Run for the Paws 5K set for Aug. 5 in Dewey

The 10th event in the Seashore Striders Summer Championship Series will be the 15th annual Run for the Paws 5K Run, 5K Walk and 1-Mile Dog Walk in Dewey Beach. The event will take off from Dagsworthy Avenue on the bayside at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 5. The USATF-certified course will follow an out-and-back route through the Seabreeze development.

Proceeds will benefit Humane Animal Partners, a merger of Delaware Humane Association and Delaware SPCA. Humane Animal Partners is committed to connecting people with animals, building strong relationships to better the community and preventing cruelty to animals. These values are brought to life through programs that provide shelter and adoption for unwanted and homeless pets, reduce pet overpopulation through low-cost spay/neuter and enable pet retention by providing low-cost wellness services. Go to humaneanimalpartners.org to learn how to adopt, volunteer, donate, foster and more.

Early-bird race registration is set for $25 through Sunday, July 30. Race-week registration increases to $30 through 10 p.m., Friday, Aug. 4. Last-chance registration is set for $35 and will be from 6:30 to 7:20 a.m., Aug. 5. Runners and walkers can go to seashorestriders.com to get registered. The post-race celebration with refreshments will take place at the Dewey Beach Lions Club, organized by local volunteer Joey Kwit.

Awards will be presented to the overall male and female champions, overall male and female masters runners, as well as the top three male and female finishers in five-year age groups. Awards will be presented within 20 minutes following the final runner crossing the finish line.

The Seashore Striders have added a separate 5K walk division this year, which will be the fifth 5K walk of the summer. The top five male and female walkers will receive awards. Dogs are not allowed on the 5K course.  

Packet pickup will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 4, at PetSmart, 19563 Coastal Hwy. north of Rehoboth Beach. 

Maggie’s Mile

Just around the corner is the third annual Maggie’s Mile at Cape Henlopen High School, beginning at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11. Maggie was on my track & field team as a freshman and was taken from us too soon when she died in an accident on an ATV a few spring breaks ago. I started a scholarship soon after she died, with the first winner being distance runner Elizabeth Melson in 2021, currently a sophomore at Penn State. Just under 100 turned out for the opening year race in August of that year.

Registration for this year’s event is open at seashorestriders.com. How fast can you run a mile?

Finish line

The 40th annual Dam Mill 5K attracted the third-biggest field in the event’s history July 22, with 221 participants running in Millsboro. The Dam Mill 5K and the Thanksgiving MS 5K held upstate are the longest-running 5K events in the state. “It is a tribute to the Seashore Striders team, the Millsboro Fire Company and the Town of Millsboro that this great small-town event has lasted so long,” said Richard Tikiob. “Over the last 40 years, the runners have supported the event, and this year’s field of 221 just shows the dedication the runners have to this event.”  

Organizer John Hall and his team picked up 20 sponsors and raised more $3,000 for the antique fire truck fund.

Mike Wardian has been in a few 5K races this summer, but more importantly, he just returned from one of the most difficult events in the country, the Hardrock 100. Wardian placed 20th overall in the field in a time of 34 hours, 26 minutes and 42 seconds. He was the 16th male across the line. The race is a 100-mile run with 33,197 feet of climb and 33,197 feet of descent.

The Dogfish Dash has registered 1,596 participants. There are 404 spots left. Half Pint Stockley is making custom awards for the event, which has expanded age groups from 10 years to five years. The top three in each age group get awards. Register soon if you want to run in this very popular event.