Inaugural Beebe Heroes Virtual 5K a success

A total of 291 runners and walkers took part in the inaugural Beebe Heroes Virtual 5K last weekend. Participants had 48 hours to complete a 5K anywhere in the country except on a treadmill. In total, $3,112 was donated by participants, and, according to Kay Young, coordinator for Beebe Medical Foundation, close to $6,000 will be raised by the conclusion of the event.

“We are very pleased with the turnout for the event, and to partner with the Seashore Striders was a great experience,” said organizer Amy Popovich. “We are already looking forward to next year, where we hope to have the second annual as a live event.”

The Beebe event was the second in the Seashore Striders Summer Racing Series. Overall, 65 percent of participants were female, and the largest age group was the female 55-59, with 30 entrants. Martin Rodriguez of Selbyville captured the overall male title in 17:29, while Josephine Ledford, 15, of Frederica, won the overall female title in 19:31, finishing sixth overall. Ledford also won the Masser 5-Miler as well as the 6-Pack Series held in April. Mike Sewell of Lewes won the male masters title in 18:27, while Susan Greally of Millsboro won the female masters in 20:39.  

Male age-group winners were: 9 & U: Brady Sherman in 22:44; 10-13: Maddox Roberts in 24:51; 14-19: Graham McColgan in 19:40; 20-24: Sonny Landis in 23:41; 25-29: Jeff Young in 18:37; 30-34: Bryan Mack in 19:18; 35-39: Gavin Furlong in 19:06; 40-44: Mark Evans in 20:07; 45-49: Bryan Bowles in 21:32; 50-54: Chris Stanley in 20:55; 55-59: James Landis in 20:51; 60-64: Bill Holdsworth in 21:09; 65-69: Robert Fitzgerald in 22:17; 70-74: Woody Disharoon in 25:48; 75-79: Bill McArthur in 33:19; 80 & O: Jack Noel in 54:00.

Female age-group winners were: 9 & U: Nora Furlong in 46:42; 10-13: Maya Yngve in 27:07; 14-19: Emma Duffield in 27:17; 20-24: Jody Boyer in 26:15; 25-29: Melissa Floyd in 24:43; 30-34: Alexandra Cox in 27:01; 35-39: Jayme Webb in 24:21; 40-44: Shannon McKenzie in 20:42; 45-49: Jen Perry in 24:30; 50-54: Jackie Quigley in 23:44; 55-59: Lori Holdsworth in 23:46; 60-64: Gina Kylen in 27:48; 65-69: Teri Moore in 31:38; 70-74: Marie Kuhlman in 45:32; 75-79: April Anderson in 37:59.

24 miles in 24 hours

Local Martin Rodriguez completed a challenge last weekend in Bethany Beach by running 24 miles in 24 hours, completing a mile at the top of each hour. Some challenges take a physical toll on you and some take a mental toll, but this challenge was definitely both. Martin not only completed the challenge with no sleep, but continued to work on Saturday at the same time. If you look at his splits, he was able to run a negative split for each of the 24 miles, a task that by itself is tough to do in any distance.

Here is a look at his splits by hour: 1 - 7:21; 2 - 7:18; 3 - 7:05; 4 - 7:02; 5 - 6:59; 6 - 6:56; 7 - 6:50; 8 - 6:48; 9 - 6:42; 10 - 6:37; 11 - 6:35; 12 - 6:31; 13 - 6:30; 14 - 6:27; 15 - 6:26; 16 - 6:25; 17 - 6:22; 18 - 6:20; 19 - 6:19; 20 - 6:16; 21 - 6:13; 22 - 6:08; 23 - 6:04; 24 - 5:56.

Congratulations to Martin and all the other runners throughout the country who completed this challenge.

30th Father’s Day 5K

The Father’s Day 5K, in year No. 30, will be held virtually from Saturday, June 20 through Sunday, June 21, and participants are encouraged to gather family members to participate. The Father’s Day 5K will support the Seashore Striders Youth Cross Country program that takes place every fall from September through November. This event, unlike others, traditionally brings out relatives running and walking together – it’s not uncommon to have two and three generations of family members at this event. Although special events locally are not being held, the Father’s Day 5K is a perfect opportunity to get your family together, even though it has to be completed virtually.