Region's races rev up economy, improve health
High wind and rain blew it back a week, but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm Oct. 10 as the most colorful race of the year got underway in Dewey Beach.
Dewey Goes Pink drew 840 runners and about as many walkers, filling the streets with pink shirts, pink tutus and plenty of pink hair.
Organized by The Starboard’s Steve Montgomery in memory of his mother and the Body Shop’s Adam Howard in honor of his mom, a cancer survivor, the event gathered hundreds in a celebration that raised $130,000 this year for the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. Montgomery promised funds raised by the race and an auction supported by dozens of local businesses remain right here, in Sussex County.
The colorful 5K took place just two weeks after the Dogfish Dash, a quirky race that famously sells out in minutes. This year alone, runners and sponsors raised $120,000 for the Delaware Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, as off-centered Dogfish fans, many dressed in costumes made from recycled materials, ran the 10th anniversary 8K course that wound through Milton streets and fields, starting and ending at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.
The Cape Region calendar is now crowded with outdoor events, including popular races just about any weekend, topped off with the scenic Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon in December, a premier winter race that draws runners from across the nation. That race was joined this year by the inaugural Coastal Delaware Running Festival in the spring.
September featured the 19th annual Dewey Beach Triathlon, a YMCA fundraiser that pays for children to learn to swim, and the Bethany Beach First Responders Tri-Du-Aquabike, benefiting its namesake first responders, among others.
There is no doubt that with thousands of participants, these events occasionally snarl traffic and create inconvenience. Still, outstanding organization and exceptional volunteer support are essential to what makes these events great. As these and many other great events demonstrate, the Cape Region is running toward a stronger, more resilient year-round economy as residents and visitors race toward better health.
