Delaware RunFest Updates

June 1, 2020

UPDATE: JUNE 29

Earlier in the spring Corrigan Sports Enterprises (CSE) made the decision to postpone the Delaware Running Festival to August 2nd with the hopes local and national key health metrics for COVID-19 would trend in a positive direction. While Delaware and surrounding states are slowly reopening, the pace of recovery is not where authorities would like it to be in order to conduct a live Delaware Running Festival with our total number of projected participants. Combined with the fact our medical provider continues to need to keep their focus on the pandemic and thus will likely not be in a position to adequately staff our event, we have made the final decision to switch this year’s festival to a virtual event. This is not the outcome any of us wanted. However, we truly feel it is the best and safest decision for everyone under the current environment.

We’ve adjusted our plans accordingly, and offer you the options to participate virtually or defer your entry to next year without incurring any additional costs:

OPTION 1: Run the Virtual Delaware Running Festival (NO ACTION REQUIRED)

  • Participate virtually by running your distance and on your own “course” at your pace on your preferred date in accordance with your local or state social distancing guidelines.
    • We will focus our efforts on our rescheduled race date of August 2 to create a bigger sense of community.
  • We’ll ship virtual participants their Under Armour shirt and race medal prior to August 2nd (no additional charge; USPS tracking # to be provided)
  • Opportunity to upload race times & participate in an online virtual experience that only Corrigan Sports can deliver.
  • Engage in social media promotions such as photo contests and trivia
  • Additional random prizes will be included in mailings such as free or discounted 2021 DRF race entries and merchandise.
  • All entrants will be switched to VIRTUAL PARTICIPANT by default (unless you choose option 2 below to defer)
  • We will send follow up emails to virtual participants to make sure we have your correct premium size and mailing address prior to shipping your packet

OPTION 2: DEFER MY REGISTRATION (ACTION REQUIRED BY JULY 7)

  • If you choose not to run the Virtual Delaware Running Festival, you can defer your entry to the Delaware Running Festival in 2021 or 2022.
  • You must make your deferment decision by July 7. There is no charge to defer.
  • Deferred entries will not receive this year’s race premiums or medal
  • To complete your deferral, follow these steps:
  • Log into RunSignup and go to your profile: https://runsignup.com/Profile

Per our policy which every runner agrees to during the online registration & waiver process with a required check box check box, CSE does not offer registration refunds.

CSE appreciates everyone’s patience and understanding as we made difficult decisions that were in the best interest of our runners and for Wilmington as a whole. Stay safe everyone.

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UPDATE:  JUNE 1

We realize we have not provided any race updates for the 2020 Delaware Running Festival (DRF) in a while, so we want you to know what we’ve been doing since we last touched base.

Lee Corrigan was recently named a member of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s Sports Advisory group to create new safety measures for large endurance events along with professional, amateur and youth athletics in our region.   It is a honor to be included on such a prestigious committee and the insight will certainly help us in creating a safe event where, with reasonable adjustments, most runners feel comfortable running in a public setting.

Our intentions are still to conduct the Delaware RunFest on our target date, August 2. Our philosophy is to be as patient as possible. First and foremost, our first responders and local health officials remain engaged with their respective roles addressing the pandemic.   Once we receive an official go ahead, we will publish the safety steps and precautions we will implement so you can make a personal decision about your participation. We know everyone has unique concerns.  AT NO TIME WILL WE EVER JEAPORDIZE RUNNER SAFETY.

We recently mailed about 150 race packets to runners who selected the virtual option.  Those of you who did not select to run the 2020 Delaware RunFest virtually still have two options:

Reminder of your current options:

  1. KEEP YOUR REGISTRATION (no action required): If you want to run on the rescheduled date in 2020 – there is nothing that you need to do on your end. Your registration will automatically be transferred to the new date.
  2. DEFER (action required): you still have the opportunity to defer to 2021 with no transaction fee. By choosing this option you will get to run in next year’s race for free, but forfeit receiving this year’s medal and premium.

UPDATE: MAY 8

 

New Date: Sunday, August 2, 2020

The Delaware Running Festival has been RESCHEDULED to Sunday, August 2, 2020. Just like the rest of the world, the running community is reacting to the coronavirus pandemic as we receive new information daily. CSE appreciates everyone’s patience and understanding as we navigate these unchartered waters and do what is best for our runners and for the city as a whole.

Selecting a new date that works for all parties including the venue, police, medical and other city services is not an easy task.  However, CSE felt like it was worth the extra effort because we know how important racing is to our participants.  That said, you do have options should our new date not work for your schedule.

At this time, we are offering current Delaware Running Festival registrants 3 options:

  • OPTION 1: KEEP YOUR REGISTRATION (NO ACTION REQUIRED)
    • If you want to run on August 2, 2020 – there is nothing that you need to do on your end. Your registration will automatically be transferred to the new date!
  • OPTION 2: DEFER MY REGISTRATION (ACTION REQUIRED)
    • If you cannot run on Aug 2, you can defer your entry until next year’s event to be held on April 25, 2021.
    • From March 19 through May 15 we are waiving our normal deferral fees. After May 15, the regular deferment fee of $25 will be charged.
    • To complete your deferral, follow these steps:
  • OPTION 3:  GO VIRTUAL! (ACTION REQUIRED)
    • Take on our Virtual Challenge and transfer your 2020 race entry into a Virtual Run.  You can run the distance you registered for on your own and we will ship your race shirt and medal.
      • Packages to be mailed after May 1 and may take 2-3 weeks to reach your home)
    • To choose the virtual option, follow these steps NO LATER THAN May 1
      • Log into RunSignup and go to your profile: https://runsignup.com/Profile
      • Under the Upcoming Events section, click MANAGE REGISTRATION next to your Delaware Running Festival Registration
      • Click ADD-ONS tab
      • Select the GO VIRTUAL add-on and provide the mailing address to have your gear shipped
      • Click Confirm Payment

Per our policy which every runner agrees to during the online registration process, CSE does not offer registration refunds. This article explains why:

https://humanpotentialrunning.com/from-the-rd/pandemics-mass-gatherings-and-the-challenges-of-rds/?fbclid=IwAR0MztmfbnA5v4BYF7cxrbl7e7IuQ5RJ2n5nwC51xa8V3DtrQfhweyIwdww

OTHER SCENARIOS:

  • If you are part of a CHARITY GROUP runner or member of a CORPORATE WELLNESS TEAM, contact your group’s captain.
  • If you signed up through a third party ( and not a charity group or corporate wellness team) or at an expo: go to this link https://runsignup.com/ClaimAccounts, enter your email address, and click “Claim”. If there are any unclaimed accounts associated with that email address, you will receive the “Claim Instructions” email within a few minutes. More help can be found here: https://help.runsignup.com/support/solutions/articles/17000062874-claim-an-account
  • If you have previously deferred your entry, but now wish to participate in the VIRTUAL RUN or on August 2, you will receive an email with a link to a special online form. Your $25 deferment fee which you already paid will be refunded within 20 days.
  • If you have previously deferred your entry to April 25, 2021, and that remains your desire, no action is required on your part.
  • If you are part of the BFD Challenge, you will remain eligible for that award regardless of the option you select.

We know that our new date will not work for everyone and that the summer timeframe can be create additional challenges.  We have already begun talks to add things like additional water stops, cold towels, revised start times and other ideas.  Our staff has worked diligently with city services and key vendors to avoid canceling this year’s running festival. The day is too important to the Delaware community and we’ve done everything within our means to make it still happen.

Corrigan Sports  |  [email protected]

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