Small field enjoys inaugural Moonlight Flashlight Run

The April Fools Moonlight Flashlight Run was held March 3, beginning just after 8 p.m. from the Fishing Pier of Cape Henlopen State Park. A small field of 65 showed up for the first-time event, decked out with headlamps, glow sticks, glow necklaces and bracelets, and many with blinking lights all over. The Striders made sure the T-shirt was a glow-in-the-dark goodie. The finisher medals also glowed as we presented them in the chute. Most of the runners were a little unsure what they were getting into heading off the line, but it was apparent that they enjoyed themselves, as they gathered around the fire at the post-race celebration.

“Thank you Striders and volunteers for an awesome April Fools Moonlight Run! So much fun!! Love my glow-in-the-dark medal and awesome shirt!” commented Leeann Waltz.

“I could have stayed out there all night. I had such a good time,” said Luann Goldfarb. “You and Derek did a terrific job marking the course. I purposely stayed behind so that I would have to follow the course, and it was great. Maybe an all-night run? Just kidding.”

For those who braved the cold and the darkness of Cape Henlopen State Park for this first-time 6K event, I wanted to post all the finishers and their times for a job well done.

1. Martin Rodriguez, Selbyville, 23:45; 2. Bennett Brumbley, Laurel, 27:08; 3. Joey Andrisani, Wilmington, 27:12; 4. Mark Redding, Lewes, 28:12; 5. Mike Smith, Chantilly, Va., 28:18; 6. Justin Welsh, Ocean View, 28:21; 7. Breck Vanderwende, Bridgeville, 28:21; 8. Moiber Rivera, Georgetown, 28:22; 9. Allison Huthmacher, Newark, 28:52; 10. Keren Rams, Lewes, 30:00; 11. Katie Kuhlman, Milton, 30:14; 12. Eugenija King, Selbyville, 30:15; 13. Laura Marvin, Laurel, 31:42; 14. Molly Sewell, Camden Wyoming, 34:07; 15. Drew Herbert, Milton, 34:17; 16. Paul Barnhart, Lewes, 34:55; 17. Denise McMillan, Columbia, Pa., 35:09; 18. Sherry Bross, Harrisburg, Pa., 35:11; 19. Erika Robinson, Quarryville, Pa., 35:11; 20. Varonica Hays, Felton, 35:23; 21. Jules Woodall, Lewes, 35:25; 22. Joy Biser, Felton, 35:29; 23. Joey Kwit, New York, N.Y., 35:52; 24. Casey Kinnikin, Laurel, 35:54; 25. Nina Smeltzer, Rehoboth, 37:52; 26. Amber Roland, Strasburg, Pa., 38:27; 27. Troy Senft, Mount Wolf, Pa., 38:28; 28. Rick Kinnikin, Laurel, 39:26; 29. Holly Jackson, Milton, 40:25; 30. Faith Mitchell, Milford, 40:25; 31. Woody Disharoon, Laurel, 41:18; 32. Rebecca Miller, Middletown, 41:38; 33. Hannah Baker, Townsend, 41:39; 34. Carla Setting, Wilmington, 42:11; 35. Jim Marvin, Laurel, 42:13; 36. Louis Whitaker, Felton, 42:15; 37. Amy Kuhlman, Milton, 42:37; 38. Brett Kuhlman, Milton, 42:38; 39. Heather Marvin, Laurel, 43:24; 40. Jackie Martin, Lewes, 45:20; 41. Leeann Waltz, Milton, 46:20; 42. Roxy Castillo, New York, N.Y., 47:42; 43. Connie Marshall, Ocean View, 47:47; 44. Michelle Peeling, Rehoboth, 49:50; 45. Susan Landis, Columbia, Pa., 49:51; 46. Brittany Meiring, Felton, 50:19; 47. Robert John Setting, Wilmington, 50:14; 48. Rebecca Wagner, Felton, 50:14; 49. Amy Huff, Milton, 50:30; 50. Sydney Pedalino, Stevensville, Md., 51:31; 51. Addison Hedrick, Harbeson, 51:37; 52. Jennifer Hedrick, Harbeson, 51:37; 53. Leslie Kroon, Lewes, 54:22; 54. Ashley Kroon, Milford, 54:23; 55. Jennifer Young, Columbia, Pa., 58:06; 56. Jackie Hawker, Stevensville, Md., 58:14; 57. Chip Davis, Lewes, 58:47; 58. Autumn Davis, Lewes, 58:48; 59. Marie Kuhlman, Seaford, 59:08; 60. LuAnn Goldfarb, Rehoboth, 59:30.

RIP Roger

One of my favorite runners of all time passed away this past week at the age of 88. Roger Bannister was the first man to break the four-minute mile barrier.  The New York Times wrote a nice piece on Roger and summed it up as follows:

“On the morning of May 6, 1954, a Thursday, Roger Bannister, 25, a medical student in London, worked his usual shift at St. Mary’s Hospital and took an early afternoon train to Oxford. He had lunch with some old friends, then met a couple of his track teammates, Christopher Chataway and Chris Brasher. As members of an amateur all-star team, they were preparing to run against Oxford University.

“About 1,200 people showed up at Oxford’s unprepossessing Iffley Road track to watch, and though the day was blustery and damp – inauspicious conditions for a record-setting effort – a record is what they saw. Paced by Chataway and Brasher and powered by an explosive kick, his signature, Bannister ran a mile in under four minutes – 3:59.4, to be exact – becoming the first man ever to do so, breaking through a mystical barrier and creating a seminal moment in sports history.”

What is amazing to me is that he did this in conditions far worse than what milers today are given. 

What could have Roger run today with proper training, gear, facilities, large crowds and pacers? What could he have done in Oregon’s Haywood Field? Who knows, but maybe he could’ve done better than the current world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj at 3:43.13.

Get Pumped for Pets

Highlighting the Cross Island Trail this Sunday, March 11, will be the running of the eighth annual Get Pumped for Pets. The event, a 5K/10K/15K and fun walk, will begin on the east side of the trail and race west on an out-and-back course toward the Bay Bridge. The race will begin at 9 a.m.

Get Pumped for Pets is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to saving and improving the lives of animals throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region by providing funding and/or supplies to community rescue organizations through grants and gifts.

This fun, flat, and fast early season race is for a great cause. The Cross Island Trail on Kent Island is a beautiful, fun location for this growing and always popular race. Finisher medals for all, craft beer after the race, and what have been described as the coolest age-group winner prizes ever.

Due to insurance regulations, no dogs or strollers are allowed in the race, but dogs are welcome with spectators in the finish area.

All three distances are now USTAF-certified, and the 15K is part of the RCCA Maryland State Grand Prix Series. Go to www.getpumpedforpets.org for race information.

Track and field

Cape Henlopen High School, Beacon Middle and Mariner Middle track and field teams are in full swing. They are all battling Mother Nature. March weather can be brutal. All three programs will open the third week of March. The high school will host Sussex Central Thursday, March 22, while Beacon and Mariner will host Georgetown and Millsboro at home Friday, March 23. Spring track and field, when combining all three programs, is the largest sport in the Cape Henlopen School District.