FOOTLOOSE FREDDOGG
Dave Frederick is Sports editor of the Cape Gazette and a former teacher and track coach at Cape Henlopen in Lewes. He is the wide body with the camera at most local road races. His post race commentaries will be a regular part of this web site because in his own words "I'm a writer who is over priced at no price."
The April Fools 4.9 Race
Speaking of April Fools back in 1978 I ran a 3:38 marathon and 42.07 10 k. And that is no joke although from 30 years away with a bad hip it does seem a bit improbable.
I have also coached track to five state titles including a couple all American distance runners and I am partly responsible for the modern day race administrator known as Tim Bamforth. I was his high school coach and believe what you wish but Tim was a double state champion in the mile and two mile both times stealing races from the front because he was one crazy torrid pace setting white boy. Tim the first person I know to wear five watches at one time after I asked him to help out with the Lewes Marathon
I incurred the wrath of the running community during the Time Out series many years ago when I referred to a race as the next "run a little pay a lot" 5k causing one irate sneaker sales woman to complain "what does Fredman know about running?"
Fast forward to this new millennium which I'm told is a sentence fragment
Seaside Delaware is on the running map and puts on the best races and gives the best coverage to runners because we get it that each runner has a story to tell and self improvement through fitness is admirable and sometimes painful.
The all terrain Aprils Fools race looked fun lots of smiles without much attention to times. Jen McGowan the first woman is just 22 and last spring helped lead Hamilton College to a NCAA Division 3 Lacrosse National Title.
Breck Vanderwende the 35 year old farmer from Bridgeville and the nicest person you could meet if you meet me first won the men's race.
Rick Poppleton who can out talk anyone in his age group looked good coming off an injury.
Everyone else pretty much sucked! I'm kidding, April Fools Race!