Race for the Ribbon this Saturday in Rehoboth

The 33rd annual Seashore 5 Miler, formerly called the YMCA 5 Miler, is the oldest race that starts and finishes in the city of Rehoboth Beach. The race began in the early '80s with a group of old school runners, Bruce Springer, Mike Sharp, Mike Sommer and the late Jay Stein, to name just a few. The race quickly became one of the popular events of the summer, a YMCA fundraiser, with a unique distance of 5 miles and a course that wound through the popular and beautiful Henlopen Acres and North Shores.

When I moved to Delaware in 1982, I competed in the race as a high school sophomore, running 30:08; a high school junior, running 30:02; and as a high school senior, running in the mid-29-minute range. High school teammates Darren Purcell and Mark Wagner competed with me, while coach George Pepper was always close on our heels in the '80s. During my college days at Delaware State, I competed once in the late '80s, going sub-28 once in Rehoboth Beach. In 1990, I began directing the event with Bruce Springer of Timeout Sports and taking it over in 1994. It was a race that all the locals seemed to do and everyone marked it on the calendar for late July.

This year the look is much different, with the old timers long retired. However, joining me with over 20 years under their belt in the event are Dr. Lee Masser, Rich Tikiob, Dave Frederick and Fran Donaway.
This year’s race will go off at 7:30 a.m. just outside of Deauville Beach and loop Henlopen Acres and then North Shores before returning to Deauville Beach for the finish. Race-day registration will begin at 6 a.m. See you there.

Finish chute - There is a fun group of gals coming our way for the Five Miler, as Erin spoke to me from OC this week explaining that her sister was getting married and the group is running the Seashore 5 Miler as a bachelorette party, complete with tutus, with the bride-to-be in a white veil. I did not tell her that some of our runners race in tutus and one named Jack even wears bib number 5122. I posted that the party was coming to the race and instantly the locals and their ideas started brewing. I am sure the Striders regulars will show the gals a good time at the event.

Race for the Ribbon

This year’s Race for the Ribbon 5K fundraising event will be held Saturday, July 18, starting and finishing on the corner of Wilmington Avenue and the Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach. Like last year, the Greene Turtle will be hosting our post-race party, including a breakfast buffet, music and prizes. The race is a qualifying race - No. 10 of the Summer Racing Series for the Seashore Striders. Race-day registration begins at 6 a.m., and awards will be presented to the top three finishers in age groups from 9 & under to 70 & over as well as the top two overall and masters champions. See you at the Ribbon.

MileSplit Stalking

The term "MileSplit Stalking" has become increasingly common lingo used among high school track and field athletes over the past year to describe the time they spend searching, looking up times and stats, watching race videos and interviews, and reading up on their competitors as well as following elite peers in the sport who they look up to.

I wanted to find out who MileSplit's site visitors actually have been stalking the most over the 2014-15 school year. If track and field meets were a popularity contest, these kids would always be winning!

The most interesting high school athlete I enjoyed reading about was the No. 3 athlete on the list of the top 25, with the name of Mikey Brannigan. Mikey’s story captivated those beyond the running company, as the Northport (N.Y.) senior distance runner was able to overcome autism to become of the country's best at the high school level. His inspirational story was featured on NBC Nightly News and other major media outlets. Brannigan shined best when the mainstream media was away and he could just focus on being the best runner he could be.

Last year, Brannigan won the New Balance Nationals outdoor two-mile title in Greensboro, N.C., as a junior. He nearly added a second national title this year in the New Balance Nationals Indoor 5K, but Elijah Armstrong was able to hold him off despite running a 14:42 PR. Brannigan's signature win of the year had to be at the Loucks Games in setting the New York state record with a national leading time of 8:42 in the two-mile.

Brannigan also put together two gutsy state record-breaking runs at the Prefontaine Classic (second, 4:05.7) and Adidas Dream Mile (third, 4:03.1) to wrap up a high school career for a special talent and individual, who also set a Paralympic World record in the 1,500 this summer.

While many want to define and celebrate Brannigan overcoming his disability, Brannigan does not want to be limited by it, as shown by his high school career. He wants to run someday in the "real" Olympics. He will have a huge fan following rooting for him along the way.

MileSplit contributed to this story.

Upcoming races

Saturday, July 18 - 8th Race for the Ribbon 5K, Greene Turtle, Rehoboth Beach, 7:30 a.m., seashorestriders.com.
Sunday, July 19 - 33rd Seashore 5 Miler, Deauville Beach, Rehoboth Beach, 7:30 a.m., seashorestriders.com.