St. Patrick’s Day brings out runners
Throughout the country, one of the most popular times of the year for road racing is the St. Patrick’s Day holiday in March. It may be because the runners have been inside most of the winter and they just are ready to get outside, enjoy the warmer weather, and run. Last weekend a large field of 300 turned out for the second Lucky Leprechaun 5K in Milton hosted by Irish Eyes and produced by races2run. The event kicked off a busy day in Milton highlighted by the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade through the middle of town. Plenty of green was on the scene as costumes were scattered all around town from spectators, to runners, to parade participants. Jennifer Boutin of Newark at 21:53 and Mike Reph of Wilmington at 19:03 won the overall titles in the race.
On the same day in Chester, Md., along the scenic Kent Island Cross Island Trail, the Seashore Striders were teaming up with The Animal Resource Foundation to produce the Get Pumped for Pets 5K and 10K, which brought out 325 participants, many wearing the green of the holiday. Lucas Spargo of Alexandria, Va., won the 10K in 36:29, while Tamara Spargo, also of Alexandria, won the female 10K in 42:50. In the 5K it was Luis Navarro of Columbia, Md., winning in 17:56, while She O’Neill won the female title in 22:05.
This weekend is again loaded with events, and the green will be all over as the 7th St. Patrick’s Day 5K Race, Fun Walk, and Lucky Dog will take place in Denton, Md., beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. It's always a high-energy event, produced by the Caroline County Recreation & Parks Department with Sue Simmons at the controls. Proceeds will benefit Summer Youth Programs and the Caroline Humane Society.
On Sunday morning, March 16, the Shamrock Shuffle 15K (turned 14K) and 5K will take off from the Junction & Breakwater Trail in Rehoboth Beach at 9 a.m. The course will take runners toward Holland Glade Road and around the West Rehoboth loop as the 5K will make its way back to the start/finish trailhead area for the 3.1-mile course. The course will continue toward Lewes on the trail with the early turnaround on the island in Hawkseye, making it a 14K of 8.7 miles. The trail through the new Senators development is not complete, and construction is still in progress, so the easiest thing to do was to keep the course easy and make it a 14K. What does 9.32 miles mean anyway to runners, and does 8.70 mean anything different?
Visit www.seashorestriders.com for more race information.
Looking for more St. Patrick’s Day events outside the beach area? If you are up north, Saturday will be the third Lee Gallagher Leprechaun Leap 5K in Wilmington, while Sunday will be the 2nd Shamrock 'n Roll 5K in Newark. If you are in the Dover area, try the Shamrock Scramble 5K Run/Walk at Dover’s Silver Lake Park promoting mental and physical fitness for a healthier community.
If you happen to be way down south near the Bay Bridge-Tunnel, one of the best events of the year is the Shamrock Marathon weekend in Virginia Beach, Va. Beginning Saturday, there will be an 8K, a 1-Mile, and a Kids' Dash, while on Sunday, the half marathon and the full marathon are expected to draw 28,000 participants.
The early spring season is upon us with plenty of events to choose from every weekend. Over & out!
Upcoming Races
• 7th St. Patrick's Day 5K Race/Fun Walk & Lucky Dog, 9 a.m., Saturday, March 15.
• 8th Shamrock Shuffle 15K & 5K, 9 a.m., Sunday, March 16.
• Inaugural Running for a Change 5K Run & Walk, 10 a.m., Sunday, March 23.
• Inaugural I.R.X.C. 5K Run/Walk, 9 a.m., Saturday, March 29.
• 19th April Fools Prediction Challenge, 10 a.m., Sunday, March 30.
