The Rehoboth Econ Education 5K all about benefits and costs

Just the words Economic Education was enough to make 147 people run away from the boardwalk June 2 in Reboboth. But they all came back 5 kilometers later, led by Marshall Hawkins of Dover in 16:55

Bridget Danner of Rehoboth was the first woman in 19:29.

The race was sponsored by the Council for Economic Education, which has been bringing programs to elementary and secondary school for 60 years.

“This is so important that kids learn about economics and money management," said Roxy Castillo, a program coordinator, whose father Alberto, now 80, is an international economist with a PhD and speaks multiple languages, including Sussex County.

“Kids are like sponges; they just absorb the information,” Roxy said. "How the economy works should not be a mystery to school kids.”

What is a mystery is the elective misery personality component that has scores of athletes running between 50 and 100 races a year to lose weight, stay fit or fill the only social life they have.

There is 81-year-old Ed Green of Washington, D.C., who ran 35:22. There were 18 runners over 60, led by Larry Windsor, 61, of Laurel, who cruised the course in 21:31.

Jamie Wollard, 75, won her age group in 42:49. Jamie runs most of the races and is just so tough.

Maureen Keenen, 57, of Rehoboth, whose brother Mike is former president of the Cleveland Browns ran 45:19 and finished as always near the back of the race. Keenan, who trains with Dave Kergaard at Club Fitness, was dangerously overweight before she started down the road to fitness recovery.

"She is among the toughest and most inspirational people I have ever trained,” Kergarrd said.

There was Cindy Scheinholtz, 57, of Frankford, a regular runner who walked the course fast with her husband Mike.

“It's just three weeks since tracheotomy surgery for her,” Mike said.

Cindy is using running as part of post-surgical recovery and yes, she can talk, proved by “Thanks, see you next week.”

The economic benefits of running far outweigh the cost of a sedentary lifestyle.