Sign-Up for Love Local Weekly
Discover inventive small business owners, makers, and innovators who are masters in their fields and will help you create the home of your dreams and engage with your community.
Subscribe
Suggest an Event
The online Fig calendar is a curated list of community and advertiser events happening in Kennett Square.
Contact Us
Search
The Victory Mushroom Cap Half Marathon was born on the sidelines of a lacrosse game as fellow moms and long-distance runners Karen DiMascola and Sarah Nurry envisioned a race that would showcase the beauty and community spirit of their hometown. Such dreams often drift away on the tide of daily demands, but Nurry said, “Let’s do it!”
The idea gathered momentum as they connected with local influencers and businesses, established the non-profit Run2Shine, and began building a team. DiMascola, a teacher and mother of two, and Nurry, a former executive and mother of four, have learned a lot—about everything from the running industry and race logistics to generating revenue. It’s a labor of love, and they’re grateful for the generosity of Victory and other local businesses and for the support of their families, community members, “including lots of women,” and organizations like the Kennett Run and Bike Kennett.
They decided from the start that the beneficiaries would be local families in need. In the first two years they’ve supported Family Promise, the Garage, the Grayson Saves Foundation, the Weekly Fight, and Kennett Education Foundation. Building on the success of this year’s relay option, they plan to broaden participation further with a charity one-miler.
The course takes runners over cobblestone sidewalks and past historic Victorian homes, through early-morning mist to the breathtaking rolling hills of horse country. At each of the 13 sponsored aid stations along the way, runners enjoy spirited encouragement. As race director Lynne Hernandez says, the VMCHM is “a love letter to Kennett Square.”
