CAPE GAZETTE 36TH FIRECRACKER 5K RUN & WALK "& Kid's Tot Trot" (SSRS #7)

IN COOPERATION WITH THE CAPE GAZETTE

 

INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIPS...CONTACT Michael@capegazette.com for more information

 

 

DESCRIPTION

• Join the Seashore Striders for one of the oldest 5k races in "the national Summer Capital" Rehoboth Beach.  The Cape Gazette 36th Firecracker 5k Run & Walk.   The 7th event in the popular Seashore Strider Championship Series, the Firecracker 5k is a great event raising money this year for the Cape Gazette Charitable Foundation.  Come join the Seashore Striders and the Cape Gazette on the starting line.  We look forward to being your host!

 

• EVENTS:
  • 5k Run...7:30am
  • 5k Walk...7:30am
  • Kid's Tot Trot...7:25am...Starting at the starting line...kid's 8U will race out & back a distance of 200 meters (100m out & 100m back)
     

 

RACE LOCATION

• 1 Grove Park; Rehoboth Beach, DE. 19971

 

RACE TIME

• Time...7:30 am

                                                                                           

• RACE REGISTRATION:                                                                                
  • $30.00 "Early Bird" Registration...through June 21st at midnight  
  • $35.00 "Pre" Registration June 22nd through July 3rd at midnight
  • $40.00 "Last Chance" Race-Day Registration Registration will open at 6:00 am and will close at 7:15 am 

 

• Registration will be done online through runsignup.   All participants registered by Monday, June 29th will be guaranteed a t-shirt, while registrations received after June 29th are "first come"
  Registration can also be done through the mail by printing out the universal entry form, filling it out, including payment and mailing to Seashore Striders C/O Firecracker 5k, 9 Gander Lane; Lewes, DE. 19958.  Please mail early so that it arrives by Monday, June 29th to secure your shirt.

 

**No Registration is needed for the Kid's Tot Trot

 

2 WAYS TO REGISTER FOR A SEASHORE STRIDER EVENT

• ONLINE REGISTRATION through RUNSIGNUP here at this site."The easiest & most popular way to register for Seashore Strider events.
• MAIL-IN REGISTRATION...form can be downloaded from seashorestriders.com on the Firecracker 5k race page.  Please fill out the form completely & neatly, double checking Age, Gender, Entry Fee Price (some events have different fees) & Event Choice.Mail completed paper registration to:
  • Seashore Striders; 9 Gander Lane, Lewes, DE. 19958
• Please make sure entry arrives by Monday of Race Week to be guaranteed an event swag
• Make checks payable to “Seashore Striders” if using the Universal Entry Form                                                                                                    
   

 

TO BENEFIT

• Cape Gazette Charitable Foundation
  • For over 33 years, the Cape Gazette has provided consistent, meaningful support to local nonprofit organizations through cash contributions, in-kind advertising, editorial coverage, and volunteer involvement. These efforts help sustain the organizations that form the foundation of our strong and vibrant community. The Cape Gazette 36th Firecracker 5K is an extension of this mission, leveraging the Cape Gazette’s reach, resources, and community trust to bring people together in support of local causes while celebrating America's Semiquincentennial.

 

 

SPONSOR/HOST

• Seashore Strider Event Production, Inc.
   

 

RACE COURSE

• The 36th Firecracker 5k is a flat & fast course through the north pines of Rehoboth Beach, just north of the Avenue.  

 

 

RACE TIMING

• Timing will be done by the Seashore Strider Event Production team and will be using the Chronotrack B Chip system.  

 

 

RACE AMENITIES

• Finish line produced by “Seashore Strider Event Production, Inc.,” Post-Race awards ceremony within 20 minutes following the final finisher, custom printed T-Shirts, custom awards.  
   

 

AWARDS

• Awards will be presented to the Overall Male & Female Champions, Overall Male & Female Masters (40+ yrs.), as well as the top three (3) Male & Female finishers in the following 16 age categories:
  • 9 & under, 10-13, 14-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+
  • Awards will be presented within 20 minutes following the final runner crossing the finish
  • Walk Awards (Medals) will be Top 5 Male & Female
  • If you miss the awards ceremony you may pick up locally in Lewes at 9 Gander Lane, Lewes or if you are out of town, your award will be shipped to you for a cost of $10 to cover postage.   We do take Venmo.

 

36TH CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES INFO

• There is no extra fee to enter the Championship Series- just the regular entry fee per race...automatically entered
• To QUALIFY for the Championship Series one must do the following 3 items:
  • 1. Runners must complete one (1) 5 mile race (2 to choose from)
  • 2. Runners must complete five (5) 5k's (8 to choose from) 
  • 3. CONTINUED in '26...Runners must complete at least one (1) of the following "Strider Be Kind Good Deeds" listed below sometime during the Series...e-mail "Be Kind Good Deed" to tim@seashorestrider.com
    • Volunteer for a Seashore Strider Series Event 
    • Join the Strider Annual Challenge of 100 miles per month...visit www.seashorestiders.com 
    • Make a Donation to the Seashore Strider Youth Cross Country Team
    • Make a Donation to the Event you are taking part in
    • Help out with any "post-race" refreshments, making the event even better

• The Final series standings is determined by fastest 5 mile race and 5 fastest 5ks. Runners are placed in age group by their age on 1st race entered.
  • Example: If you run as a 39 year old in your first 3 races and then turn 40 for your final three races, then you will be in the 35-39 age group for the championship series.  
  • Runners must register using exact same name for each race if they want accurate results compiled. 
  • Series Weekly Standings will be posted at www.seashorestriders.com

 

• Seashore Strider Statistician Tim Young.

 

 

WALKER NOTE...CONTINUED IN 26'

The Seashore Striders are going to add a separate 5K WALK DIVISION in all eight series events for this summer.  If participants show responsibility, fairness and honesty and WALK correctly by USATF Standards then it will continue.   If it turns into a "DQ fest" then it will not continue.  

As the Seashore Strider Race Director, I am not interested in creating more work for myself and we do not have the staff  to patrol 3.1 miles of the course, but what I am interested in doing is providing an opportunity for those who simply do not run and would rather walk and still be involved in the event.  That is my goal & mission with this decision.   We ask that as a walker you are fair, honest to the division.

"Race walking differs from running in that it requires the competitor to maintain contact with the ground at all times and requires the leading leg to be straightened as the foot makes contact with the ground. It must remain straightened until the leg passes under the body. Judges evaluate the technique of race walkers and report fouls which may lead to disqualification. All judging is done by the eye of the judge and no outside technology is used in making judging decisions."...USATF

To QUALIFY in the Walk Series Division you must complete five of the 8 5k Events listed here:

Race For the Ribbon 5k on 5/31/26
Bill Degnan 5k on 6/7/26
Fathers Day 5k on 6/21/26
Jungle Jim's 5k on 6/27/26
Beebe Hero's 5k on 6/28/26
Firecracker 5k on 7/4/26
Dam Mill 5k on 7/26/26
Race for the Paws 5k on 8/1/26

To QUALIFY in the Walk Series Division you must complete one of the 2 5m Events listed here:

Masser 5 Miler on 5/24/26
Seashore 5 Miler on 7/12/26

This NEW Walk Division will allow a participant to qualify for the Championship Series by completing 5 of the 8 5k Walks and 1 of the two 5 mile runs.   The two 5 mile runs will not have a separate WALK division and you can run or walk or do a combination.  Because of the longer 5 mile distance, you are encouraged to run or run/walk, rather than walk the whole five mile distance.  The key is that you must finish the 5 miler.

Awards for the WALK will be the top 5 male & the top 5 female in those five WALK events.

For the Championship Series Awards you are either in the WALK division or you are in the Age Group Run Division.   You can not be in both and you can not go back & forth.   Please pay attention to the Division you register for.

WALK QUESTIONS can be directed to tim@seshorestrider.com
 

 

REFUNDS/DEFERRAL  

The Seashore Striders have a "No Refund" policy, however we make every possible attempt to please our client with the following options:  1. Transfer to a future Seashore Strider owned event of equal value before the end of the current year.   2. Donate your entry fee to the charity associated with the event or to the Seashore Strider Youth Running program.  3. Transfer/Defer to the following year at the same event.  Thank You for your cooperation & understanding as some situations are beyond the control of the Seashore Striders.

 

 

STRIDER RACE POLICIES

• Are you wondering about the Strider Race Policies?    Do you have questions regarding the following: 

  • HOW DO I WEAR BY RACE BIB?

  • WHAT ARE THE TIME LIMITS FOR STRIDER RACES?  

  • ARE THEY WALKER FRIENDLY?

  • WILL I RECEIVE A REFUND IF I CAN NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE RACE?

  • ARE WINNERS CHOSEN BY CHIP TIME OR GUN TIME?  

  • ARE BABY JOGGERS OR STROLLERS ALLOWED DURING THE RACE?

  • ARE PETS, BIKES, SKATEBOARDS, ETC... PERMITTED ON THE COURSE?

  • ARE HEADPHONES (IPOD, EAR BUDS, MPS....) ALLOWED DURING THE RACE?

  • CAN I WEAR SOMEONE ELE'S BIB WHO CAN NOT MAKE THE RACE?

  • WHAT IF WE MISS THE AWARD CEREMONY?  

  • DO YOU MAIL AWARDS, RACE PACKETS?

• If you have any questions regarding the above topics please CLICK HERE to go to the strider race policies

 

 

RACE DIRECTOR 

• Tim Bamforth, Seashore Striders/Seashore Strider Event Production, Inc.   For questions...tim@seashorestrider.com
   

 

SEASHORE STRIDER STORE 

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