Delaware 100
                                  Pike Creek Valley
                                  Newark, Delaware
                                29-30 September 2007

                                  by Dave Bursler


Is it a fools game or is it a positive way to express emotion?  Why do I continue to run 
100 milers?  Where do I get the energy?  Why do I search for my limits and push to 
exceed?  I’m certainly not special or talented in anyway but instead I have some deep 
heartfelt emotions that most can not comprehend.  Everything that I do, say, and think 
comes straight from my heart.  It is because of this that I truly believe that there is 
no challenge that I can not overcome.  I can be knocked down and stunned for long periods 
of time but I know that I will rise again.  I’m not superhuman but instead I’m a real 
person who sees real things and has real feelings and has dealt with real problems. I 
grew up in an emotional environment in which I did not partake in most of the activities 
but instead avoided confrontation while suppressing my feelings. My energy is generated 
from the past; a past that included harsh words, unnecessary judgment, and incorrect 
assessments of my behavior.  It was a past that included a young boy who tried to survive 
not only his own mind but also the taunts of others. My goals were different than most 
kids my age as my only hope was to defeat the demons that controlled my mind.  There was 
much fear brewing from within but I fought each and every day and vowed to one day defeat 
whatever it was that was trying to destroy me.  I had very little help but the help that 
I did have was incredible.  The help that I received came from my 5 year old little 
brother who suffered as much as I trying to understand that which could not be 
understood.  I think of him and how he cared about me and I become emotionally charged.  
I think about the times that I was teased and I become emotionally charged.  I think of 
being improperly assessed and I become emotionally charged.  I think about how I was 
judged instead of helped and I become emotionally charged.  I think of other little kids 
even in this world today who unnecessarily suffer with the same problem and I become 
emotionally charged.   I lost many battles as a child but as an adult I will never lose 
another battle against anyone or anything without a fight.  I may not be a very talented 
runner but what I lack in talent I make up for with intensity.  This is what drives me, 
this is how I become energized and this is what fuels the fire that burns within.  

Despite the fact that I publicly announced in 2006 that I would never again run in 100 
mile races I found my way to yet another start line on September 29 and 30th. I hedged on 
my decision to run in the Delaware 100 mainly because I feared aggravating an existing 
injury to my right leg.  In August I fell into a nice groove where I was able to run 60 
miles a week while managing the pain in my leg to a minimum.  In fact, as the month 
progressed, it became obvious that my leg was finally responding to treatment.   I used 
the resources that I had available to help me make my final decision.  I did not rely on 
a living person or mere fact but instead I asked myself “what would my grandfather do”?   
I stared at his picture and I asked him “what would you do”? My grandfather was always in 
pain yet never revealed his feelings but instead continued on with his everyday life.  It 
wasn’t about the future for him but instead it was about the here and now and today for 
today was the only day that counted.  I heard the words “enjoy what you have today for it 
may not be there tomorrow”.  It was with these thoughts that I wrote Carl Camp, the 
Delaware 100 race director, and told him that I would indeed participate. 

The morning of September 29th 2007 I stood in front of Carl’s house firmly believing that 
I would be successful in my 23rd attempt at running 100 miles.  It was cool and crisp on 
that Saturday morning as 10 runners from 8 different states departed on a 100 mile 
journey through a small portion of the state of Delaware.  The chill in the air was a bit 
uncomfortable but not nearly as uncomfortable as the 25° temperature that the runners 
faced in the 2005 version of this same event. The lone organizer of the event, Carl Camp, 
had two years to improve upon the inaugural race which was held in December of 2005.  
Unable to obtain the cooperation of the State and County Park systems to allow us to run 
through the night the race was cancelled in 2006.  I was sad that it was cancelled but 
the improvements that Carl made in 2007 were well worth the lost time.  

The original course design included multiple loops on the trails of Middle Run Park in 
Newark, Delaware.  In order to comply with State regulations Carl tweaked the course 
design in 2007.  The new design led runners 8 miles on busy roads from Carl’s home to the 
start of the trail in Middle Run.  The runners then followed the original course design 
in which they were led up and down the soft, easy trails in Middle Run Park for 4 miles 
before crossing a major roadway into the Judge Morris section of the trail.  This part of 
the trail can be a bit monotonous as no one seems to know for sure exactly how many miles 
the loop covers.  Carl advertised this section to be 3.6 miles and based on my 
experiences there I thoroughly agreed with his assessment.  In agreement or not it is 
still a section of the park that tests my strength of character.  What I find to be more 
demanding than the short hills is staying focused on the present and not looking ahead. 
The key to surviving this section is not allowing anticipation to take over my thoughts 
but instead finding a way to relax and remain calm.  Judge Mo’ can be ugly if I allow my 
mind to go down the wrong path.  

After circling around the Judge Morris trail the course then leads the runners back down 
the same path upon which they entered and back towards the original starting point of the 
trail section. However, in order to tack on the extra mileage that was needed to complete 
a full 10.5 mile loop the runners were led down the Earth Day trail instead of going 
directly back to the start. Carl concluded that it would be reasonable for a fit runner 
to have the ability to travel around this loop four times in the daylight hours.  That 
combined with the 8 mile road section would allow us to have completed half the race 
before the sunset.  His design worked perfectly as it provided the necessary mileage 
while also keeping us in compliance with the park rules.  Personally by the fourth time 
around I was bored and looking forward to traveling the roads anyway.  

The entire day was spectacular as the leaves on the trees were transitioning into the 
beautiful colors of the fall and there was nary a cloud in the sky.  As beautiful as the 
day was it was also sad because I knew that soon the many deer that I saw roaming the 
fields would soon be pray for hunters.  I pushed those thoughts out of my mind and 
enjoyed the day for the beauty it held at that moment.  

By the time I finished my final loop on the trail I had expended a tremendous amount of 
energy yet I did not replenish often.  I was weak upon exiting for the final time and 
more than ever looked forward to seeing Carl’s dad manning the lone aid station.  I 
studied the course well beforehand and understood that aid would be few and far between 
so I was prepared to conserve energy but somehow lost track of my food intake.  This was 
the first of two times in which I suffered but both times I was confident in my ability 
to recover quickly.  Through the help of two guardian angels in the form of Carl’s dad, 
Early, at mile 50 and Rick Palmer at mile 90 I was able to do so.  

Part one of the race now over it was time to face the next challenge in the form of four 
10.5 mile road loops.  First though I had to make my way back eight miles on the road to 
the original start which was in front of Carl’s house.  I found this eight mile section 
to be difficult because for the first time I was in the direct path of the sun.  The 
temperature at 2 p.m. was a moderate 75° but it felt much hotter without the protection 
of the trees which I had while running the trails.  I kept reminding myself that it was 
about perseverance and having the attitude of a champion.  Just as I did several times 
the remainder of the afternoon, evening and night I thought of my friend Lisa.  I thought 
of how she persevered through difficult challenges in an unforgiving environment because 
she had the attitude of a champion.  There would be no glory in running 100 miles on this 
day other than that which would be generated in my own heart.  This would be a day where 
I would come to understand my real love for the sport for there would be no accolades, no 
awards and no support from anyone anywhere.  The trails were devoid of people and those 
that traveled the busy streets would barely notice my presence.  I had to dig deep and 
stay strong in order to remain focused on the task at hand to defeat the next challenge.  

There are those that subscribe to the thought that ultrarunning must include a party 
atmosphere where activities unbecoming of an athlete are involved.  Personally I take the 
sport seriously and train hard to do my best at all times.  This race appealed to my 
sense of the sport and athletics in general as it did not include alcohol or rebel 
rousing in any form.  Though I am not an opponent of having fun I do not believe that 
this type of fun has a place in this sport.  I find enjoyment in knowing that I put my 
best effort forward and while doing so represented myself in a respectable manner that 
others can look up too.  In a day and time where pro athletes rely more and more upon 
drugs to enhance their God given ability my hope is to prove that only hard work and 
dedication will truly bring success.  

When running in these types of events I’m out there not only as an individual but also as 
a cheerleader.  In this particular event I had the opportunity to see the other 
participants many times on the loop course.  Each time I felt it was my obligation to 
take the time to chat before moving ahead.  Though staying focused and concentrating on 
my own race is important to my success I feel that it is just as important to contribute 
to the success of others.  This type of mindset is what distinguishes ultrarunners from 
the rest of the field.  We care about one another and look out for each others welfare 
for this is a battle that we fight together.  We face the same challenges, we fight the 
same pain and in end we cross the same finish line.  Some are faster than others but 
ultimately it takes the same effort to succeed and when success is achieved we each gain 
the same reward.  

It was late afternoon when I finally arrived at Carl’s house where his wife, Mary, was 
waiting to tend to the needs of the runners.  His garage would pose as my only place of 
aid upon my return after each 10.5 mile road loop and his wife Mary would be the face I 
would look for each time upon my arrival.  As was the case each time I visited I did not 
waste time obtaining aid but instead retrieved what I needed and headed back out once 
again.  My mission was to run consistently and the way I did this was to stay focused by 
concentrating on the task.  I’m not necessarily the most serious person on the face of 
the earth but running is a serious business to me and one in which a slight slip could 
potentially turn a strong run into a death march.  Having this knowledge in hand I 
followed my plan of entering and exiting Carl’s garage without a single second wasted.  

As I left for my first road loop I made an attempt to project my finishing time by 
multiplying my 50 mile split by 2.5.  The calculation that I use is almost always 
accurate.  I ran the first 50 in just under 8:20 so as I ran toward the highway I readied 
myself for a 20 hour finish.

The first 1.25 miles of the road loop led the runners through Carl’s quiet neighborhood 
which was lined with tidy two story homes.  The rolling neighborhood roads would not be 
forgiving to the muscles and joints of those that had to travel them throughout the rest 
of the day and into the next.  I ran comfortably to the exit of his neighborhood and 
turned right on to a sidewalk which led parallel to a major highway called Limestone 
Road.  This road is a four lane highway with two lanes leading in opposite directions 
accommodating an above average amount of traffic.  The runners would be required to cross 
this road once on the way out and once on the way back on each of the remaining four 
loops of the run.   It was a dangerous and crazy thing to do but so was running 100 miles 
for absolutely nothing but a good feeling inside.  Carl did not advertise this race as a 
walk in the park and anyone who arrived with the belief that it would be certainly walked 
away surprised.   The abnormal conditions meant that being alert and cautious of our 
surroundings would take priority over concentrating on pace.  

There were two directions in which we could travel the remaining 7.5 miles of the loop 
but Carl suggested that we follow Limestone Road going slightly uphill for two miles 
before turning left on to Papermill Road.  This would give us plenty of time to safely 
cross the four lane highway.  I was somewhat concerned that over time the uphill grade of 
the road would become a challenge that would test my will to succeed but I quickly 
realized that no matter which direction I chose I would be faced with a similar test of 
my ability.  I found that instead of forcing myself to run each and every step of the way 
that it was easier to run from telephone pole to telephone pole.  I felt energetic and 
powerful yet my mind was weakening so I knew I needed to find a way to relax my brain for 
ultimately it would begin to saturate every ounce of energy I had.  The method I chose by 
walking from landmark to landmark allowed me to maintain a nice even pace while at the 
same time allowing my mind to relax with the knowledge that I would not force myself to 
run the entire way.  I continued to use this technique as I made my way through the rest 
of the hilly loop course and then on back to Carl’s garage.  

Once up Limestone Road the runners were directed to turn left onto Papermill Road where 
we were greeted with an immediate ½ mile steep downhill.  I was taught long ago by a very 
wise and experienced ultrarunner that there is never a good reason to walk a downhill.  I 
adopted that style of running and have always done my best to run no matter how difficult 
the drop or how much pain I may be in at the time.  This day was no exception as I didn’t 
think twice before picking up the pace and trotting down the hill.  While in the daylight 
hours this portion of the course was very safe as the shoulder was wide and the sun was 
shining so the runners were easily identifiable to oncoming traffic.  I gained a distinct 
advantage over those behind me as I was the only one able to run the first loop in the 
daylight hours.  I was safe and able to run freely without concern of incident.  It was a 
benefit that I did not take for granted as I pushed myself to run as much as possible.  I 
never looked at a hill as being a hill but instead I focused on short areas where I 
forced myself to run.  This type of mindset gave me the freedom to concentrate on my 
progress while staving off any possibility of negative thoughts. I had no idea if I would 
be able to maintain the same pattern throughout the remainder of the run and to be honest 
I never gave it much thought.  

I attribute much of my success in ultrarunning to my ability to break down a long run 
into small manageable sections.  I take great satisfaction out of successfully completing 
each small section.  The emotion generated from my success gives me the energy to 
complete the next short section of the course and then before I know it I’m crossing the 
finish line.  Focus is what keeps the mind in check so the only concern is that the body 
holds up.  

The Papermill Road section continued for another 2 ½ miles in up and down fashion before 
the runners were instructed to turn left onto Polly Drummond Hill Road.   Polly Drummond 
Hill Road is a busy main road that is utilized by the residents of the sub-divisions that 
are plentiful in the area.  As I turned left onto the road I could see a small park where 
many people were participating in the outdoor activities provided by the facility.  There 
were young children playing soccer while adults ran or walked around a flat towpath that 
circled the entire park. There were teenagers playing basketball, toddlers swinging on 
the swings, and still others who sat quietly reading books.  There was a bevy of activity 
yet it seemed so quiet and relaxing.  I grew up with a hyper family so I’m used to go go 
go and loud voices and never really enjoying anything to its fullest.  What I saw in this 
group of people was relaxation, enjoyment, and most of all peace.   Despite the fact that 
I had already traveled 63 miles on foot the atmosphere in the park put me at ease 
allowing me to feel relaxed and rested.  

The hills that exist on Polly Drummond Hill Road were not as steep or as long as those on 
Papermill but they were more plentiful.  The area was so peaceful and beautiful that I 
had no trouble running up and down the road until I reached the next turn at New Linden 
Hill Road.  There was a big shopping center just prior to the turn where the runners were 
given approval from Carl to cut behind in order to avoid traffic.  I know Carl’s decision 
was made for the well being of the runners but I did not want to stray from the road.  I 
love the roads especially at night.  It’s peaceful and quiet and a place where I feel 
like I’m part of the world.  Also I felt that running behind the shopping center 
shortened the course even if only by a few yards.  My goal was to run as far as I could 
and I did not want to look for excuses to shortchange myself.  

I turned left onto New Linden Hill Road just after passing the shopping center and was 
greeted by a portion of the course that included the steepest, longest hills that I would 
encounter all day.  Though it was the most challenging section of the course it was also 
the safest.  The area was lit up nicely and there was a bike/walking path that ran 
parallel to the highway.  As had been the case on Polly Drummond Hill Road it was quiet 
despite the flow of traffic.  I had no concerns other than maintaining my concentration 
and pace as I made my way up and down the hilly road.  It turned out to be quite simple 
not only the first time but each of the four times that I was required to run this 
section.  

After about 1.5 miles of running on New Linden Hill Road Carl through a monkey wrench 
into the course design as he directed runners off of the road onto a short trail.  This 
short trail section led the runners away from heavy traffic down a wooded path for 
several hundred yards back into a residential area.  The footing was okay in the daylight 
but as darkness set in this would be the only place where a flashlight would be needed.  
There were a few roots and rocks so the surface was not completely smooth.  A wrong turn 
could also lead runners into a public park extending the run beyond what he or she 
originally expected.  Truthfully if each runner stayed alert and made themselves aware of 
the potential problems they could be held at a minimum.  I learned early on that once off 
of the road I needed to stay on the left side of the trail and tight to the road where I 
would be led safely out of the woods and into the residential area.   The road that I 
entered after exiting the woods led me up another short, steep hill before intersecting 
with the familiar Limestone Road.  I turned right onto Limestone Road, crossed the busy 
four lane highway and continued downhill for another ½ mile before turning left back into 
the residential area where Carl lived.  

Each time I traveled those last 1.25 miles back to Carl’s garage they were somewhat 
challenging but not as challenging as they would have been if I were in the middle of the 
woods with no signs of life around me.   The fact that Carl developed a course where the 
first half was conducted on trails and the second half was in civilization played a major 
role in my decision to participate. The challenge in most 100 mile races is not running 
but the challenge is maintaining positive thoughts.  A positive outlook is critical to 
the success of any runner.  There has never been a time when I have not had the strength 
to run across the finish line of a 100 miler but there have been many times that I’ve 
suffered in the early to middle miles.  I suffered because I fell out of my zone and 
could not stay focused on the task but instead I focused on the negative.  Running the 
road on the back 50 of the Delaware 100 allowed me to feel as though I was in 
civilization.  The lights from the stores brightened not only the world but also my 
spirits.  The cars zipping up and down the highways were a reminder that life continues 
even as I run.  I never felt helpless or hopeless and in fact, if it were not for some 
knee trouble that I experienced on my final loop I would not have been challenged at all 
on the roads.  

When I reached Carl’s after the first loop I finally had the opportunity to greet another 
runner.  The first I had seen since leaving the park earlier in the afternoon.  I had 
passed every body at least one time in the early miles except for the gentleman that I 
now encountered.   Though this was not advertised as a competition and I had not pushed 
as though I were in one I truly believe that 69 year old Ralph Hirt from California 
competed like a champion on that day.  He was running with purpose and I have no doubt 
that he wanted to win.  The few times that I saw him on the trail he spoke softly yet 
used words that demonstrated his desire to win.  I was impressed and stunned by his 
ability to not only run the distance but to run it with power.  He was just leaving for 
his first road loop when I reached the house so I knew I would be lapping him very soon.  
I could tell by the authority with which he ran that he would stubbornly refuse to allow 
me to pass once I caught up.  I was 68 miles into this thing and it was time for me to 
put it away so that I could relax for the final 50K.  Some people might question my 
intentions but I’m about winning no matter who I may be running against whether a young 
boy, an older man or a female.  I never take anyone for granted for everyone has the 
potential to beat anyone at anytime.  I had some inner conflict as I left to track Ralph 
down because deep inside I know that winning a race of this magnitude had no real meaning 
to anyone but me.  I had no challengers on this day so the question came to mind would 
this really be a win if there was no one there.  A premier runner could have easily 
lapped me and I know for certain that if someone were indeed there they would have done 
just that without a second thought.  My thoughts as I gained on Ralph were if I don’t win 
than I lose.  

I went on to lap Ralph about 59 miles into his run and 69 into mine.  I was pretty fired 
up when I finally passed the last competitor which made my second loop easier and a lot 
more fun.  Instead of following the method I had used earlier by walking and running up 
Limestone Road I ran the entire way In order to pull away from Ralph.  Then after turning 
left onto Papermill Road I ran down the steep hill before falling back into the technique 
that allowed me to comfortably run the loop the first time around.  

After running the next couple of miles up and down Papermill Road I turned onto Polly 
Drummond Hill Road where I encountered three more runners including race director Carl 
Camp.  As I approached in the darkness with my flashlight shining and my Badwater night 
gear glowing in the dark I worried that I might startle one of them.  I certainly did not 
want to cause someone to trip or worse yet jump out into oncoming traffic so I took long 
strides pounding my feet heavily onto the ground in hopes that it would draw their 
attention.  Thankfully Carl turned and recognized me before I could sneak up on the 
group.  They each acknowledged my effort enthusiastically and one person in particular 
made a comment that grabbed my attention.  Mary Vish, from New Jersey, told me to relax 
because no matter how fast I run it will be a course record.  Her comment influenced the 
way that I ran the rest of the night despite the fact that I responded by saying that I 
don’t know how to relax.

I took the third loop just as I did the first and methodically made my way around without 
incident until reaching the entrance to Carl’s housing development.  It was at this point 
that I felt a sharp pain emanating from the inside part of my right knee. The pain was so 
intense that it forced me to walk the last mile and a quarter into Carl’s garage.  I 
didn’t panic but instead came up with a solution to my problem.  I was certain that the 
muscle in my knee just needed to be stabilized. The first thing that I did when I reached 
Carl’s garage was to ask my friend Rick if he could locate some duct tape.  Duct tape 
what a beautiful thing; it solves all problems from blisters to people who talk too much.   
I took the tape and wrapped it snuggly around my knee in hopes that it would give me the 
support I would need to get through the last 10.5 miles.  While I was applying the tape 
Carl’s dad, Early, stared at me with a confused look in his eye and said “I’ve never seen 
anybody do that before”.  I kind chuckled and told him that if he hung out with me he 
would see a lot of things that he’s never seen anybody do before.  I didn’t waste too 
much time in the garage as I now wanted to get this thing over with quickly.  I was a 
little concerned that I may be risking my health for a race that really wasn’t a race but 
then again it must be worthwhile or I would not have been there in the first place. 

I ran out of the garage to see if the tape would reduce the pain and it did but I also 
found that it was not sticking.  My friend Rick ran to his vehicle and found a roll of 
medical tape which he suggested that I use instead.  Despite the fact that I was 
impatient I felt it was worthwhile to take the time now to apply the correct tape rather 
than lose the time later if and when the duct tape fell completely off.   I left 
immediately after applying tape knowing that I needed to keep my activity level high or 
suffer the consequences of what had now become a cold night.  

I hobbled slowly through the development and out to the main road.  When I reached the 
road I felt weak and with that realized that that I did not take the time to eat at 
Carl’s.  I had already traveled over a mile so I had no option but to continue forward. 
My only hope was that I would be able to regain a minimum amount of concentration in 
order to block out the knee pain and lack of energy.  Despite the pain I forced myself to 
run as much as possible up Limestone Road.  I kept an upbeat attitude because I knew that 
there was one chance that could save my entire day. My faith paid off as unbelievably I 
was given that one last chance to recover when my friend Rick appeared out of no where on 
his way back home.  As he went by slowly I flagged him down and asked if he had any food.   
I was lucky enough that he saw me, even luckier that he stopped but I was the luckiest 
guy in the world when he produced a pack of Twinkies and a small can of ginger ale.  He 
saved my day and after he left I forged forward toward the finish line.  I followed the 
same technique that I had used the entire evening in order to make it up and down the 
hills of Pike Creek Valley.  Upon reaching the end of Polly Drummond Hill I decided that 
I would walk the final three miles into the finish.  It would be no ordinary walk however 
as I still felt adamant about finishing strong.  In order to do this I employed the same 
style walk that I used to climb the last thirteen miles up Mt. Whitney toward my Badwater 
finish in 2006.  I walked with purpose making each step count.  Intensity oozed from my 
body and warmed my heart.  As I came closer to the finish my strides became longer and 
longer and before I knew it I was running again.  There was no pain or suffering and in 
fact the only feeling that I recall was a tingling sensation similar to that which is 
experienced during numbness.  I crossed the finish line at 1:42 a.m. or 19 hours and 42 
minutes after the start of the race.  When I crossed the only feeling that I had was that 
of a job well done.  

The Delaware 100 was exactly what it was advertised to be, a minimalist race.  A race in 
which each runner would be expected to take care of him or herself without aid, support, 
course markings, pacers, or guarantees of safety. The ten individuals who competed in 
this race truly demonstrated their love for the sport of ultrarunning because the only 
reward on this day would be that which each of us would feel in our own hearts.   

Ralph Hirt went on to finish in second place in an amazing 23:25.  He was the hero of the 
day and a person who walked away proud for his effort was strong and mighty.   Though one 
week later David Snipes from Richmond, Virginia eclipsed Ralph’s time by 27 minutes I 
firmly believe that Ralph should retain his number 2 position.  David was given the 
opportunity to run the same course a week after the original date and he posted an 
impressive time.  That being said Ralph traveled 3000 miles from his home in California 
to be in Delaware on September 29th to compete against those that were there that day.  I 
have no doubt that Mr. Hirt would have pushed David to his limits and would not have 
given up that second place finish without a fight.  No matter who placed where each and 
every competitor deserves to be congratulated for the effort that he or she put forth.

I don’t look to the future too much these days as overcoming the past has been a 
struggle.  In 2004 my heart was broken and while it was slowly healing I broke my leg in 
2006.  I was fighting two wars, one with my body and the other with my mind.  I lost many 
battles and suffered many wounds and though there were times when I gave up I always 
found the gumption to continue on.  I was a battered and beaten person and at times I was 
embarrassed by my own actions and my own words.  It was not until July of this year when 
I finally understood what I had to do in order to heal both physically and emotionally.  
It was again an experience in Death Valley that opened my eyes to the truth.  I gave 
every ounce of everything that I had to my runner on that day.  I watched her battle, 
struggle and overcome things that I had never before experienced.  I watched her never 
give up and in the end I watched her cross the finish line victorious.  Though it may 
sound crazy what she did over that 34 hour period personifies real life.  It’s a struggle 
and sometimes we face things that no one could ever imagine but giving up can not be an 
option.  Move forward, work hard, be forgiving, reevaluate your goals but never bend far 
enough to allow room for failure.  No matter where you stand in the middle of the race 
success can only be measured by where you finish.  Winning is all that matters and losing 
is not an option.

Dave Bursler
Bear, Delaware