DELAWARE — Move over Rutherford B. Hayes, it’s Abraham Lincoln’s time to shine this summer with an inaugural race with his top-hatted face serving as the logo.
However, the race is not in his honor; rather in honor of Lincoln Avenue where the mile-long race takes place.
Come Aug. 15 beginning at 6 p.m., Lincoln Avenue will close from the Delaware Hayes Tennis Courts to Mingo Park for runners of all ages to charge down the street.
Runners will need to check in starting at 5 p.m. at the Hayes tennis courts and can park at Hayes High School, Mingo Park or other municipal lots.
Unlike a typical 5k where runners all start at the same starting time, this mile-long run has four different heats:
- The High School Challenge kicks off the event at 6 p.m. and is open to individuals or teams aged 13-18. It costs $15 to enter this heat.
- The Community Open starts at 6:25 p.m. and is open to anyone, but it’s recommended for runners aged 7 and up. It costs $10-25 to enter depending on a participant’s age.
- The Elite Women Mile is for female runners who can run a 5:15 mile or faster, with no age limit. It costs $10-25 to enter depending on a participant’s age and begins at 6:50 p.m.
- The Elite Men Mile begins at 7 p.m. and is for male runners who can make a 4:45 mile or faster.It costs $10-25 to enter depending on a participant’s age.
In the elite heats, there are limited comped entries for women able to run a 4:50 mile or faster and men able to run a 4:20 mile or faster.
Fast walkers are also welcome to participate.
Winners will be announced at the awards presentation in Mingo Park at 7:30 where the Unity Community Fest will be at the same time.
Find additional race information and register here.
All proceeds from registered participants go toward Delaware Hayes’ boys and girls cross country team and HelpLine.
How the race came to be
Former City Manager Tom Homan and former Delaware Hayes High School Cross Country Coach Jim Bibler have been organizing the event since August of 2024.
“During my tenure, someone had approached the city about putting on a race. For a number of reasons it didn’t move ahead, but it always stuck in my head, ‘what a great idea,'” Homan said.
So when Homan retired, he got with Bibler, some local runners and other community members to get the race off the ground.
Among those community members are professional athletes Jake Edwards and Emily Richards who are both from Delaware.
Edwards was a Delaware Hayes champion before running Division I track and cross-country at The Ohio State University.
Richards attended Ohio Northern University where she ran women’s track and field, and eventually made her way to Olympic trials.
“Hopefully it will be the first of many Lincoln Runs,” Homan said.
Bibler said his goal is to have 200-250 registered runners in the first year, and grow that number in the following years.
Homan also said he welcomes feedback from participants so they can improve the race next year.
