Delmarva: A mecca for running and racing

Experts at Runners Need, a specialist running company, have pieced together a new study to rank the best U.S. cities for outdoor exercise as summer finishes up. As running popularity hits all-time highs post-pandemic, this study helps readers rediscover options for access to the outdoors on their doorsteps.

The study was based on a combination of factors including safety, traffic density, air cleanliness, and the number of public parks and gardens in each place.

Their Best Running Locations found were Santa Fe, N.M.; Madison, Wis.; and St. Petersburg, Fla., while the Worst Running Locations were New York City, Los Angeles and Houston.

Buffalo, N.Y.; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Boston have the best access to public parks and open space per capita – more than any other U.S. city, while Dallas, Texas; Concord and Salem, Mass.; and Portland, Ore., offer outdoor runners the cleanest air for their exercise sessions. Major cities in New York state and Cleveland offer the very worst air quality for runners.

For U.S. citizens just wanting to compete, the cities of Annapolis, Md.; Dover, Del.; and Harrisburg, Pa., offer the most events per capita, while Wichita, Kan.; Fresno, Calif.; and El Paso, Texas, offer the fewest in the U.S. Charlotte, N.C.; Indianapolis, Ind.; and Atlanta top the rankings for the safest cities to run in.

I would have to say that Delmarva in general, when talking about events per capita, ranks right at the top of the U.S. Besides the Seashore Striders, race companies TriSports Events, Races2Run, Fusion, Focus Multisports, TCR Events and Charm City are all in the Delmarva area, giving runners on the east side of Washington, D.C., more races to choose from than anywhere in the U.S.

If you are a runner and like the beach, why wouldn’t you come to Delmarva?

Prediction 5K

Looking for a cool, unique race? The Last Blast Prediction 5K will begin at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 4, at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach. It is the final race of the summer, and it is set up as a prediction run. The top 20 finishers closest to their predicted time are the winners. The rules are simple: No watches, no mile markers, no GPS, no phones, no earbuds and no luck allowed. Following the prediction awards, the Summer Series awards will be presented to the qualifiers.

Cape XC

The Cape cross country team is deep into preseason with decent numbers in the 40s, and runners are gearing up for the opening competition Saturday, Sept. 11, as the Vikings travel to Killens Pond to take part in the Lake Forrest Invitational. Ryan Baker is looking sharp on the boys’ side coming off a good summer of training. Baker broke the 3,200 school record last spring, running 9:35, and also ran 4:28 in the 1,600 meters. Baker looks to go under the 16-minute barrier this fall in cross country. The Lady Vikings return Katie Kuhlman, who was second in the Division I State Championships last season. She looks fit and ready to roll. “We have our front runners with experience, then we have a solid group to back them up, and finally a nice group of young first-time runners out for the team,” said coach Matt Lindell. “I’m excited for the season.”

Seashore Striders XC

The Seashore Striders cross country team begins year 21 at Cape Henlopen State Park, where the team will practice Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m., with a home base of Herring Point. Young runners ages 5 to 18 are welcome to come out for the program, where kids are grouped by ability levels for training. If interested, show up Tuesday, Sept. 7, at Herring Point. For more information, contact coach Tim Bamforth at tim@seashorestrider.com.

Run, White & Blue 5K

The popular Run, White & Blue 5K will be held Thursday, Sept. 9, at Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown with organizer Janelle Boyer at the controls. This eighth annual event is a great show of community support, from pre-race to post-race, and this year will be a 20-year remembrance of 9/11. The event will also have a one-mile fun run/walk, and proceeds will benefit scholarships for veterans and first responders. The race will begin at 6 p.m. and information can be found at seashorestriders.com.