Conflicting events

I received an email from a friend of mine to let me know that the ALS organization out of Phila. would be staging their annual walk on Saturday, Sept. 12th. No problem here i thought. I continued to read the email when it said on the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk starting at 9 am. Oh no....here we go again. Our 33rd Bottle & Cork ten miler runs the length of the boardwalk and the leaders would hit the 6 mile mark which is on the boardwalk at Rehoboth Ave around 8:30ish. But the middle of the pack runners would have some serious issues getting through the crowd of walkers and wheel chairs. I called City Manager Greg Ferese of Rehoboth and asked him why would he give out two permits for the use of the boardwalk on the same day? "I made a mistake" was his answer. The ALS folks did not realize that the Cork run is always the Saturday after Labor Day. I called the person in charge of the ALS walk. I always try and work out a compromise if possible. I asked him if he could move his walk back one hour. "No way since it gets too hot for those in wheelchairs>" I said how about I move my start up 15 min to 7:45 am and ALS move a half hour back to 9:30 am. We struck a compromise. Hopefully this will allow all runners to get through this portion of the race without any problems. One more issue to deal with. The boardwalk is going to be under construction from Laurel street to Prospect Street starting Tues. Sept. 8th. But I will not know if we have to detour off the boards till I come down on Friday. Just in case Doug White re measured so course will still be certified. I wish the ALS folks all the best with their walk. I just hope they move their event back one week next year.

Pizza Run

Runners love to eat. Now lets see if you like to run, eat, and then run. Grotto Pizza called me to set up a meeting for an event they would like to stage. While driving to meet with them I was thinking how cool to have a race that Grotto's sponsor. Runners and walkers can do a 5k then pig out on pizza and beer. But this is a race like no other. Only two miles as a benefit for the Ronald McDonald House of DE set for Sunday, October 4th at 11 am. We will start at Academy Street at Main Street and run down Academy to the new trail. Once you get there you either have to (1) turn around and head back to finish (open category), (2) eat a Jr. pizza, or
(3) go for it and eat a large pizza (the He Man division). Grotto staff will handle this and I can't imagine how many can eat a whole large pie and then run another mile. But if I did not have to work this race I would be at the starting line in the He Man division. Just to fill you in (no pun here) Krispy Kreme donuts has a run in N. Carolina where you have to eat a dozen donuts on route. And they get over 1,000 runners and walkers. I will delegate tearing tags for this one. I would like to keep my shoes clean.

To feed an Army......

I never really thought about how much food we put out for runners and walkers. I just make sure we have enough to go around. At this past Sunday's Inaugural Greene Turtle Lewes 5k manager Jason King gave me the stats on what it took to feed 200 runners and their guests. Here goes:
40 lbs bananas, 120 danish, 60 lbs egg mix, 30 lbs bacon, 2 cases cantaloupe, 200 muffins, 200 bagels, 240 16oz bottles of water, 2 lbs cream cheese, 15 lbs of chicken wings and to wash it all down......2 kegs of Michelob Ultra. I got to tell you......and I believe all who were at this race will confirm......one of the best post race spreads of all the events we handle. Nobody left hungry. Just a fantastic fundraiser for the Wellness Community. Congratulations to the Greene Turtle Lewes. A first class sponsor.

Footloose and Carefree

I had a good laugh the other day at my Highway One Group 10k held in Dewey. I was in the chute tearing tags when this young kid comes through the chute and hands me his tear off tag. I looked at his feet and he was wearing a pair of those 5 finger (toe) Vibram shoes. I asked him what he thought of them and he said, "love em." Ok.....so this new best selling book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall (who is from Lancaster, Pa) is getting folks thinking about barefoot running. I have no problem with this since I remember when I was in high school getting in shape for the upcoming football season part of my training was running on the beach barefoot. I loved it. At the Westside Health 5k held a few weeks ago I had a runner run bare foot. I asked him how it felt to run a 5k in bare feet. "Painful" was his answer. Just something he wanted to try after reading the BOOK. So for you folks looking for something different try going barefoot. Look at all the money you will save on running shoes.

Little league parents

I just love having all these young kids at our events. At our Seven Sister Series in Dewey we have age groups 9 and under, 10 to 13, 14-18. It is always a kick to watch these kids get up on stage and receive their medals. At Sunday's 5k I neglected to announce that one of the young kids set a new course record. Not on purpose mind you but just an honest mistake. His father approched me and let me know I did not announce that his son set a record. I apologized to both him and his son. He went on to let me know how unhappy he was. I brought his son back up on stage and had Barb announce to the crowd that he set an age group record. And here i am thinking about what little league parents must go through. Not easy being a parent. Foul Ball!

10k detour

This coming Saturday will be our 7th Highway One Group 10k and 5k at Ruddertown in Dewey Beach. This race is unique in the fact that both 5k and 10k runners start the same time and run the same first 5k together. Those running the 5k turn into Ruddertown and head to the finish while those in the 10k continue down Highway One (heading South) to the 10k turnaround. They then head back to Ruddertown for the finish. Depending on the weather (and how much you drank the night before) some who sign up for the 10k end up running the 5k. I have no problem scoring these folks as part of the 5k. If you know Dewey Beach you also know that there is not much room to run a 10k thus the route along the "dead zone" or Highway One. So for those who hated this section of the course I have some good news. Del Dot will not be able to place traffic cones on the route this year due to budget cuts. (if someone out there would like to sponsor this it will only cost you $1,700) so this year those running the 10k will run the 5k course twice. It will be certified and water will be available at 4 locations on route. I think this will work out just fine. The 10k runners will now have a cheering section as they make the turnaround in Ruddertown. Don't forget....free parking at meters and on street till 11 am. IF you get a ticket make sure you give to me or Barb.

Paper Chase

Are you a fan of paper race applications? Or do you just search the internet for upcoming events? Over the last few years I have found as race director that more and more folks are NOT using paper entry forms but going online to enter events. There are two events that I manage that will no longer be using paper race applications. Both may surprise you. The CCHS Delaware Marathon and the Seven Sisters of Dewey Beach will go digital next year. Both events have their own websites:
www.delawaremarathon.org
www.sevensistersdeweybeach.com
For those who do not wish to pay the online administrative fee you will be able to print out a universal entry to enter these two races. Plus the Delaware Running Co. is gracious enough to let folks drop off entries to their store. We do plan on sending out electronic e-mail post cards to our e-list as a save the date notice. We will have a enlarged post card advertising the event at our local races and other events in the area. So if you see less paper on our entry form table just think of all the trees we will be saving. I hope.