Rehoboth Seashore Marathon sold out at 3,000 runners

In just over two weeks, it will feel like summer in the Nation’s Summer Capital again as the Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon comes to town with a sold-out event of 3,000 runners and even more supporting spectators. The 15th annual marathon and half-marathon will kick off at 7 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, from the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand. Some 900 full marathoners and 2,100 half-marathoners will toe the line for the event. Hotels are full, restaurants will be hopping and thousands of folks will be running the 26.2- and 13.1-mile distances, raising money for several nonprofit charities that the Rehoboth Beach Running Company and Seashore Striders support.

The course slightly changed last year and will remain the same this year, as it will follow Rehoboth Avenue from the Bandstand to State Road and run through Country Club Estates and along Silver Lake to the south end of the Boardwalk on Queen Street and the two-mile mark. The addition of the Boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean was one course change I felt runners from many states would enjoy, and the feedback last year was that they did. The course makes its way north to North Shores and into Cape Henlopen State Park at Gordons Pond and the 4.5-mile water stop. From this point the race splits, with the marathon heading north to Lewes and the half heading back toward Rehoboth.

The marathon will then take in an out-and-back 13.1 miles, going north on the Gordons Pond Trail past Herring Point, the Biden Center and Fort Miles, and remain on the trail and exit the park at the west side of Cape Henlopen Drive on the new trail. The runners will remain on the trail to the turnaround just before Freeman Highway across from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. After the turnaround, the course will follow the same route back to Gordons Pond just past the 17-mile mark. From this point, the marathon will follow the half-marathon course.

This half-marathon course takes runners back toward Rehoboth Beach on Ocean Drive and onto Henlopen Avenue for a straight fast-and-flat mile to Grove Park. At the Grove, the course takes runners onto the trail along the canal and onto Rehoboth Avenue Extended up to Canal Crossing Road and Hebron Road. The course heads toward the Junction & Breakwater Trail, crossing over Holland Glade Road at the eight-mile mark for the half and the 21-mile mark for the full. Once on the trail, the course goes out-and-back to the Wolfe Neck turnaround and Flag Alley. On the return, the course crosses Holland Glade Road on the south trail closer to Epworth Church and goes through the Wizard of Oz section on the wooded trail, exiting behind the car wash on Hebron Road. Once on Hebron, it goes back to Canal Crossing Road and onto Rehoboth Avenue Extended, through Grove Park and onto Henlopen Avenue for the final half-mile. The course takes a slight right at Gerar Street and crosses over Columbia Avenue onto Fourth Street for the final quarter-mile. The new course eliminates the sharp 90-degree turn at the finish, and spectators should have a great look at their loved ones heading to the finish line on Fourth Street between Kent and Sussex streets.

Marathon facts

There will be nine water stops on the course using 500 gallons of water, 90 cases of Powerade and 28,000 cups. There will be six viewing locations: Boardwalk and Rehoboth Avenue at 2.5 miles; Gordons Pond at 4.5/17.6 miles; Herring Point at 7.1/15.1 miles; Fort Miles at 8.3/14 miles; Grove Park at 19.7/25.7 miles; Wolfe Neck Road turnaround at 22.6 miles.

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 marathon experience in the Nation’s Summer Capital of Rehoboth Beach. The event is organized by the Rehoboth Beach Running Company and Seashore Striders with Marybeth Evans as race organizer and Tim Bamforth as race director.

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. This year we are sold out at 3,000 participants.  Moving the event in 2010 to early December proved to be a good decision, and the weather becomes our only concern.

Race note                                                                                

Race organizers are asking spectators and family members not to park along any part of the course, including Cape Henlopen Drive in Lewes as well as Hebron and Holland Glade roads near Rehoboth Beach.

Thanksgiving races

The Thanksgiving holiday brings 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 three 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. 24, with same-day registration starting at 8 a.m. The non-chip-timed two-mile fun run/walk starts and finishes at the Bethany Beach Boardwalk Bandstand. Go to focusmultisports.com for more race information.

• The 13th annual Huffin’ for Pumpkin Pie 5K & 1-Mile Walk will kick off at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 26, at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach. The race will benefit Toys for Tots. Go to seashorestriders.com for more race information.

• The 19th annual Sea Colony Turkey Trot 5K will be held at 9 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 27, 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 awards ceremony will follow the race. The race will benefit Special Olympics Delaware. Go to seashorestriders.com for more race information.