Olympian embedded in Rehoboth Marathon
Benji Durden was standing on the starting line Dec. 10 in Rehoboth Beach getting ready to race the Seashore Marathon. In 1980, he took the lead at the 19-mile mark in the Olympic Trials Marathon and was caught at mile 23 to finish second to Tony Sandoval in a personal record of 2:09:57.
Durden was in the mix of the action during the running boom in the '80s, racing with guys like Bill Rogers, Alberto Salazar, Greg Meyer, Paul Cummings and many more great distance runners of the past.
Benji put together a string of 25 sub-2:20 marathons in less than a decade and ranked among the top 10 U.S. marathoners for six straight years. He went on to coach elite runners and currently has a timing company in Boulder, Colo., where he works and lives. Benji ran a 3:21:00 in Rehoboth Beach to place second to Myron Sidloski of Dallas, who ran 3:19:10, while Durden's wife Amie finished third in the female 55-59 age group in 4:14:51. Benji and Amie have been timing races for many years in Boulder.
New Shadow Race Series
Dan MacElrevey and I are working on a series of four events that will be called the Shadow Series, to be held at Cape Henlopen State Park.
The series of races will be different from the traditional 5K in the morning as these events will have some challenges, the largest challenge being that they will be held in the early evening.
The four months that are being targeted are March, May, August and December. The events will have some requirements - such as headlamps or flashlights - to participate.
The series will be a fundraiser for the local Boy Scout Venture Crew 2540's High Adventure Program. Look for the series to be announced in the next two weeks at www.seashorestriders.com.
24-hour tough mudder
Last weekend, my mud run partner in crime, Matt Carter of Quest Fitness, along with Aymi Wyatt of Milford, took part in a nonstop 24-hour event designed to find the toughest human being on the planet.
The World’s Toughest Mudder, a culminating event of the 2011 Tough Mudder Event Series, was a two-day challenge with one goal: to find the toughest man or woman on the planet. When the mud settled Dec. 18, one person bested more than 150,000 other mudders for the right to call himself or herself the World’s Toughest Mudder!
WTM competitors had 24 hours to complete as many laps of the course as they could. At the 24-hour mark, all competitors complete the lap they are on with the event’s winner being the participant who has completed the greatest total number of laps in the allotted 24 hours.
This event was a competition, with the winner being crowned World’s Toughest Mudder and receiving a cash prize of $10,000. Of those who began the event, only 10 percent were expected to finish.
According to the description, Tough Mudder events are hardcore, 10-12-mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test all-around strength, stamina, mental gritand camaraderie. The event has raised more than $2 million for the Wounded Warrior Project.
No results are listed as the organizers state that it is not a race, it is an event. Carter was seen picking up his child at school and was walking, smiling and in one piece, so he must be ready to start planning our second annual local mud run with fresh new ideas.
Quest Fitness and the Seashore Striders will host The Second Annual Downstate Delaware Dirty Dozen Mud Run Sunday, April 29, in Milton. Look for an application and event information on the Seashore Striders website on or around Feb. 1.
Upcoming races
Saturday, Dec. 31 - 9th Race into the New Year 5K, noon, Rehoboth Beach Running Company, Rehoboth Beach.
Sunday, Jan. 1 - First Hair of the Dog 5K/10K, 9:30 a.m., Bethany Beach.
Visit www.seashorestriders.com for more information.
