Milford High School Cross Country

Officially, just call it one of those days . . . one of those extremely hot days when the sweat runs faster down your face than your legs do on the sizzling hot blacktop at the YMCA 5-miler Sunday. Looking back, Ol' Bloomie should have stuck to plan No. 1 and run the other Strider Series 5-miler on my birthday back in May. Instead, I waited and wilted with a saucy 39:13 on Sunday, good enough for 63rd overall and 2nd in my age group. Most likely, I'll drop to third in the summer series standings. I should've taken a vacation like Uncle Vern. Special Sauce Insider gives special kudos to Smyrna grad/Wesley senior Matt Lindell who took third, just seconds behind Leslie Wright in the 30-minute range. SC grad and Salisbury State runner Enos Benbow wasn't too far behind either. Congrats to Seaford juniors Brian Lloyd (32 something) and Caitlin McGroerty (37 something) who blew by Bloomie en route to age group wins. CR's Kyle Luke gave Lloyd a challenge finishing just seconds behind. Sara Popovich led the Cape alums with a solid time, and my props to Pops Perciful of Seaford who believes he has made all 20 YMCA 5-milers. (Meanwhile, his son Andrew caught some waves at the beach.:) For complete Special Sauce news and results, click on the above headline. And remember . . . If you want to make Special Sauce, I guess I'll have to see you out there running! :) Have fun! Run! Next race: Dam Mill in Millsboro or Duck Creek in Smyrna, Aug. 10 ????

For the first time in their racing partnership, Uncle Vern and Ol' Bloomie got edged out of the top relay spot at the 10th annual Maryland State Championship Riverwatch Duathlon in Northeast, Md. Sunday. The VernCzars ran a 1:29.23 -- less than four minutes behind the top team. Still, we finished in the Top 30 out of hundreds of finishers (In all, more than 900 competed in the Du and Tri Sunday). Vern started the first 3-mile run in about 19 minutes, while Bloomie completed the hilly, hilly 16-mile bike course (by far the hardest I've ever ridden) in less than 50 minutes in a pouring thunderstorm. Vern, then cruised the final 3-mile in about 20 minutes. We'll be aiming to start a new winning streak at the Kent Foot and Ankle Biathlon in mid-August. For complete Special Sauce news and results, click on the above headline. And remember . . . If you want to make Special Sauce, I guess I'll have to see you out there running! :) Have fun! Run! Next race: YMCA 5-miler Sunday, Aug. 4 in Lewes.

It may be one of the most cherish prizes in Delmarva 5K racing -- the wooden Buffalo at the 24th annual Buffalo Stampede in Wyoming -- and Ol' Bloomie claimed a third-place one for his Mr. Constistent 21:55 on Saturday. Meanwhile, Uncle Vern took a disappointing fourth in his age group to just miss a 10K buffalo. Congrats go out to MHS asst. principal Kevin Dickerson who knocked out the 10K (I promised not to mention time or place, but he did well, folks!) and Goldey Beacom coach Chip Parsley (who stopped down seeking recruits after his 10K run). Special Sauce Insider saw a horde of local folks (dominated by past, present and future CR riders). As for the present, Kyle Luke, Anthony Swierzbinski, B.J. Friend, the Stubbolos, Ashley Johnson and numerous others of CR made the 5K run as did Smyrna's John Worrall (AKA squirrell -- in spikes ???). Lake's Addison Lukecart cruised the 10K, finishing a notch ahead of Uncle Vern. From the past, CR alum Matt Swierzbinski won the 10K and Seaford alum Jamie Parks wasn't too far behind. Jed Mountz, Jeff Miller, Tara Winters, Beth Redden, Kristen Irwin and many other recent Henlopen alum flashed their old form. For complete Special Sauce news and results, click on the above headline. And remember . . . If you want to make Special Sauce, I guess I'll have to see you out there running! :) Have fun! Run! Next race: Riverwatch Duathlon in Northeast, Md. July 28

Bloomie and Sidekick Nick Boggs placed a respectable 42nd out of 151 finishers with a 37:18 at Sunday's Rehoboth Biathlon. Bloomie got stuck with the half-mile swim, but still came in under 19 minutes, while Boggs tracked down competitors in the 5K. Congrats go out to a lot of locals with Milford ties, including Heather Rudd, the Barr family (Stu, Emma and Clare) and Barr relatives, Marty and Kate Thomas. MHS teacher Jan Kelley also competed well! Special Sauce Insider saw the Lake CC/swimmers haul in the hardware. Brad Lands, Holly and Allison Wilson, Lena Ewing and others all sported the great times (must be something about lifeguarding at the beaches!).

More than 280 runners took to the streets in Rehoboth on Saturday at the Firecracker 5K, and despite the big field, Bloomie still hauled a third place trophy and a sub-22 time. Uncle Vern had a stacked age bracket, but ran well and Sidekick Nick Boggs also hauled in a third with a 15th-overall finish. Congrats also go out to Lake alum Eric Payne (4th overall) and Milford's own Tell Gwen Guerke (under 30!). Special Sauce Insider saw a few past high schoolers running, such as Cape's Beth Redden and Brittany Morris (both were in sight, but ousted Bloom on Saturday). A few other flashbacks also made the finish line.