History of the Delaware Distance Classic
(Taken from the PCVRC web page)
The race was started in 1983 by a few guys from the Pike Creek area who, started the club and then the race, as a means of gaining some financial assistance in getting the club off the ground.
Over the years, the club has grown & the race has grown. We have raised a few thousand dollars for the Special Olympics, and more recently have donated to The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, and The Mike Clark Legacy Foundation. PCVRC also benefits by receiving needed funds to keep the club going and keep running in the area fun and exciting while promoting our sport!
The race has seen five previous locations, each having its ups and downs. It started in Pike Creek on a very challenging course. Like the old Caesar Rodney Half Marathon course, people seemed to really enjoy the challenge of the hills. We had as many as 800 finishers at one time in the 1980’s. It was run there for the 1st five years and then in 1988, was moved to Delaware Park for a two year run. That year, we brought in the famous Bill Rodgers to participate.
In 1990, we moved again to the Corporate commons, in part because of the sponsorship. That was a one year deal as in 1991 we got a commitment from another sponsor in Wilmington for three years that we couldn’t refuse. 1992 was the year the race had world-class runners brought in and the fastest times ever run in Delaware were run that year. The men’s course record run that year was 44.02 by Boay Akonay of Tanzania. The women’s course record also run that year was 51:24 by Wilma Van Onna of Holland. Akonay also ran through the 10k mark (was certified) in under 29 minutes, which nobody had or has since done in Delaware!
After the three-year commitment was over with the city, the race moved to Delcastle recreation center for five years. It was there that the race took a turn for the worse as the number of finishers went down quit a bit. The consensus was that the course and the fact that the running boom we saw in the 1980’s had slowed considerably were the reasons for the decline. We added a 5K with the hopes of getting participation higher with no luck.
In 1999, it was decided to move again to the newly developed Christina Water Front with the thinking that a flat fast course with the scenic views (well, most of the way) would help the participation increase. We also hoped to take advantage of the new corporations down on the Riverfront as a source of new sponsorship. With the Blue Rocks stadium there, we had the important details of parking, bathrooms, space, etc. already in place. The move worked well as race participation slowly increased for several years in registered runners as well as finishers. In 1999 we had a low of 164 finishers and in 2012 we had a high of 356 finishers.
As activity in the Riverfront Area increased, it became more difficult to handle the logistics of vehicle traffic, conflicting events, and general congestion, so in 2014 it was once again time to move. Our new location in Delaware City promises to be an interesting change, while keeping fast & flat courses for both the 15K and 5K races. We look forward to seeing you in October!
David Farren, Race Director, 1999-2010
Updated by Ray Christensen, PCVRC President, 2010-2012
PCVRC’s Delaware Distance Classic 15k/5k
From Joel Schiller:
Registration is now open for the 32nd Annual Delaware Distance Classic 15K & 5K presented by New Balance Brandywine & Christiana and M&T Bank. We invite you to run with us!
When: 9:00am start, Sunday, October 12, 2014 (race day registration opens at 7:30am)
Where: Clinton St and Battery Park, DE City, Delaware. Plenty of free parking.
15K Cost: $35 (before Oct 5); $45 (starting Oct 6, including race day); 5K Cost: $25 early; $30 late
Event Registration: www.ddc15k.org
The Course: This new 15K (9.3 miles) course is USATF-certified, flat and fast. The loop begins and ends on Clinton Street in downtown Delaware City and runs out into the historic Fort DuPont and onto Cox Neck Road. This race serves as the 2014 Mid-Atlantic USATF 15K Championship and is part of the Mid-Atlantic USATF Grand Prix running series. It is one of the oldest races in Delaware, started by the Pike Creek Valley Running Club as the Pike Creek Classic 15K in 1983.
2014 Highlights: The 15K race will feature $750 in prize money; 5-year age categories, plus random and middle-of-pack awards. Each participant will receive a quality long-sleeve technical shirt (from New Balance), other giveaways, and post-race refreshments at Crabby Dicks. We will have an Awards Ceremony, Sponsor Exhibits, and Music with a live DJ. We invite you to stay and tailgate with us! Plenty of free parking in and around the start and finish.
Charity Proceeds will go to the Mike Clark Legacy Foundation and local Delaware City charities
PCVRC Iron Hill (Newark Location) Fall Fundraising Event
What: Fundraising Event
Where: Iron Hill (Main Street in Newark)
Date: Monday, September 29th
Time: 5:00pm – 10:00pm
RSVP:
(Coupon attached to this e-mail)
From Rachel:
Attached are coupons for the upcoming Fundraising Event at Iron Hill Brewery in Newark on Monday, September 29th. You must distribute these to family and friends prior to attending the fundraising event. PLEASE DO NOT distribute on site at Iron Hill. They have a strict policy and will cancel our event if anyone from our club is found passing them out during the event.
Feel free to make copies and hand out as many as you’d like. The more coupons that can be used the more money the club will receive.
If you have any questions please contact me at
I look forward to seeing everyone in a couple of weeks!
Rachel
PCVRC Speaker Series w/Duncan Outslay
From Paula Jermyn:
Hey Pike Creek Valley Running Club Members!
Our Fall Speaker Series has been scheduled and we are so excited to have Duncan Outslay as our presenter on Sunday, October 19th starting at 6:00 p.m. Great timing- the weekend after PCVRC Delaware Distance Classic on the 12th!
Since this seminar is at Christiana Care Rehabilitation Services, formerly PT Plus, space is limited to 20 people. The seminar is free for active PCVRC members.
Please RSVP to Paula Jermyn at as soon as possible to save your spot!!
Topic for presentation:
Prevention and Management of Common Running Injuries + a treadmill video analysis
Biography-
Duncan Outslay MSPT, ATC, USA Triathlon Coach – Level 1
Duncan Outslay is a physical therapist for Christiana Care Rehabilitation Services in Wilmington, Delaware. He has been employed by Christiana Care for nearly 10 years. Duncan holds a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from the Institute of Physical Therapy Education at Widener University in 2001. He also holds a Certification in Athletic Training from the the University of Delaware in 1991. He has a specialty in Lower Extremity Injuries and Biomechanics with a special interest in the endurance athlete.
Duncan is also USA Triathlon Certified Coach – Level 1. He has coached numerous endurance athletes to completing their goals from sprint triathlons to full Ironman distance races as well as running races from 5Ks to full marathons. He coaches athletes of all abilities from beginners to National Championship qualifiers. As an athlete he has enjoyed running since early childhood. Duncan’s philosophy of coaching is “happy training”. In order to find joy in running you need to focus on the journey, not the destination.
The seminar will be held at:
Christiana Care Rehabilitation Services
5311 Limestone Road Ste 101
Wilmington, DE 19808
We look forward to seeing you there!
Race Results, Reviews and Accomplishments:
Joel and Stacey Schiller rode in the MS Bike to the Bay this past weekend. Joel rode 81 miles with his team and was the first Artisans’ Bank participant to cross the finish line. Stacey did her first century ride, completing 112 miles!
Jim Durkin won his age group at the 7th Moving for Melanoma 5k, finishing in 28:33.8 chip time. That also represented a 75+ age-group finish in the Delaware Senior Olympics, qualifying him for the national competition held in Minneapolis next year!
7th Moving for Melanoma 5k
(September 21st – Wilmington Riverfront)
Jim Durkin 28:33.8 (1st AG)
USATF
Calling all XC runners:
Save the Date – 12/13/14 USATF Club Nationals
PCVRC is planning to have extensive representation at this year’s USATF XC Club National race to be held @ the Lehigh University cross country course. This race is one of the biggest and most exciting annual USATF events and this year is being held only 2 hours away from us. The race rotates around the USA – 2015 is in San Francisco, 2016 in Lexington – so you see why this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to participate with other clubs from the East Coast and across the USA..
What is required to participate? A current USATF membership. If you are not a current USATF member consider joining on or after November 1st since this will provide membership for the remainder of 2014 and 2015.
I hear a few folks saying I’m not that competitive so why go? Consider the following –
The race is fantastic. You line up across a giant field with your matching uniformed teammates next to you, and you can look left or right to see the arc of the starting line in a rainbow of team colors on either side of you. Masters competitors wearing a race number bib on their chest and their age group on their back you identify your fellow competitors. At the gun everyone charges across that field to take on the challenge of the hills, grass, and ensuing oxygen debt . So pack up all your race singlet, shoes, and maybe a pair of spikes and there you go—road trip to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania—relaxing comfortably in your team van. Gather with club members from near and far as you stay cozy and warm in the MAUSATF heated tent sharing your racing stories, food and beverages.
XC Nationals Warm-Up on October 4th
Paul Short Cross Country meet offers a preview of Club Cross Country meet at Lehigh University in December:
New Jersey runners have a wonderful opportunity to preview the courses of the USATF National Club Cross Country Championship on October 4th at Lehigh University. The Paul Short Cross Country meet opens in the morning with an “open” women’s 6km at 10:00 a.m., followed by an “open” men’s 8km at 10:10 a.m. The features of the course allows this to be done as the men’s 8km takes them off the 6km course at about a mile and a third. The women will have finished by the time the men return from their race that is 2 kilometers longer.
“Open” in this context refers to any collegiate runner not affiliated with a collegiate team, and post collegiate runners including masters runners. In 2013 the fields were around 500 finishers in the “open” races. There is no team scoring for the open races and no awards.
For information on the meet and the open races, follow this link, http://www.lehighsports.com/news/2014/9/19/PaulShort_0919141321.aspx
To register click on “Coaches” then scroll down to “Post HS Unattached women athlete registration” or “Post HS Unattached men athlete registration”
You will be able to register using your credit card. The registration fee is $30.00.
You must also print out the waiver and sign and bring with you to pick up your timing chip on race day.
The national club meet on Saturday December 13th features a 10km for open and master’s men and a 6km for open and masters women. Below are the links to the course maps:
http://www.lehighsports.com/custompages/MISC/Cross%20Country/Course%20Maps/6KXCountryMap.pdf
http://www.lehighsports.com/custompages/MISC/Cross%20Country/Course%20Maps/8KXCountryMap.pdf
http://www.lehighsports.com/custompages/MISC/Cross%20Country/Course%20Maps/10KMap.pdf
Here is the link to the national club cross country meet:
http://www.usatf.org/Events—Calendar/2014/USATF-National-Club-Cross-Country-Championships.aspx