From President Ray
DDC 15K & 5K Volunteers Needed
Delaware Distance Classic is just 2+ weeks away. We’ve got 200 already registered for 15K and just a handful for 5K. If not running one of the events, we could really, really use your help.
Nearly twice as many are needed due to the 2 concurrent events.
To volunteer, please contact one of the following (double duty is welcome):
– Registration (starting 6:45am): Rachel B.
– Course Marshals (starting 8:00am): Vince M.
– Finish area/food tables (starting 8:15am): Dave M.
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From Doctor Dan (Weintraub) or it is now Banana Dan (or Danana Bananarama?):
Saturday, Chris James ran a 3:41 marathon at the Rock N Roll Denver half and full marathon. He experienced the effects of the high altitude as well as a nagging cold, but the weather and the course through the parks and neighborhoods of Denver were really nice and motivating. His performance was definitely admirable. I think he was the only Delawarean who ran the race.
As reigning PCVRC Spirit Award winner, I, of course, signed up at the expo to volunteer for the race. Although I had only been in Colorado less than two days and knew very little about the race, I was placed at the Solutions tent at 5 AM. I helped with the bib distribution to all the runners who were picking it up on the day of the race. After the start, I was assigned to the finish area where I became Banana Dan and gave out bananas to all the finishers of both races who wanted one. I enjoyed being part of this race. The Denver RNR production was very well done.
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Bethany Beach Duathlon – From Claire Neilan:
We had some PCVRC folks represent the club at the Bethany Beach duathlon and triathlon this past Sunday. Myself, Tom Jermyn, and Dan Simmons competed in the duathlon. And Jordan competed in the triathlon. I got 5th overall female (they gave awards for the top 5 men and women), and Tom and Dan won their age groups. Both Jordan and I rode 75 miles the day before at Bike to the Bay, so we were very happy with our times. Jordan was using it as a practice event for his upcoming half ironman in October.
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Brandywine Bend trail run – From Tom Steenkamer:
The 2nd annual Brandywine Bend trail run was held this past Sunday in Chadds Ford, PA. This race is an invitational event that is held on private lands (Weymouth, DuPont) in the Brandywine valley just south of Chadds Ford. The property is tucked into a corner of the Brandywine (aka – “the Bend”). Access to the property is a scenic adventure unto itself via a 2 mile gravel driveway passing a few homes, barns, horse pastures ending at the rustic main house on the Bend property.
The 7.8 mile course covered a mix of farm roads softened by the overnight rain, a few significant hill climbs, a meadow maze, some single track and finally a crossing of the Brandywine to the finish.
Several club members participated in this unique event which featured a starting format modeled after the famed San Francisco Dip Sea race. Runners started in waves based on age and gender. The first wave (oldest age group) received a 20 minute head start over the last group. (20-24 yr. old males).
It was the perfect morning for a trail chase and we set out to catch those who started before us. The splashed our way through the farm roads saturated from the overnight rain and hit the first significant hill climb arrived at mile 2, followed by a downhill recovery. We proceeded around the pastures, past the chapel in the woods, took a spiral course through the wildflower maze and headed down along the river to Smith Bridge. Mile 5 provided another challenging but short hill which seemed close to the finish. Much to my surprise it was followed by an even steeper, and longer hill climb at mile 6.5 up to Point Lookout. History says this is the location where General Washington scouted the area planning for the Battle of the Brandywine. Back down to the Brandywine and into the creek. It was running fast and clear and felt great. Initially, I had thought about running through it but with the current and water up to mid-thigh level it seemed that staying upright required a fast walk. Several runners took the opportunity to compete for the best river crossing with a combination of plunges, swimming, and other antics. Followed by a 400m sprint to the main house and warm breakfast sandwich and refreshments.
Club members – Greg Cauller, Lisa Jalot (honorable mention best river crossing), Carol Giampietro and I enjoyed this race along with the other 136 participants.
I highly recommend this race for anyone looking for a unique trail running experience next year.
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Hugh Campbell
Hugh Campbell will be off to the USA Masters 5K National Championships in Syracuse, N.Y., which will be run on Sunday morning. If you recall, Hugh set the state 85-89 age-group record of 27:17 last week and it appears to be a single-age(88) national record. The time age-graded out to almost 100, meaning it was in world record territory. The course in Syracuse is known to be a fast out and back course with little elevation change and many national records have been set on it. I don’t want to be a jinx by predicting too much, but let’s put it this way: Hugh “jogged” around Delcastle at sub-ten-minute pace this morning. This was conversational pace for him, but that is already faster than his only competitor in his age-group has run, In addition to $100 Hugh will win if he takes his age-group, the top ten overall age-graded competitors will be awarded cash. I fully expect Hugh to be among them, if not among the very top three or four.
Race Results:
Philadelphia Rock “n” Roll Half Marathon:
1:52:26 Beth Howlett
Club members who live out of state need to remind me of race results that aren’t part of USATF or conducted in Delaware.
Get Moving University of Delaware 5K:
17:50 Jay Coughenour, 1st Master
KISS Family & Friends 5K for Cancer:
17:42 Matt Cutrona, Overall Winner