Hey, hey! Calling all female runners for June 28 Girls Morning Out!
This Saturday morning, the Seashore Striders will host the Striders Women’s Distance Festival 5K Run and the Seashore Striders 5K for the male runners. The race will begin at Rehoboth Elementary School, just off Route 1 between Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach. The female runners will kick off at 7:30 a.m., while the male runners will start between 8 and 8:10 a.m. New Balance and Vernon Powell will sponsor the top 10 awards for the female runners as they have done for many years at this event.
“We are pleased to have the support of New Balance and VP Shoes, and it’s great that we can celebrate female running, as female running and racing has come a long way,” commented Strider Rich Tikiob. Awards will be presented to the overall champion, master champion and top three finishers in 16 age groups from 9 & under to 80 & over. At one time, many years ago, the female race was a part of the RRCA National Women’s Distance Festival, and basically when that series disappeared the Striders made the decision to keep the concept alive. See you at the starting line. Arrive early if you're not preregistered.
Groovin’ at the Grove
Bob Porter and I were sitting at the Grove in early July 1996 and we decided we would begin to meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and go for a run. One week led to two and two straight weeks led to 18 years and over 1,000 straight Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. Every week I get calls for a weekly run and I refer visitors all summer long to the Grove. Just this week, I waited for President Doris Hicks with first-timers Kenny Riedel and mom Heather. “It’s so much easier to run with people, “said Kenny. “It goes by much faster.” “I’m walking,” said Heather.
The great thing about the Grove Club is that it attracts ability levels of all kinds and all different shapes, sizes, and walks of people. Everyone is there for a common purpose. “To walk and jog for the health of it,” former President Bob Porter used to say. The Grove Club and the Seashore Striders are a part of the Road Runners Club of America, and the Grove Club is a part of the Rehoboth Recreation Department during the summer months. For many, many years, dedicated runners and walkers have invested time in the Grove Club to help it grow and make it what it is today. It has become a consistent time and location that runners and walkers can look forward to each and every week throughout the year, whether they live locally or are visiting. The Grove Park will always host the Grove Club, just like Nicola’s will always be on First Street and Dolle's will always be at the end of Rehoboth Avenue. A runner years ago asked me, “Why 6 p.m. - why not 4 p.m.?” My comment: “My middle school milers would love to race a 1,500 meter, but guess what - sorry - it’s a 1,600."
Carpenter visits Rehoboth Beach Running Company
Betsy Carpenter, the impressive holder of eight Delaware road race records, recently visited the Rehoboth Beach Running Company and was interviewed by Bill Meehan of RBRC. The interview will appear in the July issue of the RBRC News. I was speaking to Bill the morning of her visit, and we were talking about the great track workouts that used to take place at the Tower Hill track as a part of the Delaware Racing Team. Betsy ran the 5K in 20:03 in 2007 in the 50-54 age group, which stands as the fastest time ever run in that age group. Other records held by Betsy include the following: 30-34 - 15K, 50-54 - 15K, 30-34 - 10M, 50-54 - 10M, 30-34 - 20K, 30-34 - 1/2M, 50-54 - 1/2M. Congratulations to Betsy.
Upcoming races
7:30 a.m., Saturday, June 28 - 19th The Women's Distance Festival 5K Run, Rehoboth Elementary School, seashorestriders.com.
8 a.m., Saturday, June 28 - 24th Seashore Striders 5K, Rehoboth Elementary School, seashorestriders.com.
8 a.m., Sunday, June 29 - 12th The Ivy 5K, Dewey Beach, races2run.com.
7:30 a.m., Saturday, July 5 - 24th Beach Paper Firecracker 5K, Grove Park, seashorestriders.com.
8 a.m., Sunday, July 6 - 24th Dave Reynolds Swim/Run Biathlon, Rehoboth Beach Patrol, seashorestriders.com.
8 a.m., Sunday, July 6 - 6th Outlet Liquors 5K at the Rusty Rudder, Dewey Beach, races2run.com.
