New StandUP4SEALS Beach Races Set for Saturday Morning

A new Memorial Day Weekend event includes two of the hottest new fitness trends: stand-up paddleboarding and obstacle racing.

The inaugural StandUP4SEALS 'Get in the Fight' Beach Challenge will offer three separate events Saturday, May 25, starting from the beach at Fourth Street: a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) relay in a box course that includes legs through the surf; a Tough Mudder-like beach run that includes five obstacles; and a fun run for kids.

Each event starts at 8 a.m., and spectators will be able to see the action from the beach and boardwalk.

The event will raise money for the families of Navy SEALS killed in action.

The events are as follows:

• Stand Up Paddle Ocean Challenge: The race takes place on a box course off Fourth Street Beach with four relay team members each completing two legs or individuals completing eight legs. Each leg starts and finishes on the beach and covers a total distance of about a mile. The race includes age brackets and board categories.
• Obstacle Course Challenge: An approximately two-mile beach run will begin and end at Fourth Street Beach. The obstacles included in the run have just been announced and are listed below.
• Kids Fun Run: Kids will start at Fourth Street Beach and run north to St. Charles Place and back, meeting some safe obstacles along the way. Age brackets include 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12.

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For more information on the races and event, visit: standup4seals.com.
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Online registration is closed, but you can still register until 8 p.m. in-person on Friday (May 24) at Island Beach Gear (Ninth Street and Bay Avenue).  In addition, there will be early-morning beach registration at 6:30 a.m., but it will be close by 7:15 a.m.

The obstacle race course is as follows

1. Start at 4^th Street and run North towards Morningside Rd.
2. Sand Surf Berm – You will be required to traverse 100 yards in the sand, in ankle high water.  Quickly, turn around at Morningside Road and head South.
3. The BodyArmor Plunge Pit at 3^rd Street – (Sponsored by The BodyArmor SuperDrink) This will be a soft sand run, you will then head South towards the Music Pier at 8^th Street.
4. Army Crawl – You must quickly crawl under the Music Pier.
5. The Mental Challenge – You may stay in the penalty box for up to 1 minute to complete this challenge.  If completed early, you may continue the race.
6. The Grinder – This will consist of 9 CrossFit type exercises.
7. Dean Adams Balance Beam/ Wall – This is a balance beam and a 4ft wall that you must climb and overcome.
8. Gillian’s Wonderland Pier Sand Berm – You will be introduced to 4 sand berms that need to be traversed.
9. Dietz & Watson Sand Bag Carry – You must carry one sandbag and complete a square course.  You will then return the bag to where you picked it up.
10. Sprint to the finish!

At about 10 a.m., after the completion of the adult races, the winner of the SUP Surf Relay Race will lead a paddle out for the laying of a wreath (environmentally friendly) to celebrate all veterans who have served for our country. Bagpipers will play, and the race will honor a fallen member of the Navy SEALs.

Chad and Kristen Gallagher, 1992 graduates of Ocean City High School, classmate Patrick Gill, former Navy SEAL Mark Baum and former Ocean City Beach Patrol member Mike Vaules helped organize the new event.

"We love this country and made a choice not to sit on the sidelines any more," Chad Gallagher said in the news conference last month.

The 31 Heroes Project is named for the SEALS killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011. That project and the similar Navy SEAL Foundation are the beneficiaries of the Memorial Day Weekend event.

"Ninety-five cents of every dollar goes to the families," Vaules said.