The Seashore Striders are gearing up for a year full of events as 65 are on the schedule in 16 cities on Delmarva. Runners love to race in events that are a part of a series, so this week I will give readers a look at the four different series we are offering this year.
Summer Championship Series
The Summer Championship Series is the most popular on the Striders slate and will enter year 21, kicking off Sunday, May 29, with the Masser 5-Miler in Lewes. The series consists of 11 5k events and two five-milers. Runners who take part in five of the 5K events and a 5-miler qualifier for end-of-the-season awards sponsored by Masser Systems Inc. Five events will be in Lewes, while seven events will take place in Rehoboth Beach and one in Millsboro. The oldest event in the series is the 29th YMCA 5-Miler Sunday, July 24; while Sunday, July 5, in Rehoboth Beach the newest 5K event will debut at a restaurant to be named this week.
Trail Run Series
In its second year, the Trail Run Series will consist of nine races March 13-Nov. 13 that are held on a type of trail ranging from Junction & Breakwater Trail to some local cross country challenges.
Runners will earn awards based on how many events they finish throughout the year. Two new events on the trail run schedule will kick off the same weekend.
The Downstate Delaware Dirty Dozen Mud Run will be held Saturday, April 16, in Milton, while the Delaware State Police Camp Barnes 5K comes Sunday, April 17, just south of Bethany Beach at Camp Barnes and the Assawoman Wildlife Refuge. The April Fools Prediction Run, the oldest at 17 years, comes Saturday, April 2, at Cape Henlopen State Park, while the DE-Feet Breast Cancer 5K Sunday, May 22, on the Junction & Breakwater Trail is sure to be the largest event as it reached nearly 500 participants in its opening year of 2010.
Triple Crown Series
Also in its second year, the Triple Crown Series consists of three events the same weekend beginning Friday, June 17, with the Georgetown Library 5K, followed by the first Irish Eyes 5K Run at 8 a.m. the next morning, Saturday, June 18, in Milton. Finishing off the series and the third event in three days, the 21st Annual Rehoboth Ale House Father’s Day 5K will be Sunday, June 19, with a 7:30 a.m. start time. Runners who complete all three events will win awards for the series.
Maryland Eastern Shore 8-Pack
The newest and final series of the year will take place on Maryland’s Eastern Shore as the Striders expand their offerings west with eight events in seven different locations.
Beginning Saturday, March 12, in Denton, Md., the 4th St. Patrick’s Day 5K will jump-start the series. The Striders will then move to Salisbury, Md., for the 1st Sherman Stampede 5K in April before heading up Route 50 to Oxford, Md., for the popular Oxford Day 10K.
The series will break in May, June and July before heading to Preston, Md., for the 1st CRHS Alumni Challenge 12K and 5K. The Remembrance 5K will take place in Federalsburg, Md., in September, while the Hurlock Day 5K will kick off in October. The Habitat Halloween 5K will bring the series back to Federalsburg in late October, while the series will finish in Ridgely, Md. Nov. 12 with the 2nd St. Benedict/St. Elizabeth 5K. Runners who finish at least six of the series events will qualify for awards.
There is no separate entry form for any of the series we offer, and runners need to just fill out the normal race application for the individual event.
Once you cross the finish line, you are automatically entered in the series. Runners can participate in any race in a particular series or in a non-series event, and all Seashore Striders events are open to the public. More information can be found at seashorestriders.com.
Upcoming Races »
Saturday, March 12, 10 a.m. - St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run, Denton, Md.
Sunday, March 13, 9 a.m. - St. Paddy Shamrock Shuffle 15K/5K, Junction & Breakwater Trail, Rehoboth Beach.
Saturday, March 19, 9 a.m. - Great Strides 10K/5K, The Grove Park, Rehoboth Beach.
