PCVRC Newsletter – November 2025
Black Friday 5k in Bear:
Hi all, this great org is putting on a sustainable 5k on Black Friday – ideal for getting outside after all that turkey, especially if you’re too busy on Thanksgiving for a trot. They have a prize for largest team, so be sure to sign up under Pike Creek Valley Running Club!
Delaware Distance Classic 15K was a fun event on October 19, Mid-Atlantic USATF Series are winding down and we look forward to our Holiday Party!
For current and all past PCVRC Newsletters at https://pcvrc.com/pcvrc-news-bulletins-2/
PCVRC Membership for 2026
Renew membership now for the next year!
If you know a runner who should join our club, tell them to become a member for the remainder of 2025 and all of 2026. Club membership includes race discounts, weekly group runs, discounted Delaware Park passes, track workouts with Coach Fischer, fun runs, Club social events including Holiday Party, Spring Social, Delaware Distance Classic (our signature event), 10% discount at Delaware Running Company, eligibility to participate as a member of our team in USATF events and more!
42nd Delaware Distance Classic Recap
We had 200 participants in the 42nd annual Delaware Distance Classic 15K on Sunday October 19, 2025. Weather was beautiful and runners from all over the Delaware Valley enjoyed the Jack A Markell Trail for some great times. $1100 in prize money was awarded. As reported in the Runner’s Gazette by Clay Shaw:
“Lindsay Hayman of Newark, DE won a very close women’s race in 56:05. Hayman had the faster finish on the Wilmington Waterfront, taking the lead there. Jennifer Pesce of Vincentown, NJ was second and top master in 56:15. Allison Emmons of Hockessin, DE was third and second master in 56:33. Elaine Esyes-Harton of Philadelphia was fourth in 56:43. Elizabeth Swierzbinski of Wilmington was fifth in 57:44.
Luke Myers of Philadelphia led the way, winning in 48:44. David Dosey of Philadelphia was second in 49:48. Eric Reitinger of Mt Laurel, NJ was third and top master in 50:43. The first three men wore Philadelphia Track Club kits. Alexander Catina was fourth in 52:41. Anthony Swierzbinski of Wilmington was fifth, as was his wife in the women’s race.”
View Race Photos including separate galleries of Bridge Photos, Mile 9 Photos, Finish & Awards Photos
PCVRC Racing Team updates
On October 4, PCVRC was well represented at the Camp Innabah 5 mile trail race, a part of the Mid-Atlantic USATF off-road series. Congratulations to Keith Crispin, Cranky O Man, Caitlin Reilly, Lynn Knothe, and Dave Wiechecki for picking up age group awards.
On October 12, a small, but strong, contingent of PCVRC tackled the trails at Evansburg State Park. Congratulations to Pw LoBianco and Sarah Rusk on their overall wins!
Pike Creek Valley runners took on bridges November 2! A small contingent took on the Cooper Norcross Ben Franklin Bridge 10k on Sunday in the latest race in the USATF Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix, setting 3 state age group records in the process! The ladies led the way, taking 3 of the top 5 overall places with Lindsay Hayman in 2nd (35:52, state age group record), Allison Gayle Emmons 4th overall/1st master (36:48, state age group record), Liz Swierzbinski 5th overall (37:12), and Sarah Rusk placing as 3rd master. Not to be outdone, William Rose set the 65-69 state age group record for 65-69 (42:04). Anthony Swierzbinski (2nd), Greg Cauller (2nd), and Dave Wiechecki (3rd) also took age group awards.
About 100 miles north, a few of the regular USATF racers competed in the New York City Marathon, which was also acting as the World Master Age Group Championship. Robert Mason broke his own state age group record (3:43:54) to place 14th in 70-74, Frank McKelvey narrowly missed his own 60-64 age group record (2:58:43) to place 20th in his age group, and Cranky O Man continued his streak of New York Marathon finishes!
Philadelphia Marathon Weekend: Nov 22/23
Allison Emmons (2.54.18, 15th OA, 1st AG, new DE state AG record), Roxanne Ramirez (2.54.07, 14th OA) and JR Creekmore (2.30.15, 15th OA) running sub 3 hours representing PCVRC at the Philadelphia Marathon!
Anthony Swierzbinski gives his Rothman 8K recap:
Rothman 8k- 26:57- PR! 5:24 pace per mile
This one never felt easy. Two years ago when I ran 27:08, I ran the first mile in 5:10. Saturday I went through the mile in 5:21, feeling surprisingly uncomfortable. But I didn’t panic. I just told myself “this is where I want to be” and got to work. 5:18- 5:22- 5:19-5:24 for the final 4 miles (and a few extra seconds because the watch is never 100% accurate). I saw Jim Fischer with about a 1/2 mile left and I gave him a thumbs up even though I could tell I was grimacing. The Ugly Race Face is always worth a few seconds in the final mile!
Join Our Team
Our racing team wants you! Any club member who joins USATF can participate and represent the club. USATF members can enjoy discounts on series races and win end of year awards. Members of the club who are members of USATF and compete in 4 races total among both series will receive a complimentary membership to PCVRC for the following year. The annual cost to join USATF is $60 at https://usatf.sport80.com/public/wizard/a/941/home, select Pike Creek Valley Running Club as your club affiliation. Please contact Lynn Knothe () for more information. For the racing calendars for the road and off-road series, please go to https://mausatf.org/grad-prix-events/ and https://mausatf.org/off-road-events/.
Club Shirts & Singlets
If you’ve joined PCVRC within the past year or so and have never received your green club shirt, come and pick it up at Ray’s house (near Delcastle) or at a Sunday/Thursday Group Run!
New club singlets! You’ve been asking, and we ordered. Current club members may purchase new club singlets for $15. Singlets run relatively true to size; Lynn is modeling a women’s small, Greg is modeling a men’s medium.
Club Singlets are now available at a discount from our actual cost. Again, arrange to grab at Ray’s house or a group run. Get in touch while we still have a selection of sizes!
Holiday Party Wednesday 12/17 in Newark
The annual PCVRC holiday party will once again take place at Klondike Kate’s on Main Street in Newark, DE. Club members and their families will enjoy an excellent buffet of food. Just buy your own drinks and catch up with old and new friends.
Renew annual membership dues for 2026 for just $25. We’ll have some giveaways.
Wednesday, Dec 17 from 6-9pm upstairs!
Group Runs continue every Sunday & Thursday, track workouts every Tuesday and Trail runs on Saturdays
Sundays 8:00 am – meet in the parking lot behind Brew HaHa! in the Main Street Galleria, 45 East Main St., Newark (free parking) and run in White Creek Park and back anywhere from 1-14 miles; NOTE: post-run coffee and breakfast now at Cafeneo (South Main Street in Newark)
Thursdays 6:00 pm – meet at start/finish of Delcastle Rec Area; Run 1 or more laps of the 1.75 mile loop.
Tuesday evening track workouts: Workouts start at 6:00pm at St. Mark’s High School. Participants can warm up off beforehand outside of the track. Please check the PCVRC website weekly for any updates.
Annual Awards & Board Nominations Requested
Your input is requested!
Nominate a fellow club member for an award anytime before late January 2026. See previous winners for ideas.
Nominate yourself for a PCVRC Board position anytime before late January 2026. We have open positions and need club members to step up and help make our club more productive and more fun! See info
Email Ray at in either case or contact any board member.
Your PCVRC Board
Please contact us with any questions
President and Webmaster: Ray Christensen
Vice President: Hali Mckinley Lester
Secretary: Dwight Swaney
Treasurer: Andrea Riley
Membership coordinator: Tracey Mack
Sponsor coordinator: Dwight Swaney
Events coordinator: Hali Mckinley Lester
USATF Team coordinator: Lynn Knothe; Assistant: Greg Cauller
DDC Race Director: Open