Local Cannonball 5K takes off from Lewes Historical Complex

The Cannonball Run 5K was held Sept. 15 at the Lewes Historical Society Complex in Lewes and is dubbed “the most scenic 5K race in the state.” Now, as director of nearly 70 events a year, I am not sure that is totally true, but the beginning on historic Second Street which winds quickly to Pilottown Road is one of the nicest starts in the state. Runners continue past the Cannonball House and follow Pilottown Road to the turnaround point just before the DNREC boat dock and just past historic Lewes Dairy.

One of the best fields turned out as 147 runners and walkers crossed the finish line with Matt Green leading the way in a time of 18:49. Ellen McKay won the female title in 20:52, with regular Susan Dunn in her rear-view mirror in a time of 20:56. One of the unique things about the event is that the participants of the Cannonball race pass several historic locations along the way, and age-group winners are presented with custom-carved cannonballs for their accomplishment. A large addition to the success of this year’s event was the move of the post-race party to the popular Striper Bites restaurant at the other end of Second Street. Owner Matt DiSabatino and his crew did an outstanding job with the post-race party and are big supporters of local Lewes events. Next year, the race turns 10 years old, and we are looking for more than 200 participants.

Corn to Run 5K

If you were shut out of the Dogfish Dash, scheduled next weekend in Milton, I have a good one for you, the Corn to Run 5K.  This debut event will be held at East Coast Garden Center in Millsboro just outside Oak Orchard off Route 24 at 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 29.  East Coast Garden Center invites the public to come for a day of fall activities at the 6th Annual Harvest Festival.

The course winds 3.1 miles through a 200-acre cornfield across from East Coast Garden Center. The first 100 participants who preregister will receive a tech T-shirt, and the top three finishers in eight age groups from 13 & under to 70 & over will receive awards.

Preregister online for $20 at seashorestriders.com or register on the day of the event for $25. All proceeds from the race will benefit Cordrey Charities, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the joys and benefits of gardening to everyone in the community.

Immediately after the race, the Harvest Festival will occur at East Coast Garden Center.  Enjoy brats and beer from 16 Mile Brewery, country line dancing, hayrides, puppet shows, Cape Artists' display, games and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can learn about autumn decorating with the center's container expert, Karen Fox, at 11 a.m. and enjoy fall shopping in the garden center amongst the pansies, pumpkins, scarecrows, witches and goblins. See you there!

Striders race at Holy Cross Invite

Ben Bamforth, Beacon eighth-grader, led the Striders at the Holy Cross Invite Sept. 15 with a second-place finish in 12:16 on the 2.2-mile course. Seth DePrince was sixth place overall in the race, while in the girls' race Elizabeth DePrince was 20th and Zoe Kelly was 21st. Hundreds of youth from the CYM take turns hosting meets throughout the season in quality competition and well-run meets week in and week out.

Dewey Beach kicks off tri mania

Four hundred fifty-three male and 317 female finishers took part in last weekend’s Dewey Beach Triathlon and enjoyed a trip over the new Indian River Inlet bridge toward the water tower turnaround. Forty-five relay teams of three athletes each took part in the relays with each athlete competing in one of the three legs: swim, bike or run. Nearly 200 athletes made up the first-timer division, which goes to show that people still are training and trying new types of events. The YMCA was the beneficiary. For results of the event, go to deweybeachtriathlon.com.

The First Responders Duathlon/Triathlon will take place this Sunday, Sept. 23, in Bethany Beach with the expo and pasta dinner Saturday, Sept. 22, at the firehouse and the duathlon kicking off wave one at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. The event has taken the place of the Sea Colony Triathlon that was held in Bethany and has more than 700 athletes signed up in only its first year. The swim is a 1K or .62 miles; the bike, out of Bethany and onto Route 1 north toward Tower Road, is listed at 18.6 miles or 30K; and the run will finish up at 4.34 miles or 7K with an out-and-back course toward South Bethany. Setup begins at 10 p.m. Saturday night - should be an interesting night in the dark. For more information on the event, visit bethanybeachtri.com.

Also in the area in October will be the popular Osprey Triathlon south of Ocean City, Md., and the Cape Henlopen Triathlon in Lewes.

Upcoming Races

9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 22, 9th Remembrance 5K, Federalsburg Marina Park, Federalsburg, Md.

7:30 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 23, 1st First Responders Triathlon, Bethany Bandstand, Bethany Beach.

9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, 1st Corn to Run 5K, East Coast Garden Center, Millsboro.