Louise Holt and Cathy Haut are fast friends who met through the Seashore Striders family of running and racing, and they have been two of the loyal local participants in many of the fun Disney events that take place throughout the year.

Holt started in 2005 and completed the first Mickey & Minnie Full Marathon in 2010 with 30-degree temps, while also completing the Dopey Challenge in 2017, ‘24 and ‘26. The Dopey Challenge includes the 5K, 10K, half- and full marathons, and it has a tough 4:30 a.m. start. Holt has also completed the Disney Wine & Dine event, which is usually at the end of October and is a 5K, 10, and half-marathon. “In 2017, Cathy took me to Disneyland for the half-marathon, and we earned a medal they call the Coast to Coast, with Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse holding hands,” said Holt. “This means you do the half-marathon in California and Florida.” Holt is planning on continuing to do the 5K, 10K and half, but has said she is retiring from the taxing Dopey. “[The] 48.6 miles is just too much on your body, but it is cool to run through Magic Kingdon, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and then to the finish at Epcot.”

Haut is a regular on the running circuit and has completed many races in Disney World and Disneyland, including 10 marathons in Disney World. Haut completed the Goofy Challenge, which is a half- and a full marathon back to back, while also being one of the inaugural participants in the Dopey Challenge, which started in 2014. She started in 2008 and has never missed the Princess Half Marathon and is considered a “Perfect Princess.” This year’s race will be No. 19 next month. Haut plans to reach milestone No. 20 next year as she reaches another milestone, turning 70 years old. “My daughters have joined me multiple times in Disney, so it’s a lot of fun with family and friends,” said Haut.

Delaware runners completing the full marathon include: Jim Kanuch (Millsboro) - 5:48:55; Joshua Hudson (Frankford) - 5:49:55; Kathryn Sweetman (Frankford) - 5:49:55; Amelia Sacco (Milford) - 6:15:22; Louise Holt (Milford) - 6:57:49; Meghan Feliciani (Lewes) - 6:59:33; and Amanda Young (Lewes) - 7:20:44.

Delaware runners completing the half-marathon include: Joel Simon (Lewes) - 2:35:53; Jim Kanuch (Millsboro) - 2:40:41; Rose Middleton (Lewes) - 3:03:33; Louis Holt (Milford) - 3:19:20; Paige Nadler (Lewes) - 3:25:04; Kaitlyn Kreiser (Millsboro) - 3:27:10; Michael Martin (Lewes) - 3:43:37; Susan Martin (Lewes) - 3:48:16; Amanda Young (Lewes) - 3:52:20; and Meghan Feliciani (Lewes) - 3:52:21.

Delaware runners completing the 10K include: Sydney Raffellini (Millsboro) - 1:13:18; Stephen Raffellini (Millsboro) - 1:13:20; Suzanne Raffellini (Millsboro) - 1:13:20; Samantha Raffellini (Millsboro) - 1:13:20; Jim Kanuch (Millsboro) - 1:13:23; Louise Holt (Milford) - 1:23:27; Michael Martin (Lewes) - 1:38:37; Susan Martin (Lewes) - 1:50:55; Meghan Feliciani (Lewes) - 1:52:28; and Alyssa Simon (Lewes) - 1:54:50.

The totals are amazing, with 16,000 men and 26,000 women for a total of 42,000 competing in the 10K, half- and full marathon. With an average $50 entry fee, Disney is collecting over $2.1 million right there, and many are raising funds through charity groups, which makes the number even larger.

A Disney flashback saw Striders runner Sharyn Slick as the perfect Dopey until COVID, meaning she didn’t miss a Dopey Challenge until then. Slick completed her last Dopey in 2020 at age 73.

Finish Chute - The Sussex Academy indoor track & field team traveled to Tower Hill last weekend for the second Invitational on the 165m short track. Some impressive performances took place in the facility that was once home to the Delaware State Championships in the 1980s. Cape won the indoor meet, and I was lucky enough to capture the 1600m/3200m double both years I competed at Tower Hill. Top five female finishers for the Sussex Academy team are: 1- Katya Geyer, HJ, 5-2 and TJ, 32-2; 2- Reagan Klahr, HJ, 5-0 & LJ, 15-0; 3- Jordan Blades, 3200m, 12:46.2; 3 - 1600m R, 4:42.0; 3200m R, 11:06.3; 3- Avery O’Connor, TJ, 27-10; 4- Riley Moriarty, 3200m, 12:47.8; 5- Eva Piper, 1600m, 6:04.8.

Top five male finishers for the Sussex Academy indoor track & field team are: 1- Ryan Moody, 800m, 2:06.3; 1- 1600m R, 3:55.1; 1- 3200m R, 9:01.6; 3- Rocco Buonopane, 400m, 55.9; 4- Nolan Furlong, 3200m, 11:36.8. Sussex Academy is scheduled for a Polar Bear Meet at Sussex Central High School in Georgetown Jan. 16. Cape and Sussex Academy are both registered to head south again to the Virginia Showcase this weekend on the 200m banked oval in Virginia Beach. The showcase last year had several of the top 10 performances in the country and this year should be no different with more than 400 teams expected. Jen and JR Ward of Lewes do not know what the word “off-season” means, as they did back-to-back trips north to compete last weekend in the Mayor’s Icicle Ten Miler and Snowflake 5K for the Saturday challenge, and on Sunday tackled the I Hate to Run 5K on basically the same course, a very tough route with many hills to climb for the flatlanders from downstate. JR competed carrying his 45-lb. ruck pack, while Jen survived running Monkey Hill four times in two days.