Championship series wraps up this Sunday in Millsboro

The 27th Championship Series will wrap up this Sunday morning, Aug. 13, in Millsboro with the Dam Mill 5K Run, a make-up race from a rained-out event two weeks ago. The race will begin at 7:30 a.m. from Cupola Park and head down a flat and fast State Street all the way to the turnaround and back. This is one of the few events on the circuit with a downhill sprint to the finish. Preregistration will close at noon, Saturday, Aug. 12, but runners can still register on race day beginning at 6:15 a.m. at Cupola Park. The Giant supermarket, Surf Bagel, and The Ice Cream Store will provide refreshments for the event, while the Delaware Office of Highway Safety Walk & Run Smart - Arrive Alive campaign will be the title sponsor.

Farm to host Mooo-Run 5K

The Seashore Striders will team up with Hopkins Farm, also known to many as Green Acres Farm, to host a 5K at the farm on Route 9 Saturday, Sept. 23, which will give runners a good taste of what living on the farm is all about. The event name, Inaugural Udderly Fun Mooo-Run - The Ultimate Farm 5K, was created by local runner Linda Schwartz-Chi. Hopkins Farm Creamery will provide ice cream at the finish line, while runners will tour the farm on the out-and-back course that will take them to a beautiful bed & breakfast on the farm as well as a covered bridge and man-made pond. It will be a fun and different don't-miss event. Custom cow awards will be presented to the top three finishers in 10-year age groups.

Hopkins Farm Creamery is in the heart of Green Acres Farm, the largest dairy farm in Delaware. Green Acres maintains over 1,000 head of cows (500 milkers) 24/7, year-round. These Hopkins Henlopen Holsteins are milked three times a day, 365 days a year producing over 12 million pounds of milk per year! Green Acres Farm milk is shipped immediately to Land O' Lakes for pasteurization, processing, packaging and distribution.

Participants will be greeted with a fully functioning farm-friendly atmosphere and post-race refreshments from Surf Bagel, Giant, and Hopkins Farm Creamery, plus long-sleeve tech T-shirts for this inaugural event. Visit www.seashorestriders.com to register.

Fire Fightin' 5K set Aug. 20

Usually several times a day you can hear the fire whistle going off, and the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company has had a busy summer so far. I counted 21 calls alone on a recent Wednesday. If you go to rehobothbeachfire.com you can review the live run log and see how busy and dedicated these men and women are and how valuable they are to the Cape Region community. The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company invites everyone to be part of the 3rd Annual Fire Fightin' 5K Run & Walk at 8 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 20, to benefit the Capital Campaign Station 2 Building Fund. Runners will travel down Rehoboth Avenue, taking a right on Lake and following Oak Avenue to Surf Avenue and onto the Boardwalk. Turning around on the Boardwalk at Wilmington Avenue, the course will follow the same trek in reverse back to the firehouse. Get signed up at www.seashorestriders.com.

World Championships

For the first time in many years, the United States captured the 100 meters on both the men's and women's side of the action at the World Championships, both exciting races for any track & field fan. Justin Gatlin ran 9.92, which is crazy fast, while a lean at the tape by Tori Bowie gave her the win at 10.85. Bowie's lean at the tape should send a message to every high school and middle school sprinter on how important it is to perfect that move. Sam Kendricks also captured the pole vault gold, while Phyllis Francis won the 400 meters in 49.92 for the United States. Jenny Simpson in the women's 1500m ran 4:02.76, which converts to a 4:18 mile, and her kick down the homestretch brought her from fifth to second while she did it from lane one on the rail. How the runners already in lane one allowed Simpson to get by on the inside I will never figure out. So far it's been an exciting track & field championships, and I'm hoping my favorite distance runner, Matt Centrowitz Jr., out of Broadneck High School in Annapolis, Md., can capture the 1500-meter title this weekend. Matt is coached by Alberto Salazar and is a part of the Nike Oregon Project.

Welcome home, Jack

The Seashore Striders coordinated the finish line for former Gov. Jack Markell this past Tuesday afternoon at the Bandstand in Rehoboth Beach as he finished his 3,670-mile journey across the country. Jack picked up several riders at Milton’s Dogfish Head and Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, and rode to Rehoboth with about 100 escorts. Jack was met at the end of the Junction & Breakwater Trail by the Rehoboth Beach Police and escorted to Rehoboth Avenue where he rode the final mile of the trip to the Atlantic Ocean. The finish line provided plenty of excitement for Jack as hundreds of spectators surrounded the Seashore Striders finish arch and cheered as the children of the Boys & Girls Club and YMCA chanted “Jack, Jack, Jack…” The front-tire dip in the ocean completed the journey for Jack Markell as he partnered with Motivate the First State to raise $120,000 for seven nonprofit charities. It’s a great story, and we’re glad to represent Rehoboth Beach, Rehoboth Recreation Department, and the Seashore Striders.