Ronald McDonald was there last Sunday morning screaming, “This is my house 5K!” so race organizer Barbara Kursh gave him the air horn as the official starter of the race.

Ronald McDonald went right to the front of the line pushing aside nice guy Delaware politicos Ernie Lopez, Pete Schwartzkopf and Steve Smyk.

The weather was hotter than a government shutdown debate, but a small field of 129 runners got after it and didn’t shut it down until they finished the Irish Eyes course in Lewes.

Masters runner Mike Sewell won easily in 18:18 then went back out of the course to escort his wife Molly to the finish in 32:14.

Kim Geyer was the overall women’s winner in 23:52.

The Rice family of Wilmington had a major impact on the race with Melissa placing second among women in 24:14; her husband Paul fourth among men in 21:45; their daughter Lilly, 11, fifth among women in 24:37; and cousin Maggie Rice, 12, in 26:36.

Joanne Szczepkowski, 67, a retired teacher from a Quaker school, was the third overall woman in a time of 24:22, just 30 seconds off the lead.