VIEW YOUR RACE PHOTOS HERE:  https://www.finisherpix.com/en/event/7517/ 

VIEW YOUR RESULTS HERE:  https://www.athlinks.com/event/3291/results/Event/1078831/Results

There are a few changes to the parking lot availability for 2024 compared to previous years.  You can learn where you are able to park and what fees will be charged by visiting THIS LINK.

Meet our 20-Timer: Christopher James

1. Where you are from? Wilmington DE
2. Why did you decide to run in the Delaware Running Festival in 2004? I decided to run Delaware back in 2004. At that time, it had been many years since Delaware had a marathon. I was just getting into running marathons and with a few friends, we thought the chance to run one in our home state was too good to pass up.
3. What is the most memorable year for you and why? The most memorable year for me was 2011 because it’s literally when I met my wife. We still talk about it and it’s crazy to think we’ve now been married for 11 years and have an 8 and 10-year-old.
4. Why do you keep coming back to run in Delaware? At first, I came back to run Delaware every year because of the camaraderie that I had with a running club- Rebel Runners. We would all participate in the distance solo or as team relays and then have this awesome tailgate party afterward. It was one of these tailgates where I met my wife in 2011.
5. What has changed since the first year? The biggest thing that’s changed is the course. It started out as the same loop around the riverfront 4 times, then expanded out to the city for a 2 loop course and now it’s one continuous 26.2 mile course.
6. What are you looking forward to most about this year?

   Over the years, I ran the full marathon multiple times, half marathon many more times and participated in 4 and 8 person team relays. One year there was a 10 mile option and I’ve run the 5K which was recently added. The only distance I haven’t run is the 10K, which I’m looking forward to this year and celebrating the 20 years of Delaware.
   

YOUR 2024 RUNNER HANDBOOK IS HERE!  The Runner Handbook includes all of the WHO, WHAT, WHEN & WHERE answers related to the upcoming race.  Before you reach out to customer service with a question, try to find it yourself here.  Nine times out of 10, you can find it quicker in your Runner Handbook.

NEW FOR 2024! We are taking the Big Freakin’ Deal Challenge to the next level!  At each race, you will earn a special medal slider to add to your already awesome BFD medal!

Each glittery medal slider will be distributed from the exclusive VIP Tent after each race where those in the challenge will earn some added treats and comradery with their fellow competitors. 

Remember you can run any distance live or virtual at Delaware, Frederick, and the Baltimore 10-Miler and earn your HUGE BFD medal as well as the B, F & D sliders that will go on the medal’s ribbon.

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Delaware Running Festival and we have a special medal in store for our finishers!

The center of the medal is designed to spin, allowing you to showcase two distinctive sides. One side features the distance you conquered, while the other displays a special 20th Anniversary logo. Turn the medal around, and you’ll discover a tribute to all the Wilmington streets our runners cover from the 5k to the Marathon!

Come celebrate 20 years with us on April 21! REGISTER NOW!

March 28, 2023- Baltimore, MD- Corrigan Sports Enterprises (CSE) announced today that Wilmington Police Master Corporal Sarah Bozeman will participate in the Delaware Half Marathon as the official Charity Chaser for the event. Corporal Bozeman will start the event dead last and for every runner she passes, Corrigan Sports and the Delaware Running Festival will donate $2 to a charity supporting public safety professionals and initiatives.

“This is our way of demonstrating our appreciation for the job that the men and women of the Wilmington Police Department do every day in our community.  We are excited to add this exciting charity element to the Delaware Running Festival” Lee Corrigan, President of Corrigan Sports Enterprises.

“I couldn’t be more excited to represent the officers of WPD while doing something that I love.” Said Officer Bozeman. “I plan to raise a lot of money and I thank the Delaware Running Festival for this opportunity.  Let’s Race!”

“We appreciate the invitation for one of our officers to participate in this wonderful program, and to join runners from around the region and across the country in this beloved race,” said Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos. “We are also grateful for the support of our community’s first responders.”

About Corrigan Sports Enterprises

Corrigan Sports Enterprises has earned its national reputation by owning and operating some of the largest events in the endurance industry. Founded in 2001, CSE owns and/or operates marquee events such as the Annapolis Running Festival, Baltimore Running Festival, Frederick Running Festival, Baltimore 10-Miler, Ocean City Running Festival, The Bay Bridge Run, and the All-America Lacrosse Classic. For more information visit: www.corrigansports.com.

Thank you so much for participating in the 2022 Delaware Running Festival.  We have reviewed the surveys and received some valuable feedback to help us improve some things in the future.  Here is our plan:

STAGGERED START:  With the addition of the 10K for the first time in 2022, we learned that we need to stagger the start of the Full/Half and the 10K.  We understand that the narrowness of some of the route in the first mile or so created some challenges for runners trying to get up to pace.  We plan to start the 10K a few minutes later and explore utilizing waves to further spread the crowd.

MORE COURSE MARSHALS:  Overall, the updates to the 2022 course were well received.  That said, we learned that some areas of the course were confusing to participants.  We plan to position additional course marshal volunteers at turns to help runners navigate the route.  We will also explore adjustments the course to reduce the number of turns and tricky locations.  Most of these are mandated by city police in an attempt to lessen the burden on traffic and to help with police staffing challenges that day.  

IMPROVED TRAIL LOGISTICS:  Those who ran the full marathon reported that non-participant traffic on the back 13.1 miles of the course caused some challenges during that portion of their run.  The Jack Markell Trail is a public path with many access points.  That said, we will endeavor to post signs along the route and work with city officials to find way to lessen this traffic on race day.  

BETTER PLAN AT START/FINISH:  Using the same start and finish line has some great advantages but creates some logistical challenges for set up and traffic flow.  We learned that in the morning, we need to open the bike rack to allow additional access points to the start line.  Post-race, we need to do a better job of securing the finish shoots to make sure runners can locate the post-race snacks intended for their finish.  For reference, the granola bars, fruit, chips and other snacks are separated from the water and Gatorade in part due to the morning line up in the same area.  While many runners were able to find the snacks, some runners eager to reunite with family and friends, entered the park earlier than anticipated and missed this location (SEE MAP HERE.)

We certainly appreciate the honest feedback and hope you know that we take your comments to heart.  We are always looking to improve our events and getting back to live racing has only invigorated us to continue to create the best and most runner friendly events we can.   THANK YOU!

CONGRATULATIONS on a great race.  To view your photos from MarathonFoto VISIT HERE.

CLICK IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR RUNNER HANDBOOK