Rehoboth Seashore Marathon is two weeks away

A record number of people have signed up for the upcoming Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon, set for 7 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, from the Rehoboth Bandstand. As of Wednesday, the latest count was 1,000 in the full marathon and 1,900 in the sold-out half marathon.   

There will be 10 different agencies and hundreds of volunteers working hard to provide runners from at least 40 states a positive half marathon and full marathon experience in the Nation’s Summer Capital of Rehoboth Beach. The event is organized by the Rehoboth Beach Running Company and Seashore Striders.

The history                                                                                   

In 2008, we hosted the first event in late November with a surprise turnout of 433 in the marathon braving a cold morning after snow and ice fell overnight. In 2009, we attracted 511 to the event, again held in late November. In 2010, both organizers had a conflict with the date, so we decided to move it to early December, and it proved to be a great decision, as 959 finishers crossed the line. With the marathon now basically being the last in the fall season, it gives runners a chance to come back and redeem themselves from a race in the fall that did not go so well. In 2011, we again set a record by having 1,304 cross the line on Rehoboth Avenue, while the 2012 race attracted 1,685. In 2013, the marathon increased by nearly 200 runners to go along with the popular half-marathon distance. In 2014, we had 1,302 half finishers and 891 full finishers for just under 2,200 total runners. For the past five years, the numbers have continued to increase, and we’re now nearing the 3,000 mark. Moving the event in 2010 to early December proved to be a good decision, and the weather becomes our only concern.

Course preview                                                                            

The half runners will leave the bandstand at 7 a.m. and run five miles in Rehoboth through North Shores and into a turnaround at Gordons Pond before making their way out of Rehoboth by way of Columbia Avenue, Grove Park, and onto the Junction & Breakwater Trail north to Lewes. Runners will turn around just before reaching the Hawkseye development. Marathon runners follow the same path for the first three miles but continue north after Gordons Pond at the three-mile mark. The marathon will follow the Gordons Pond Trail through Herring Point and into the main part of Cape Henlopen State Park. The course will go from Herring Point to Fort Miles and up to the lookout before making its way to the front of the park on the bike trail. Runners will leave the state park and head to Lewes Beach, where they will circle the parking lot and head back to the park. Once inside the park, runners will go behind the campground and connect back to the trail to Herring Pont and Gordons Pond. From Gordons Pond and back into Rehoboth, the marathon course follows the last seven miles of the half-marathon course toward Hawkseye and then back to Rehoboth with the finish on Fourth Street at the Rehoboth Beach Running Company.

Viewing/cheering locations

1. Grove Park at the five-mile point would be an excellent location to catch the early action in the race or the late action at the 25.8-mile mark. Plenty of parking on site.                                        

2. Wolf Neck Road, better known as the Wawa road off Route 1, will be another prime location, as the runners make their way through the Junction & Breakwater Trail toward Lewes at the eight-mile mark for the half and the 22-mile mark for the full. Plenty of parking on site with a state park restroom, too.        

3. Lewes Beach 2, located just east of the main parking lot at Lewes Beach, would be a great location with a definite need for runner encouragement as the marathoners pass the 9.5-mile mark on Cape Henlopen Drive heading to Lewes Beach. Plenty of parking.

4. Cape Henlopen State Park at Fort Miles is deep in the state park at the marathon 8-mile mark and a bit of a hilly section where encouragement would be helpful. Park entrance fees are in effect and there is some parking at Fort Miles.

Race note                                                                                

Race organizers are asking spectators and family members not to park on Cape Henlopen Drive in Lewes and at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal, as runners will be using both shoulders of the road in Lewes. Please use Savannah Road or Kings Highway and park at the Beach 2 parking lot between Lewes Beach and the ferry. In Rehoboth, parking is not allowed along any parts of the course.

Thanksgiving races

The Thanksgiving holiday brings with it plenty of races, from two-milers to 5K and 10K races to even longer ones like a Turkey 10-Miler. Here at the beach, runners and walkers could take part in four different races in four days.

Here is a look at available races that you can take part in to burn off that cranberry, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.

• The annual Bethany-Fenwick Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, formerly the Fenwick Island Turkey Trot, will be held on Thanksgiving Day at 9 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 28, with same-day registration starting at 8 a.m. The non-chip-timed 2-mile fun run/walk starts and finishes at the Bethany Beach Boardwalk Bandstand. Go to focusmultisports.com for more race information.

• The sixth annual Gabby Gobble 5K Run/Walk is set for 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 28, at Irish Eyes in Lewes. Proceeds from the event go toward the mission of the Get Well Gabby Foundation to help children who are diagnosed with cancer get well. Registration begins at 8 a.m., while the Kiddie Fun Run begins at 9 a.m. Go to races2run.com for more race information. 

• The 10th annual Huffin’ for Pumpkin Pie 5K & 1-Mile Walk will kick off at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 30, at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach. The race will benefit Toys for Tots. Go to seashorestriders.com for more race information.

• The 17th annual Sea Colony Turkey Trot 5K will be held at 9 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 1, at the Freeman Fitness Center, 38994 West Way Drive, Bethany Beach, in Sea Colony. The first 150 participants receive a race T-shirt. Refreshments and an award ceremony will follow the race. The race will benefit Special Olympics Delaware. Go to seashorestriders.com for more race information.

Jules Woodall to hit 1,000 races

Local runner Jules Woodall in the 70-74 year age group is counting, keeping track and timing his races carefully so he will reach a milestone of 1,000 races at the Dec. 7 Seashore Half Marathon in Rehoboth Beach. Jules is a nice guy who will talk running with you or really talk about whatever topic you throw at him. Jules participates in races all over Delmarva and continually is a competitor in his age group at whatever starting line he takes off from. Congratulations to Jules for reaching such a great milestone in his running career.