Fox Chase Farm. This entire trail, and then some, will be used Friday, Oct. 13 for The Peck 5K.     

The full and half Bushel 21K continues that same celebration of nature Saturday morning. This course will take runners along small roads passing hundreds of acres of farm and preserved lands. The 21K participants will also get to run a small section of the Geoghegan Trail toward the finish of the race.  

All of this will take place on a beautiful farm, during the height of autumn, in the most incredible corner of southeastern Pennsylvania, the quaint little community of Landenberg.  

"I'm a trail runner at heart. I love the laid-back vibe, the scenery, terrain, feeling one with nature and, of course, the people,” said Race Director Dave Berger. “Trail runners are a different breed! You usually don't get that vibe at road events, and that's exactly what I wanted to do with HRF. Collide these two worlds, these different runners and running styles into one, and at the end, we all party together!" 

There's a reason 13.1 miles is the most popular event distance in the country. It gives you a chance to push yourself out of your comfort zone, but not dramatically alter your life through the training. It's a also a great distance to see a good bit of an area you might not be familiar with. 

The Bushel solo of the Harvest Running Festival is all that and more. Beginning from Fox Chase Farm in sleepy little Landenberg, Pa., you get to run 13.1 of the most beautiful miles in southern Chester County this fall. You'll pass hundreds of acres of preserved lands, operating farms, large horse pastures and even run down an old wagon road. You'll finish on a portion of the Geoghegan Trail right back at the farm to a barn party complete with a bluegrass band.

Local teacher and athlete Dave “Mush” Mushrush will attempt this event as his very first half-marathon.

Cross country update

From what I’ve heard, most teams around the Henlopen Conference have high numbers of young ninth- and 10th-graders, a great sign for the conference. The Cape girls are loaded with ninth-graders and girls who have experience on a national level. Cape boys are tough up top with All-Conference runner junior Greg Boyce and double-duty soccer man sophomore Eid Nouhra, who can straight-up run.

Sussex Tech has had a great young ninth-grade girl turnout, while boys will rebuild after losing conference champ Ben Bamforth and all-conference runners Jay Hinds and Conner Morrow.

Caesar Rodney will always be tough on both sides, and Dover boys are always a force. Delmar will be led by Austin Cave, one of the best in the state.

The Seashore Striders will begin practice Tuesday, Sept. 5, at Fort Miles in Cape Henlopen State Park. The Striders will practice Tuesdays and Thursdays, and any young runner in elementary or middle school is encouraged to learn the sport of cross country and come out for the team.