WHAT’S INSIDE
‘Every finish is unique to every runner and every one of them brings their own story to the race’
Ten years running: The Mushroom Cap Half Marathon celebrates a milestone
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
As the early autumn sun first began to peek over the water tower adjacent to Kennett Stadium on the morning of September 15, 2016, and 700 runners began limbering up in near darkness before the start of the first Mushroom Cap Half Marathon, race organizers Sarah Nurry,
Kara Gibbons - and original co-founder Karen DiMascola - stood in admiration of the gathering throng.
As they prepare for the tenth Mushroom Cap Half Marathon on November 8, Nurry and Gibbons – together with a dedicated corps of volunteers and sponsors – have helped carve this annual race into the lexicon of what defines “the Kennett Square Community.” The 13.1-mile course not only meanders its way through a postcard of destinations, its mission has also firmly dug its fundraising efforts into the agencies and organizations that make Kennett Square a great place to live, work and raise families.
“When we think back to that first race, none of us really had any idea how it was all going to go down,” Nurry said. “Every year and every race since then brings with it new additions, new connections and new partnerships.”
With every Mushroom Cap Half Marathon event comes not only the turning of another calendar year, but an upgrade of tweaks and additions, and this year’s race will be no exception. Because of bridge construction at Wollaston and Mill roads, the 13.1-
mile course will feature a slightly different route and because Birch Street in Kennett Square – the starting line for the race – is being renovated, it will require some creative redesign of the course’s beginning.
“When you plan an event like this, you try to keep control over the things that you can – that runners have great swag, that the course is clean, that our volunteers are in place and that the runners’ safety is taken into consideration - and you prepare as far as a year in advance in order to secure everything,” Nurry said. “Then circumstances happen, and you have to downshift and recalculate, but that’s part of the evolution of this race –that every year presents a new hurdle and a new look.”
Also introduced this year are new medals, whose design celebrates the unique flavor of Kennett Square: the mushroom industry, the famous water tower and the horse farms the competitors will be running past. Created by Nurry and Gibbons, the medallions were designed by Massachusetts-based Ashworth Medals.
Continued on Page 8
Photo by Richard L. Gaw Sarah Nurry, left, and Kara Gibbons, right, have been the key organizers of the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon since its beginning in 2016.
SCHEDULE YOUR SERVICE TODAY!!
Ten years running
Continued from page 6
“We spoke to our runners, and they told us that they like spinning features on the medals, and we added a 3-D dimensional. We wanted to offer a heavier medal in celebration of our tenth anniversary and we wanted to celebrate Kennett Square,” Gibbons said.
One of the annual perks of participating in the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon is the promise that the postrace food selection is both delicious, unique and plentiful. This year, MCHM is partnering with Dos Gringos Mexican Kitchen in Media, Pa., who will be setting up a full taco bar buffet, giving the runners the option of digging into a feast by signing up in advance.
Long after each year’s race comes to a close – in the aftermath of medal celebrations, the exhilaration of crossing the finish line, and when all of the water stations are taken down and the clean-up of the course is complete – the true mission of this race begins. Since 2016, Run2Shine – the
fundraising arm of the race – has distributed more than $80,000 to agencies and organizations throughout Kennett Square and beyond.
In 2024, Run2Shine presented a $2,500 check to the Kennett Square Police Department that went toward the purchase of an additional AED chest compression system for the department that is used by officers to help community members in the event of cardio-related emergencies. Additional contributions were also made to several area booster clubs.
Courtesy photo
In 2024, Run2Shine presented a $2,500 check to the Kennett Square Police Department that went toward the purchase of an additional AED chest compression system for the department.
“We have become a much more trusted and known commodity than when we first launched in 2016,” Nurry said. “The magnitude of what so many of us do every year – our 200 volunteers and our generous sponsors and vendors - doesn’t really hit me until the finish line, when I begin to see runners finish their respective races.
Nurry and Gibbons are in the beginning stages of plans to donate a portion of funds from this year’s race to brain cancer prevention research, or a scholarship in the name of a former race colleague whose life was cut short by brain cancer earlier this year.
Over the past ten years, the annual Mushroom Cap Half Marathon has earned its place as one of the premiere road races in Chester County, drawing competitors from as close as Kennett Square Borough to as far away as New England. The proof of that popularity is clearly visible in early registration for this year’s event; as of midSeptember – eight weeks before the race - the 2025 Mushroom Cap Half Marathon had already registered more than 525 runners, and by the time the race kicks off early on November 8, the final number may eclipse previous records for attendance.
I’m watching everyone come through, and I realize that every finish is unique to every runner and every one of them brings their own story to the race. Seeing the family members, seeing the tears, seeing the joys, seeing the excitement, seeing all of the emotions in other people who were afforded this opportunity because of all of the work that went on behind the scenes…that is the beauty of what the Mushroom Cap has come to mean for me.”
“For me, the magic of this event is seen in the hundreds of volunteers who make this race a community event,” Gibbons said. “Over the past decade, this race has truly become reflective of the fact that Kennett Square is unique, a great place to live and supportive of everyone who lives here. Everyone associated with this race is selfless and dedicated to the greater good.”
Kara and Sarah would like to thank volunteer coordinators Erin Merill and Suzanne Schurr and operations lead Fabio Tresoldi for their valuable contributions to this race.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
In commemoration of its tenth race, this year’s Mushroom Cap Half Marathon medal’s design will acknowledge the unique flavor of Kennett Square: the mushroom industry, the famous water tower and horse farms.
‘Quite simply, you want to take care of your own’
Speaking with: Geoff Bosley of LGB Properties
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Eversince Larry Bosley first began LGB Properties more than 25 years ago, the company has become known for its vision, its dedication to its customers and its commitment to make the lives of those who live, work and play in southern Chester County better.
Recently, I spoke with Geoff Bosley about LGB Properties’ beginnings, its business philosophy and its selfless support of non-profit agencies in the community, including its continuing sponsorship of the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon. We met at The Market at Liberty Place, one of LGB’s premiere properties.
LGB Properties’ mission statement is to improve the community’s quality and municipalities’ economic viability through the commercial and residential real estate market. Using this guidepost, you have become one of the premiere real estate investment companies in southern Chester County. Layered into that fabric is your company’s commitment to make residents’ lives better – providing goods and services and stimulating the area’s economic vitality. Where did – and does - that philosophy come from?
Bosley: It’s my family’s ethos. Both of my parents were educators, and when
Geoff Bosley of LGB Properties.
we first moved to this area in 1980 from Bucks County, I don’t think they intended to stay here, but they fell in love with the community and decided to put down roots here. I think we’re blessed to live in southern Chester County. Giving back to others is our opportunity to improve where we live. We have enjoyed civic involvement in so many ways –serving on boards of non-profits, support-
ing events and serving the community. It’s become the other half of LGB Properties.
Take me back to 1999, when your father Larry Bosley retired as Superintendent of Schools for the Kennett Consolidated School District. How did he make the transition from education to consulting and then, eventually, to real estate?
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
When my father left the school district, he wasn’t going to sit around and watch the grass grow, so he entered consulting, but didn’t like working from home. It also came with a lot of travel and he got to the point where he just got tired of being away from home. At about that point, he began looking for a building and purchased one on Broad Street, and then another building. It started as a side project, and it quickly became a labor of love, and eventually, he began LGB Properties.
What interested you in joining your father in the real estate industry?
I was in college when my father purchased that first building. As a summer project, I helped him with his business and also took a class in real estate and began reading books about the industry, and I found it interesting. After college, I wasn’t planning to enter real estate full time, but as things evolved, it just began to make more sense. Eventually, my father and I decided to make a plan to the point where I could come on board full time, and I have been with LGB Properties since 2008.
Of the many projects your company has developed, perhaps the one that draws the most foot traffic and attention is The Market at Liberty Place. It’s not only home to eclectic food options, but it has also become a central meeting place for friends, groups, organizations and agencies. When it was first conceived, how much thought went into establishing it as a community hub? We purchased this building in 2010, and our plan was to develop all three floors. At first, we put all of our energy into the top floor, creating the building’s exterior and then making improvements to the lower floor. Mary Hutchins was instrumental in what became Liberty
Place’s main floor. She approached my father and I about the Ardmore Farmers Market. The three of us took a drive there and saw the wonderful things that were happening there.
It gave us an idea to take this concept and put a little Kennett Square twist on it at Liberty Place.
We felt like Kennett Square needed a gathering place, and that was one of our objectives here. It has evolved over the years. When you come here, you see people having meetings, and on Sundays, you see families having breakfast, and over there, you will see young families and over here, you’ll see a group of retired folks – the entire demographic of Kennett Square, who come here to socialize, enjoy eclectic food and listen to live music.
The very first awards celebration for the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon was held at The Market at Liberty Place in 2016, when five local organizations received funding from the race’s Run2Shine fundraising arm. How did LGB Properties’ relationship with the race and its organizers begin?
I was serving on Kennett Borough Council when Sarah Nurry, Kara Gibbons and Karen DiMascola first pitched the idea of the race to us. LGB Properties has had a long relationship with Kennett Run Charities and we’ve also had our hands in other events, so the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon just seemed to fit within the framework of this community.
The energy they gave was superb and the enthusiasm they showed in doing all of the legwork necessary was impressive. After the meeting, I began talking with them, and it was their energy that told me that LGB Properties would be a sponsor for their first race, and every year since, we have remained partners with them.
There is a generous overlap between the mission of the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon and LGB Properties that I think has to do with selflessness – the ability to organize, pursue and achieve goals, in part to lift up others in the community. Kennett Square is a community of giving and your company is a member in great standing. Talk about the contributions you have made to the communities that you serve.
We see so many “Support Local” logos and signage today, and that’s been our philosophy since we first began LGB Properties. Quite simply, you want to take care of your own. Like the Mushroom Festival and like the Kennett Run, the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon believes in that simple philosophy, and because they do, it becomes easy for us to want to be a part of that.
All of the money raised by these three events stays in our community, and collectively, they make this a better place to live, and to us, that’s an easy “Yes!” to be a part of.
From a community engagement standpoint, LGB Properties has had a huge, consistent and powerful impact. In your estimation, what impact has this race, and subsequently its fundraising efforts had on the communities it serves?
It’s been huge. The great thing about Kennett Square is that there is not just one fundraising entity, but a lot of them, and when you combine these events, you create a snowball effect of dedication. To me, the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon speaks to what Kennett Square is all about, so congratulations to everyone who has turned what was once only an idea into a full-fledged organization.
To learn more about LGB Properties, visit www.lgbproperties.com.
RACE INFORMATION
The 2025 Mushroom Cap Half Marathon and FUNgi 5-Miler
Presented by Chatham Financial
Start Time: 8:00 a.m., rain or shine
Start: Birch Street and Church Alley, Kennett Square
Finish: South Broad Street, Kennett Square
PACKET PICK-UP
Race week will kick off with three packet pickups!
Wednesday, November 5, from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Join us at Philadelphia Runner in Glen Mills, Pa for packet pickup and enjoy a 10 percent discount off of runner apparel, shoes & gear!
Location: 505 Glen Eagle Square, Glen Mills Pa 19342
Friday, November 7, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Join us at Victory Kennett Square for packet pickup, athletic vendors, and prerace day entertainment. All runners will also receive 10 percent on Victory food and libations. Bring your friends and family and carb up before race day!
Location: 650 W Cypress St, Kennett Square Pa 19348
Saturday November 8 (pre-race), from 7:00 a.m. -7:45 a.m. sharp
Location: 600 S Broad St, Kennett Square Pa 19348
Race Day packet pickup is limited to outof-town runners ONLY. If you are a local runner and choose to pick up your packet on race morning between 7:00-7:45 a.m.,
there will be a required $10 donation to one of our 2025 charity partners.
HYDRATION STATIONS
Together with the help of our amazing community partners, our hydration stations are here to bring runners smiles, cheers, high fives, support, and nourishment. This year, the half marathon will feature multiple water stations along the route, with two located on the FunGi 5-Miler course. Some aid stations will have Tailwind, GU Energy and additional aid stations surprises. There will also be
port-a-pots at the start/finish of the race and along the half marathon and FunGi 5-Miler course. Detailed information will be sent to runners prior to race day.
AWARDS
Awards will be presented to the participants of the Half Marathon & The FunGI 5-Miler in the following categories:
-Top overall female and male finisher
-Top overall master’s female (40+) finisher
-Top overall master’s male (40+) finisher
Please Note: Overall Winners will be excluded in the Age Group category.
Fresh Local Mushrooms will be awarded to the top 3 males and females in their age groups.
RUNNER BENEFITS
Each competitor will receive: A finisher medal
Complimentary Mushroom Cap Half Marathon swag
A free beer from Victory Brewing or Athletic Brewing (non-alcoholic beers will also be provided)
Admission to attend a post-Mushroom Cap luncheon
Live music by the Holy Smokers
A community fueled post-race festival
Note: For just $12, competitors will get to enjoy a full taco buffet bar from Dos Gringos, loaded with fresh, flavorful options to satisfy your post-race hunger. Taco Bar tickets must be pre-purchased with registration — no sales on race day.
RACE INFORMATION
RACE PRICING
Half Marathon: $135 until November 7; $150 on day of race
FunGi 5 Miler: $75 until November 7; $80 on race day
RACE TEAMS
Form a team, and once you hit 15 runners your team will receive discounts. Register 20 and receive exclusive perks like a private team porta-potty and a designated team location to pop a tent and celebrate together at the afterparty. Teams of 30+ qualify for a registration discount. When registering you will have the option to Join a Group/ Team. All Members of a TEAM are linked by their team name and password. As your team grows, everyone benefits, even those who register first.
The system will automatically refund everyone on the team who has already registered and charge the new team members the new rate. Once you have reached 15 teammates, the first 14 to register will automatically receive a $10 refund to their card, and the 15th member - and anyone else who registers after that – will automatically receive the discounted rate. Registrants who do not initially register with their group may not be eligible for refunds or discounts.
RACE PARKING
For race day, participants and spectators can park in the following lots: • Kennett High School, located off of South Street & Union Street (PA 82) • The YMCA Outdoor Swimming Pool Lot, located on South Walnut Street • The Municipal Parking Lot, located on East Linden & North Union Street
• CARS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PARK ON RACE ROADS AND WILL BE TICKED & TOWED AT THE OWNER’S EXPENSE
POST RACE FESTIVAL
Location: The Square @ 600 South Broad Street
After passing the finish line, stick around for the festival to receive your medal, hydrate, find snacks, grub on local delights, stretch, listen to live music by The Holy Smokers, and recover in the beer garden! The beer garden opens at 8:30 a.m. and the gates will close at 1:00 p.m. Non-alcoholic options will be available.
Victory Brewing returns for its 10th year of sponsorship of the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon Victory Brewing Company: A partnership from the beginning
By Gabbie Burton Contributing Writer
Ever since the very first Mushroom Cap Half Marathon was held back in 2016, Victory Brewing Company has been there to sponsor and support the event,
and ahead of the 10th Mushroom Cap Half Marathon this year, General Manager of the Kennett Square Victory Lauren McCloskey sat down to share details for this year’s festivities.
McCloskey has been involved at Victory since 2018, starting as a bartender and working her way up through each location to her current role in Kennett. Having spent the last seven years at Victory and having previously run in the Mushroom Cap herself, McCloskey is familiar with the role Victory plays as a sponsor.
“We’re just excited to be a bigger part of it this year and work closer with the organizers,” said McCloskey.
McCloskey shared that Mushroom Cap organizers Sarah Nurry and Kara Gibbons are regulars at Victory, and that she has grown close with the pair, making their collaboration this year both easy and exciting. She said that the usual responsibilities in sponsoring include assisting organizers, supplying water kegs and tents and beer for the post-race festival.
“This year, we’re going to be one of the bib pickup spots,” McCloskey said. “The day before the race, runners can come pick up their bibs and we’re going to kind of do it like a fun Expo style. We’ll have volunteers come by to pick up their items, runners who will pick up their bibs, and we’ll follow it up with other cosponsors who will be there.”
In addition, McCloskey shared that runners with a bib get 10 percent off their meals on both the day before and the day of the race and hinted that a new exclusive beer could be coming for the event, giving runners something else to look forward to.
Continued on Page 18
Courtesy photo
Victory Brewing has been a sponsor of the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon since its beginning in 2016.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Victory Brewing merchandise is available at their Kennett Square location.
Victory Brewing Company
Continued from page 14
Although McCloskey and the Victory team are happy to be back sponsoring the Mushroom Cap in a bigger role than ever before, she shared that the brewery’s success would not be possible if not for the supportive community surrounding them. After a fire occurred at the brewery in January of 2021, the brewery has had to rebuild both literally and metaphorically amidst a string of challenges.
“Because of the fire and COVID-19, Victory just had this weird couple of years,” she said. “Over the past three years we have been reopened, the effects from the wildfires in Canada one summer really kept people inside because the air quality was so bad, and during a two-week period in September of 2023, Danilo Cavalcante was on the loose in the area which kept people home, but regardless, we’ve definitely persevered. I preach to my team, ‘It’s all about consistency,’ and we want to make sure that when we have our guests in here, it’s a great experience for them every single time. We are a neighborhood bar, and we rely heavily on this community.”
McCloskey concluded by repeating her excitement to give back to the community that has long supported Victory through
their involvement with the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon and shared that she looks forward to this year’s event and future ones as well.
“I think it’s a great opportunity from my side just to be involved this year and I’m looking forward to doing similar events, or supporting them similarly in future events as well,” she said.
Victory Brewing Company is located at 650 West Cypress Street in Kennett Square, as well as in Downingtown, Parkesburg, Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C. To learn more about Victory Brewing Company, visit www.victorybeer.com.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw Victory Brewing Company Kennett Square Manager Lauren McCloskey, center, with Bartender Ingrid Robson and Executive Chef Phil Church.
2025 MUSHROOM CAP HALF MARATHON OFFICIAL SPONSORS
Run2Shine wishes to send a generous thanks to all of the sponsors and partners of the 2025 Mushroom Cap Half Marathon and FunGI 5-Miler.
Artelo
Baily’s Dairy
Casale Events
Chatham Financial
Chester County PRESS
Citadel Credit Union
Constellation
These relationships and the enthusiasm of the Kennett Square’s community and participants make this event possible.
The Law Office of David B. Myers, LLC Herr’s
KSquared Health Coaching
Launch Design Collective
The Market at Liberty Place Nolan Painting
NRP Heating & Cooling
A Special Partnership
By joining forces with Hiccup Earth, The Mushroom Cap Half Marathon is taking a crucial step towards reducing our carbon footprint and minimizing our impact of plastic cups on the environment. Hiccup Earth is a pioneering reusable cup service that aims to eliminate the need for single-use plastic cups in landfills and recycling plants.
Philadelphia Runner
Pollock Music Lessons, LLC
Sovana Bistro
Wawa
Waywood Beverage, Inc.
Wolf Disposal
Wyncote Golf Club
IN PHOTOS: What
a decade it has been
Photos by Richard L. Gaw and courtesy of the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon
MUSHROOM CAP HALF MARATHON
Steven Hoffman ........... Managing Editor
Richard L. Gaw ............. Associate Editor
Brenda Butt ................... Office Manager
Alan E. Turns ................ Advertising Director
Helen E. Warren ........... Advertising Executive
Teri Turns ....................... Advertising Executive
Tricia Hoadley ............... Art Director
Sherry Hutchinson ...... Graphic Design
Run2Shine: Who We Are and What We Do
Since 2015, Run2Shine, a non-profit 501(c)(3), has been inspiring the community by combining a passion for running with a deep commitment to giving back. Created to blend the joy of running with the power of making a difference, Run2Shine has spent the past decade making a meaningful impact. In 10 years, Run2Shine has donated over $80,000 to local charities, supporting essential causes in Chester
County such as advocacy, education, health, and assistance to families in need. As part of our mission, we’re thrilled to offer non-profit organizations the chance to use our event as a platform for fundraising through our Run4Good Program. Run2Shine is excited to offer the opportunity for nonprofit organizations to utilize our event for your fundraising purposes. Visit us at www.mushroomcaphalf.com.
Juan Carlos Alvarez: The family that runs together …
By Gabbie Burton Contributing Writer
For Juan Carlos Alvarez, running is more than just a hobby. It’s a community, a healthy option, a family activity and a lifestyle that he embraces, wholeheartedly.
Alvarez has been running for seven years and has been participating in the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon for the last five of those years. His journey with running began when a friend got him involved with the Kennett Running Club.
“My friend is no longer in the running club but because of the club, I’ve made more friends,” he said through his interpreter – his daughter, Melanie. “They all support me to continue running.”
Although Alvarez has found support through the running club, he seems to be unwavering in his commitment to the sport with a passion that refuses to quit. He shared that since he started running, he has always enjoyed it despite the physical challenges he endures, such as bouts with arthritis. Instead of seeing his ailments and the physical demands of running as obstacles, he embraces them, always enjoying the wellness benefits of the exercise.
“I feel good after a run, I wake up feeling better and I sleep well,” he said. “Mentally, I feel more relaxed, and I can see the wonderfulness of nature.”
Alvarez runs four days a week and strength trains once a week to keep himself feeling his best, a healthy habit he balances with his job and his family.
“I make sure to go to work early so I can get back home earlier and then as a family we all work out together,” he said.
Alvarez’s love for running has spread to other members of his family. His wife,
Rosalba Alvarez, has competed in the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon with him for the past three years, and his son will be competing in the five-miler this November. His older daughter has been
Courtesy photos
Juan Carlos Alvarez will be competing in his fifth consecutive Mushroom Cap Half Marathon on November 8 in his hometown of Kennett Square.
Alvarez with his wife, Rosalba, who has competed at the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon for the past three years, and will make her fourth run on November 8.
running track since high school and continues running in college while his younger daughter is a swimmer and a volunteer at the half marathon.
“I feel great emotion that my wife can do it too and now my son is joining the five-miler, and that my own daughter is the one that gives me the medal,” he said.
Turning the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon into a family event makes the race an easy favorite for Alvarez but beyond his own family, he shared his feelings on the community spirit that keeps him coming back.
“Here in Kennett Square, you feel a presence of family and friendship, a place where everyone’s very happy and celebrates that sense of community,” Alvarez said. “I feel it everywhere I go.”
Even in a competitive sport like running, Alvarez still feels that sense of community, sharing that his only competition is with himself. In his first Mushroom Cap Half Marathon five years ago, Alvarez ran a time of 1:32, a time he is looking to eclipse by four seconds in this year’s race.
Although Alvarez competes in other local races, he shared that the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon is a more challenging course, but no matter the race and the severity of its course outline, running will always hold a deeper meaning for Alvarez, proof of a commitment to bettering himself and his family.
“I run to maintain myself better and to be an example for my kids,” he concluded.
Alvarez is looking to trim off four seconds from his half marathon time of 1:32 that he recorded at his first competition.
