January 23, Dewey Beach, DE – Successful Certified Race Directors Rick Hundley and Ernie Felici, of Focus Multi-Sports, well known for the Bethany Beach First Responders Triathlon/Duathlon/Aquabike, Surfin’ Snowman 5-Miler, the upcoming Justin’s Beach House 5k/10k on May 23, 2015 and Athletes to End Alzheimer’s on August 2, 2015 and other entrepreneurial ventures, are at it again. Dubbed “Delaware’s Coolest Marathon” and designated by VacationRentalHomes.com, a Trip Advisor Company, as the “Best Marathon in Delaware” the inaugural Coastal Delaware Running Festival is scheduled for May 3, 2015. Recently designated a State of Delaware Championship event by the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) and a Boston Marathon qualifying race, race-related activities begin on Friday, with the full and half marathons and 9k on Sunday, May 3, 2015.
On Friday, May 1, a VIP reception will take place at the new Dewey Beach Hyatt/Lighthouse Cove bayside complex at 124 Dickinson Street, in Dewey Beach, and packet pick up, sport expo, and athlete and family welcome party on Saturday, May 2 from 3-9 pm. On Sunday morning at 7, 7:30 and 7:45, the marathon, half marathon and 9k respectively, will start at Tower Road at the Delaware State Park off Coastal Highway. The finish line and post-race celebration party will be at Lighthouse Cove. The post-race party will feature free food and beer and live entertainment.
The Coastal Delaware Running Festival is also a fundraiser the Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation (DSPF), a Friends Group supporting Delaware State Parks. The DSPF is a non-profit organization that was created to preserve, protect and enhance the Indian River Life Saving Station, and the Parks within the Delaware Seashore State Park Region including the Indian River Marina, Delaware Seashore, Fenwick Island and Holts Landing State Parks whose most recent undertaking is the restoration of WWII Fire Control Tower #3 with The Fort Miles Historical Association. The races will explore many of these very venues – the salt marshes and oceanside, bayside and pond-front parks of south coastal Delaware, with views of the iconic Rehoboth boardwalk and Fire Control Tower #3, the DSPF’s main fundraising priority.
The Coastal Delaware Running Festival would like to thank our sponsors to date including, The Dewey Beach Hyatt Place, Lighthouse Cove, Gatorade, Shirley Rice Relator, D3 Corp, Creative Resource Group, Baja Beach House Grill, Cycling Center of Coastal Delaware, Rehoboth Beach Sports, Delmarva Two-Way and we are currently seeking additional sponsors and volunteers.
“We have more than 800 runners already registered. It’s a flat and fast course, which runners love, not to mention incredibly scenic. We are known for our awesome party-like events and great swag, especially gender-specific tech shirts and unique, creative and highly sought-after finisher medals, so we fully expect to sell out the races.” said Rick Hundley."