Race for the Paws 5K set Aug. 6 in Dewey
One of the popular summer beach races, the 14th Race for the Paws 5K and 1-Mile Dog Walk, will begin at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Dewey Beach Lions Club on Dagsworthy Avenue in Dewey Beach. The race traditionally attracts 250 to 275 runners and walkers, and this year could reach 300 participants. Race organizer Cheryl Crowe is working overtime preparing for a great morning of racing with a super afterparty. Join Cheryl and the Seashore Striders for the 10th event of the Seashore Striders Racing Series, as the event is in memory of all the four-legged friends we have lost over the years with proceeds going to the Delaware Humane Association. The after party will feature live music, food and drinks, water ice, dog pools and puppies.
Packet pickup will be alongside Pet Smart in Rehoboth Beach from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 5. Please plan on picking up your packet, which will make race-day go much smoother. Parking passes will be handed out at packet pickup.
Maggie’s Mile
A unique event to be held on Friday, Aug. 12, the second annual Maggie’s Mile will take place at Cape’s Legends Stadium in Lewes. The event is named in memory of Maggie Browne, a Cape Henlopen High School student and member of the track team who was lost in an accident in spring 2021. Awards will go to the overall fastest male and female as well as the top three male and female finishers in the following divisions: Lil Mags Half (9 & U), Youth (10-12), Teen (13-19), Open (20-39), Masters (40-49), Grand Masters (50-59), Ultra Grand Masters (60 & O), Celebrity and Elite. Check-in is at 6 p.m., with the opening race going off at 7 p.m.
Male and female runners who would like to enter the Elite Division and have mile times under five minutes up to six minutes should contact the Seashore Striders at tim@seashorestrider.com.
What is Poudre Canyon?
The Poudre Canyon is a narrow, verdant canyon approximately 40 miles long on the upper Cache la Poudre River in Larimer County, Colo. The canyon is a glacier-formed valley through the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains northwest of Fort Collins. I had the pleasure to drive through and hike a bit of the canyon, which is beautiful with breathtaking views everywhere you look.
The Poudre River Trail, popular with Colorado runners, parallels the Poudre River as it flows northeast from Poudre Lake. It maintains a pretty low grade throughout, making it one of the more manageable trails to run in the park. Follow the trail downhill through the Poudre River Valley and take in the views of Specimen Mountain to the north and Trail Ridge to the south. About 5.5 miles into the trail, you'll arrive at a junction with Chapin Creek Trail, so stay left to continue along the Poudre River Trail. At roughly the nine-mile mark, you'll reach another junction, this time with the Mummy Pass Trail. Continue for the final stretch of the trail to its terminus at a junction with the Corral Creek Trail and the Big South Trail, both of which exit the national park.
A popular running event in the canyon is the Cache La Poudre Canyon Marathon, a PR course that travels down the Colorado Scenic Byway on Poudre Canyon Road. The course starts at 7,000 feet and travels (mostly) down the canyon to an ending elevation at about 5,200 feet. Race organizers bill the course as the "fastest sub-four-hour marathon course in Colorado for people that normally live at or near sea level." Colorado has 27 marathons in the state; many of them have under 200 finishers mainly due to the course conditions.
One of the most scenic is the Estes Park Marathon in June surrounded by glorious 360-degree views of Rocky Mountain National Park. Runner's World magazine recommends this destination race for a reason. This past June at the Estes Park Marathon, 32-year-old Anne Flower ran 3:02:07 to win the race over all male and female runners by more than two minutes.
One of the toughest is the Leadville Marathon, an absolutely challenging and beautiful course. It is not for the faint of heart or breath. After leaving the pavement of Sixth Street, runners experience a mix of trails, off-road paths, and rocky climbs and descents. Much of the middle and later stages of the course are run through rocky sections.
Add one of these races to your bucket list!
