Over 500 take part in Tim Kennard River Run 10-Miler & 5K

Last week, the Seashore Striders timed the 14th annual Tim Kennard 10-Miler and 5K River Run in Salisbury, Md., and what a great event it was. It was my first time at the event, and Harlan Eagle and his team did a great job with the pre-race pickup, post-race celebration, awards and the course that winds its way through the Salisbury streets and takes in a downtown section as well. A field of more than 500 participants turned out for the event, one of the highest turnouts in recent years. The weather did not help any, as it was a cold 18 degrees during my 5 a.m. setup and warmed up to 25 degrees at race time.

A group of Athletes Serving Athletes led the event off at 8:55 a.m., with the 5K and 10-mile events going out together at 9 a.m., followed by the 5K walk at 9:05 a.m.

Daniel Smith, 25, of Charlottesville, Va., won the 5K race in 17:07, while Salisbury legend Doug Mock, 49, from Ellicott City, Md., was second in 17:17. Thomas Burke, 23, of Muncie, Ind., was third across the line in 17:22 to wrap up the top three male runners. 

Sherry Stick, 38, of Sykesville, Md., was the top female in a time of 18:12, while 22-year-old Emily VandeWater of Salisbury was second in 20:14. Ava Schwartz, 17, of Salisbury was third in 21:03.

Greg Cauller, 57, of York, Pa., took the male masters in 17:59, while 53-year-old Tracy Maccherola of Woolford, Md., took the female masters in 22:02.

In the featured 10-mile event, it was 26-year-old Andrew Weaver of Baltimore winning the overall male championship in an impressive time of 52:51, while 27-year-old Ryan Stasioski of Hanover, Pa., was second in 57:15. Austen Cave, just 15, finished an impressive third overall in 57:35. 

Megan DiGregorio, 28, of White Marsh, Md., won the female title in a time of 1:01:32 for fifth overall, while 29-year-old Elizabeth Swierzbinski of Wilmington was second in 1:01:51, taking seventh overall. Victoria Berard, 26, of Baltimore was third in 1:05:16.

Chris Monheim, 48, of Chambersburg, Pa., grabbed the top male masters in a time of 1:01:45, while 41-year-old Melissa Wilson of Salisbury ran 1:14:48 on the female side.

Here are some 5K results from frequent runners at the beach:

Seashore Strider Caughnery Freese of Dover in 22:14; Lynn Knothe of Wilmington in 22:55; Olivia Montini of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., in 24:51; Joanne White of Bridgeville in 25:13; Doug Purcell of Ocean View in 26:06; Nina Smeltzer of Rehoboth Beach in 26:55;  Ashlyn Cave of Delmar in 29:19; Sue Sherwood of Eden, Md., in 29:47; Adrian Hale of Rehoboth Beach in 31:53; Gerard Iacangelo of Rehoboth Beach in 31:59; and Jimbo Lyons of Onley, Va. in 1:12:38.

Here are some 10-mile results from frequent runners at the beach:

Martin Rodriguez of Selbyville in 1:02:08; Matt Dunn of Trappe, Md., in 1:03:08; Mike Sewell of Camden-Wyoming in 1:04:58; Paul Montini of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., in 1:05:44; Steven Eshelman of Lincoln in 1:06:27; Brian Swift of Salisbury, Md., in 1:09:00; Susan Dunn of Laurel in 1:12:14; Breck Vanderwende of Bridgeville in 1:14:56; Rebecca Montini of Huntington Valley, Pa., in 1:26:56; Jules Woodall of Lewes in 1:27:12; Alan Quillen of Seaford in 1:27:27; Laura Marvin of Laurel in 1:27:51; August Cave of Delmar in 1:30:39; Mark Voicheck of Aston, Pa., in 1:36:05; Henry Danver of Bethany Beach in 1:37:11; Michael Firch of Milford in 1:39:18; Kristen Jones of Selbyville in 1:41:24; Dan Sypinski of Rehoboth Beach in 1:46:07; Jack Vassalotti of Lewes in 1:48:46; Carla Yngve of Rehoboth Beach in 1:48:47; Cathy Haut of Lewes in 1:52:30; Louise Holt of Milford in 1:58:00; and Jim Marvin of Laurel in 1:59:49.

Seashore Classic Half Marathon

The Seashore Classic Half Marathon & 5K is just about a month away, taking off from Irish Eyes in Lewes Sunday, April, 9. The race will be a great tune-up for the Co-Del Marathon and Delaware Marathon to be held a few weeks after the classic. The course will enter Cape Henlopen State Park and head toward Rehoboth Beach on the Gordons Pond Trail for an out-and-back 13.1-mile scenic journey, while the 5K will turn around just past the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal.  

There are team divisions if you only want to run a bit over a 10K and you can split the half distance with a partner, or you can always do a 5K walk.

I was asked the other day what my recommendation would be for a long run for a beginner runner to finish the half distance. My reply was that if you can run 10 miles, you can run a half, especially with other runners beside you. For me, the rule of thumb has always been a 10 to get through a half and a 20-miler to get through a full. This advice is just for the beginner wanting to finish the race.

I once invited my buddy Dave “Surf Bagel” Vitella to the LDAF Run for Autism Race that I directed in Lewes, and he ended up running the half marathon instead of the 5K as a mistake that I was hoping would happen. Dave limped around for two weeks, but if he can finish a half marathon on a low-mileage, high-bagel-consumption training program, then anyone can do it.

Give it a try April 9. See you at the starting line!

Pumped for Pets

This Sunday, March 12, will be the seventh annual Pumped for Pets 5K, 10K and 15K event held at the Outlet Mall in Chester, Md., beginning at 9 a.m. Go to getpumpedforpets.org for more info.

Locally, the fifth Lucky Leprechaun 5K in Milton will step off March 12, beginning at 11 a.m. Go to races2run.com for info.