Go-getters and goal setters: 2,800 runners jump on it

Go-getters and goal setters - A candy cane sky at first light at the Rehoboth Boardwalk with an air temperature of 30 degrees. About 2,800 laced-and-layered-up souls were ready to trek the trails for the Rehoboth full and half marathons. Runners assemble with the fastest in front, and the air horn sends them off. The music begins to play, rocking an old-school rap song, “Apache” by the Sugarhill Gang, released in 1979. “Tonto, jump on it! Kemosabe, jump on it! Custer, jump on it. A-hunga-hunga-a-hunga-hunga.” Don Don Mitchell steps down from the Rehoboth fire truck and takes it all in. “Fred, these people are crazy.” I respond, “And smart. Most are educated. A large number are undertrained, but it's about the quest, focusing on a goal and getting it done. Let’s hope they all get back safely.” 

Flag Alley - The Surfgimp Foundation volunteer crew makes Flag Alley happen, makes the music happen, and gives shoutouts to runners by announcing hometowns. They are straight from the heart of the Rehoboth marathon. Brad Dennehy: “My people. Stringing up flags in the forest on a Saturday morning for runners … to raise money for people who can’t run, but just want to surf.” Runner Nancy Forsyth: “Going through Flag Alley makes me forget my tired legs.” Mary Beth Hutton: “They are the best!” 

Born to Run - I camped at Flag Alley for photos. Surfgimp compadres offer me a donut, but with endless gaggles of runners streaming past me, it's impossible to work a donut into my coordinated setup. Different distances along different trails, but Flag Alley, close to Wolfe Neck Road, is the commingling Mecca and turnaround point for the half and full runners. All have about four miles to the finish. The half-marathon leaders, Phillip Duncan (1:08:55) and Lydia Olivere (1:17:54), can dial in their speed without dodging traffic, but marathon leaders Brent Schouler (2:38) and Anna Gervirtz (2:50) have caught hundreds of half-marathoners and must become artful dodgers to clear the wash. I remember when I ran the Lewes Marathon in a respectable 3:38. That winner, Billy McCartan, beat me by nine miles. It was slightly humbling; it kept me from tripping like I was some kind of runner.   

Saturation - The Weather Channel was founded in 1980, which we all know is  44 years ago, so put your hands down. I remember comedian Tony Randall came on “The Tonight Show” and told Johnny Carson, “I’m addicted. I’m watching the weather eight hours a day. Someone asked me, ‘Tony, what’s the weather for tomorrow?’ I answered, ‘I have no idea.’” That’s the way it is this time of year when college football high-stakes conference championship games blend into pro football playoff-positioning games. It’s easy to go Tony Randall and remember none of it. I didn’t see Alabama being shut out of the 12-team playoff. DraftKings has the Eagles as 4.5-point favorites over the Steelers this weekend at the Linc. I don’t gamble because I’m no good at predictions, but I’d take the Steelers and the points. 

Wrestling rankings - I don’t rank high school teams and wrestlers by weight class because inside the circle it counts for no points. But the Henlopen Conference is no joke, and dual meets have a focused importance beyond what they should; it's just the nature of 50 years of battles. And it's all about matchups. There are 14 weight classes, and bonus points for major decisions, tech falls and pins. Sussex Tech is at Cape on Wednesday night – varsity at 6 p.m. – and that should be a battle. Vikings Austin Guerrieri, 120, and Patrick Donahue, 215, both reached the finals at last weekend's prestigious Southern Slam in South Carolina. The Ravens crowned two champions at the Polytech Invitational – Anthony Andrews, 126, and Dustin Elliott, 157. Placing second was Bennett Brumbley, 165. 

Snippets - Cape boys’ basketball will hosts Sussex Central Thursday, Dec. 12. Both teams won their openers, with Central besting Indian River 87-28, while Cape won at Lake Forest 64-50. Dover, the defending state champion, is considered the team to beat in the Henlopen Conference. Abigail Crowley of Sussex Academy won the girls’ 1,600 meters in 5:29.87 at the Franklin & Marshall High School Invitational. It was freshman Abigail's first time ever racing on a track. Cape junior Anejah Grace jumped a personal best 5-feet even in the high jump to place fourth. Go on now, git!