Running season has arrived, as Seashore Striders and Races2Run have many different series for folks to take part in.
The most popular offered by Seashore Striders is the Summer Racing Series that begins with the 33rd Masser 5-Miler Sunday, May 24, and ends with the Run for the Paws 5K Saturday, Aug. 1.
The Striders will also host the Triple Crown Series that challenges runners with three races over three days in three towns beginning Friday, June 19, with the Georgetown Library 5K and finishing with the Father’s Day 5K Sunday, June 21.
The Striders are introducing a new series this year called the First Responder Series, comprising 10 races that began with the Lucky Leprechaun 5K March 8, and will end with the Tunnel to Towers 5K Saturday, Nov. 14.
Races2Run will also host its annual series in Dewey Beach, beginning with the Highway One Companies 5K on Memorial Day and ending with the 50th Gary P. Lister Bottle & Cork 10-Miler/5K Saturday, Sept. 12.
This region is a mecca for road racing as you can see below, with 32 events making up four different series.
Seashore Striders Summer Racing Series
This is a 10-event series with two five-milers and eight 5K races. To qualify for the end-of-summer awards, a runner must finish five 5Ks and one five-miler. The series is based on time, with awards presented to the top five finishers in each of the 16 age groups, as well as all qualifiers receiving awards.
May 24 - 33rd Masser Five-Miler in Lewes
May 31 - 19th Race for the Ribbon 5K in Lewes
June 7 - 29th Bill Degnan Faith in Human Spirit 5K in Lewes
June 21 - 36th Father’s Day 5K in Rehoboth Beach
June 27 - 22nd Jungle Jim's 5K in Rehoboth
June 28 - Sixth Beebe Heroes 5K in Lewes
July 4 - Cape Gazette Independence Day 36th Firecracker 5K in Rehoboth Beach
July 12 - 44th Seashore Five-Miler in Rehoboth Beach
July 26 - 43rd Dam Mill 5K in Millsboro
Aug. 1 - 18th Race for the Paws 5K in Dewey Beach.
Seashore Strider First Responder Series
This is a 10-event series of all 5Ks that benefit first responders. Participants who complete six of the 10 races will qualify for end-of-the-year swag to wear at future events.
March 8 - 13th Lucky Leprechaun 5K in Milton to benefit Milton Fire Department
April 25 - Second Plantation Lakes Twilight 5K in Millsboro to benefit Shaffer Family Foundation for first responders
June 6 - Inaugural Tunnel to Towers Run/Walk Northern DE 5K in Wilmington to benefit Tunnel to Towers Foundation
June 20 - Inaugural Cpl. Matthew “Ty” Snook Memorial 5K in Lewes to benefit the Ty Snook Foundation and the Delaware State Troopers Benevolent Fund
July 26 - 43rd Dam Mill 5K Run/Walk in Millsboro to benefit Millsboro Fire Department
Aug. 15 - 12th Rehoboth Beach Patrol 5K in Rehoboth Beach to benefit Rehoboth Beach Patrol
Aug. 23 - 12th Rehoboth Beach Fire Fightin’ 5K in Rehoboth Beach to benefit Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Co.
Sept. 3 - 13th Run, White & Blue 5K in Georgetown to benefit First Responders of Delaware
Sept. 20 - 11th Paradise Grill Stop, Drop & Run 5K in Long Neck to benefit Indian River Volunteer Fire Company
Nov. 14 - Eighth Tunnel to Towers Delmarva 5K in Lewes to benefit Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Seashore Striders Triple Crown Series
This is a three-event series with three races in three days in three towns. Runners can challenge themselves to complete all three events for awards that will be presented at the Jungle Jim’s 5K.
June 19 - 22nd Georgetown Library 5K in Georgetown
June 20 - Inaugural Cpl. Matthew “Ty” Snook Memorial 5K in Lewes
June 21 - 36th Father’s Day 5K in Rehoboth Beach.
Races2Run 10 Sisters Series
Races2Run will host the 10 Sisters Series in Dewey Beach, comprising nine events throughout the summer.
May 25 - 24th Highway One Companies 5K
June 14 - 24th Dewey Beach Patrol 5K
July 4 - 20th Dewey Beach Liquors 5K
July 11 - Third Rusty Rudder 5K
July 25 - 24th Penn State College Day 5K
Aug. 8 - Fourth Community Matters Foundation 5K
Aug. 22 - 23rd Outlet Liquors 5K at the Rusty Rudder
Sept. 6 - 14th Summer’s End 5K
Sept. 12 - 50th Gary P. Lister Bottle & Cork 10-Miler/5K.
Finish chute
Cape freshman Dylan Harp, paced by teammate Jason Baker, looped the Cape oval eight times and nearly topped the school’s freshman 3,200-meter record of 9:53.3 (Nick Petito) with a time of 9:53.7. Harp also ran 4:31 this winter at 1,600 meters and is enjoying what might be the best freshman campaign ever by a Cape athlete.
Another impressive performance was turned in by Sussex Academy senior standout Ryan Moody with a time of 1:59.23 in the 800 meters. Senior Katya Geyer also went 5-feet-2-inches for an impressive early-season clearance in the high jump.
Back to the Cape meet, Trey Johnson blazed a 10.9 in the 100 meters and Milford’s Eli Parfitt ran 4:39.4 to win the 1,600 meters.
Lastly, but no surprise, Jen Ward completed another marathon, her 13th, as she tackled the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach in 5:05:52.
