In the loopy world of blogs, this is the first post you'll see. For us, it's the last.

From the time this blog launched with several contributors, it has always been in a bit of a gerrymandered space between the sports and health worlds, with some transportation and food thrown in.

We've lost some voices in the year since then, so it's with some relief that those of us still active move to Picture of Health this month. We hope you'll come with us so we won't have to miss you.

It's been fun. Thanks for all the comments!

Photo credit: Getty Images

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 6:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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I’m not sure I’ll get to run it this year, but either way, I’m incredibly excited about the expansion of the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K, which is coming up a week from today in Washington. (There are also editions of the race in several other cities, including Chicago and San Diego – here’s hoping for a Baltimore event next year.)

In celebration, here’s my favorite cocoa recipe.

My wife swears I showed her how to make this. I swear the opposite. I’m the one with the computer, so I win for now. Either way, it’s really good.

Renee Maynard’s hot cocoa

In medium saucepan, heat 3 Tbspn of water to boiling, then reduce so water is merely steaming.
Stir in 6-7 Tbspn of baking cocoa, forming a pudding-like mix.
Stir in 2-3 Tbspn of sugar.
Stir in 1 tspn cinnamon.
Stir in 1 tspn vanilla.
Keep stirring slowly and constantly. After mix becomes smooth, reduce heat further to avoid burning.
Add 4 cups of milk, with the first two cups being added a quarter-cup at a time, stirring thoroughly after each addition to keep consistency even.

If it’s not verboten in your house, I’d recommend serving this with marshmallows: The cocoa is wonderfully bitter – note that I don’t call it “hot chocolate” since it’s almost sugarless – and while I love it that way, I imagine some people would welcome the extra sweetness marshmallows can add. I'm not a fan of crushed candy canes, but if that's your fancy, feel free to add those as well.

What other potential cocoa condiments am I forgetting? I know I’ve tried whipped cream before, with varying results.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 7:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Events, Outdoors, Running, Washington, Weekend
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We received some pretty nice shots from readers of the Baltimore Marathon / Baltimore Running Festival, and I'm happy to say that our social media team has another gallery started for this weekend's Komen Race for the Cure.

If you're going to Hunt Valley on Sunday, please consider adding yours via the instructions here. We'd love to see what you're up to, whether that's a shot from this week or a past Komen event.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, City of Baltimore, Outdoors, Running, Walking, Weekend
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While cleaning out my e-mail archives, I just found this link to a video about Harford County's Phil Anderson:

Marathon: The Phil Anderson Story from wherl on Vimeo.

This was sent to me by Anderson's nephew, Matt Downin.

Anderson is one of the people behind the HAT Run and the Survivor Run.

Along with some nice local details, this includes quite a bit of useful information about strokes and their cousins, transient ischemic attacks. One of the takeaways: Just because you run doesn't mean you shouldn't get a carotid artery check once in awhile. Even marathoners can find themselves susceptible to strokes and heart attacks.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 5:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running, Walking
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From the running festival on FB (via Liz Kay):

Baltimore Running Festival

Following up on the runner tracking issues: for the people who did not receive tracking messages but signed up, did any of you do it before 4AM on Saturday, Oct. 15th? Apparently 328 registered after 4AM Saturday and their information never got into our vendor's system.

FYI: we posted the tracking registration closed at 7AM on Saturday. Our vendor was supposed to shut down the website at that point, but did not. What the issue was between 4AM-6:59AM is still being investigated.

(Continues ...)

Continue reading "The Baltimore Marathon looks for a runner tracking fix" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Running, Technology
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In case you missed it, Chris Kaltenbach has something interesting in today's print edition:

Picturesque little Darlington is a national historic district, home to an annual Apple Festival that attracts thousands and, come Saturday, a feasting ground for the undead.
"Run for Your Lives," a 5K run, with zombies, is coming to this tiny Harford County town. Oh, the horror.
"That's such a cool thing they're doing," says Heather Wheatley, a three-year resident of Darlington who sells soaps out of a newly opened apothecary shop across the river in Port Deposit. "We're gonna take these zombies just the way they are and accept them wholly."

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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Here are the top times from Maryland finishers in today's marathon:

More results can be found here.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Running, Stride by Stride
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Many of the runners from the half and full marathon races have begun to merge near Patterson Park.

This is one aspect of the Baltimore race that I've always appreciated. Of the three round-trip marathon courses I've completed, Baltimore is the only one where the runners start separately and finish together, and the spectator energy this setup generates is amazing. There's no "no we're on our own" moment -- marathoners are surrounded by people through the entire course.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Running, Stride by Stride
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Kenyan Stephen Muange has barely pulled ahead of two competitors to win the 2011 Baltimore Marathon.

Muange battled fellow elites Ambesse Tolosa and Tesfaye Assefaudube until the very end of the race, with all three competitors finishing within seconds of each other -- a relatively unusual situation in a race that spans more than two hours.

Continue reading "Stephen Muange is Baltimore Marathon winner; Shurkhno repeats for women" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Recent winners, Running, Stride by Stride, Weekend
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With the 5K complete and the marathon underway, we were hoping to move to the next segment of our coverage around this time -- live video from the finish line area.

However, connection problems have made that impossible. Meanwhile, please keep checking the Baltimore Sun front page and marathon page for detailed coverage of today's events.

If you need a marathon video, try this instead. For other Baltimore Sun video, go here. Upload your photos here.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Running, Stride by Stride
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The first of five half marathon waves is about to start.

That may seem like quite an ordeal, but it's not as many waves as some races use. Surf City is said to have nine waves of starters, and many triathlons use multiple, small-scale starting groups to avoid water collisions.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Running, Stride by Stride
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Welcome to this morning's live coverage of the Baltimore Running Festival. The Baltimore Marathon is scheduled to start in just over an hour, at 8 a.m., with the wheelchair division starting slightly earlier.

As of Friday night, the MarylandWeather.com forecast for 8 a.m. included mostly clear conditions and a 55° F temperature.

Continue reading "Baltimore Marathon starts in an hour" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 6:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Running, Stride by Stride
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Just in time for this weekend's Baltimore Marathon, here's a story from England. Enjoy!

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer

LONDON (AP) -- Rob Sloan boasted he'd completed an "unbelievably tough" marathon near Newcastle after crossing the finish line in third place with a personal-best time.

Apparently, he didn't count the bus ride.

Sloan dropped out 20 miles into the race, hitched a ride on a spectator shuttle bus and emerged from the woods near the finish line to make the podium.

After Sloan initially described as "laughable" claims he cheated in the Kielder Marathon on Sunday, the 31-year-old former army mechanic admitted his transgression following an investigation by organizers.

Continue reading "English club runner disqualified from marathon after taking bus to complete course" >>

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Running
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Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Running, Under Armour, Weekend, Weekly roundups
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On Saturday, I mentioned talking to to Wylie Belasik, who's on the national staff for Back on my Feet, a well-known group that provides services -- including running -- to homeless people. (Their Baltimore chapter is here.)

One of upcoming changes Belasik mentioned was an expansion to Atlanta, which is set to take place two months from today, on November 11.

While he said the organization's staff is excited about growth, they want to make sure that the cities where they locate get the most out of their services.

You can see BOMF blog posts about the Atlanta expansion here. One of those posts includes a nice map of some other expansion plans.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 8:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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Tribune staff

A 35-year-old Chicago Marathon runner collapsed 500 yards from finish line and died about two hours later, officials said.

The man, a firefighter from Greensboro, North Carolina was identified as William Caviness.

He collapsed near Roosevelt Road and Indiana Avenue where paramedics were able to determine he had a pulse, but he later died, officials said.

"Our hearts go out to his family," said Greensboro Dep. Fire Chief Clarence Hunter.

Authorities suspect Caviness suffered cardiac arrest, but the cause of death was pending autopsy results, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office. He was pronounced dead at 12:03 p.m. at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, officials said.

Continue reading "Man dies running Chicago Marathon" >>

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 7:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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Tomorrow, I'll be running the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, and I have to admit that I'm a bit scared of "accidental time banking," a problem that develops when a course is downhill at the start, then flat or uphill near the end.

I have long procrastinated on getting a GPS watch, and a friend kindly loaned me one in order to help me avoid this downhill problem, which is unique to point-to-point marathon courses.

As someone who has run the Baltimore Marathon, my generous loaner donor has plenty of experience with elevation changes: While the Baltimore course for next weekend's race is not in the same category as the old Maryland Marathon route (described as one of the most difficult marathon courses ever devised), one of the first things that usually comes up in discussions of Mobtown's fall race is the challenging topography.

(One counterexample: Last year's winner said he was "used to mountains," so this course suited him just fine.)

Continue reading "What's your grade preference?" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 7:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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From the AP: NEW YORK — Michael Phelps says he has started training earlier than at any time since 2007, before his record-setting Beijing Olympics. The 16-time medalist says "there's a lot more drive inside of me" after the motivation hasn't always been there the last three years. Phelps says he has been back in the pool for six weeks. He says he's confident he can get into peak shape to achieve his goals at his last Olympics in London next year. Phelps (above) was in Manhattan on Tuesday to run and swim with eight-time Winter Games medalist Apolo Anton Ohno, who's training for the New York City Marathon for shared sponsor Subway. Reuters photo

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running, Swimming
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Happy Monday. Here's what's been happening over the last couple days:

A new world record

Patrick Makau has taken the world marathon record down by 21 seconds.

Haile Gebrselassie lost the race against time on Sunday when Patrick Makau shattered his marathon world record and ended an era of two decades dominated by arguably the greatest distance runner in history.

His lungs seizing up and struggling for air after more than 27 kilometers (17 miles) of the Berlin Marathon, Gebrselassie finally quit shortly after kilometer 35.

By then, Makau was more than two minutes ahead — on his own and on the way to the German capital's landmark Brandenburg Gate and a new world record.

More >>

Continue reading "What happened over the weekend: Patrick Makau's record; Milwaukee's aspirations; Sinai race" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running, Weekend
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Joe Lawlor, who writes for one of our sister publications, has a nice piece up today on Run for the Dream coordinator Kelly Cannon.

The half marathon, which is held in the Williamsburg area, had 85 Maryland finishers (out of 2254 total) in its inaugural running this year.

Here's some of the interview:

Continue reading "Virginia's Run for the Dream coordinator aims to grow half marathon" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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Read the story here.

See pictures here.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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Last year's female Baltimore Marathon champion, Ukrainian Olena Shurkhno, has verbally committed to run in the event this year, according to Dave Gell, a representative for the event.

"We have a verbal from our women's champion," Gell said yesterday. "It looks like she's going to be in the field. We're still in the paperwork process for all of [the elite returners]."

Event organizers are also hoping to bring back several elite men from previous years, though confirmations aren't available yet. Last year's male winner was David Rutoh or Kenya.

Elsewhere:

- Emmanuel Mutai and Martin Lel are now slated to run in the NYC Marathon.

- Haile Gebrselassie and Patrick Makau will be facing off in Berlin.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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To recap, the Annapolis 10-miler was canceled because of Irene, and organizers announced that the race would not be rescheduled this year but that the premiums would be mailed to registrants.

Sounds like the organizers were asked by some why they couldn't reschedule the race and why they weren't offering refunds (some people asked that same question here).

Race organizers have offered their explanation, which is more or less what I guessed -- the race fees have already been spent, so there's nothing to return. 

Here's what they sent out:

We thank the many runners who sent us supporting emails, expressing their disappointment and their understanding. Some of you included your ideas, which was thoughtful. Some of the suggestions were quite unique, like having the premiums re-stitched with “finisher” crossed out and “hurricane cancelled” put in its place.

A very, very small number of emails have not been so understanding. Two questions have been raised in a few of those emails. A few asked why the A-10 could not simply be re-scheduled. The fact is that there are no other weekends available to the Striders to hold the race as the Naval Academy Stadium calendar is booked through the winter and the City of Annapolis will not grant us permission for a different weekend as they have other major events.

We were also asked why a refund would not be given. The bulk of the money collected in advance of the race was used to purchase the premiums, secure permits, place down payments on equipment, and rent the Stadium. Many of these payments are not refundable to the club. In addition, our obligation to the Anne Arundel Medical Center and other charities will be met despite cancellation of the race. These financial commitments are the reason that the race was advertised as a "No Refund" event and we must stick to that policy. Along similar lines, a couple of emails question the receipt of a “t-shirt” in exchange for $65 (actually $60, the other $5 was an Active fee). Remember, the premium is NOT a t-shirt, but a high quality technical shirt with ½ zip opening and a zippered pocket. This item would have a retail price of about $60-70 if sold in a store (not including the cost of the logo stitching).

I am disappointed that the race was canceled (I really was looking forward to it, despite my complaints!) but I am happy that the organizers are mailing the premiums. It will be no easy task, I'm sure. 

 ---

Posted by Anica Butler at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Running
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When I heard this morning that Reese Witherspoon was hit Wednesday while running and USING A CROSSWALK in Santa Monica, I cringed. I am so glad to hear that she'll be OK, but it brought back all the rage I felt earlier this week when I saw a runner in a crosswalk almost get hit by a box truck that should have stopped.

From MSNBC, here's more info about Reese:

Witherspoon was jogging across an unmarked crosswalk on Georgina Avenue at 20th Street about 11 a.m. when she was hit by a vehicle driven by an 84-year-old woman, Sgt. Richard Lewis said in a statement. The vehicle was traveling south on 20th street.

The driver, who was not identified, was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, Lewis said.

I live in South Baltimore, and drive down Key Highway frequently. The crosswalk across Key Highway between the science center and Federal Hill seems to be an accident waiting to happen. Despite the bright crosswalk lines and a few signs, including one IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET that instructs drivers to STOP for pedestrians, I see people forced to dodge cars several days a week.

This crosswalk seems to mainly be used by runners and families with small children and I just really don't understand why cars refuse to stop. On Wednesday, I saw that a runner started to cross from the Harbor side toward Federal Hill when a car on Key Highway stopped to allow her to cross. As she crossed, a box truck came barreling down the second through lane, narrowly avoiding missing the runner, but splashing her with lots of water.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating - even when you have the right of way, always assume that cars don't see you. 

Anyone else have any tips for not getting hit? Or any close calls to share?

Posted by Anica Butler at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Running
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While former Broadneck High School standout Matthew Centrowitz Jr. gets a nod, LetsRun.com lists Silas Kiplagat and Asbel Kiprop as "definitely the favorites" in the world championship 1,500 final, which starts in just over an hour.

Centrowitz won his Thursday heat to make it to the final. Results for the race should be available here later today.

---

Update: Centrowitz placed third in the final with a time of 3:36:08. (Slightly) more coverage here.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 6:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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Charles Coughlin, a decorated, retired graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who was initially honored for his bravery during the attacks of September 11, 2001, has been declared guilty of making a false claim and stealing public money, according the Associated Press.

Coughlin was tried three times before a guilty verdict was delivered, with the process starting very soon after the attacks themselves.

Continue reading "Severna Park marathoner guilty in case of false claims, theft" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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In case you haven't seen the Annapolis Striders website today, organizers have announced that they will NOT reschedule the race for a later date (the race was canceled due to Hurricane Irene). They will, however, try to get premiums out to all registered runners.

From their site:

Dear A10 Runner:
We regret that the 2011 Annapolis 10-Mile Run had to be called off due to “Irene”. Here is the latest information:
• After considering a number of possibilities, we have determined that the 2011 race cannot be rescheduled.
• We are currently working on a plan to mail the finishers premium to all registrants using the size and address information provided to us during registration.
We know how much you look forward to running in Annapolis and believe it or not how much our many
volunteers enjoy helping out. We hope to see all of you next year.

You can read my earlier post about the reasons for the race cancellation here. 

Posted by Anica Butler at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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UPDATED AT 5:00 P.M.

I just got off the phone with one of the race directors, Charlie Muskin, and he reiterated that it was the city of Annapolis' decision, not the race directors, to cancel the Annapolis 10-miler. I also just heard from a spokeswoman for the City of Annapolis, who said the "difficult" call to cancel the race was "an unfortunate but needed decision."

Muskin said race organizers were prepared to go ahead with the race, and were waiting to make a final decision on Friday night or Saturday morning, until the decision was made for them, Muskin said. 

Rhonda Wardlaw, a spokeswoman for the City of Annapolis, said that as the mayor received more information about Irene's projected path, it became evident that the race, and another event scheduled to take place at City Dock, would have to be called off.

Wardlaw said that typically, a number of police and fire personnel work at the race, but that the city would need them "to be deployed to meet the need of any threat by Hurricane Irene." But the decision wasn't just about personnel, according to Wardlaw. "Most of all, it's public safety," she said.

The race committee is planning to meet Friday to decide whether the race will be -- or even can be -- rescheduled. They'll also be deciding what to do with the premiums in the event the race can't be run at a later date. 

Posted by Anica Butler at 4:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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Organizers of the Baltimore Running Festival this morning revealed an exciting change to this year's course - marathon runners will run through the Maryland Zoo.

The announcement, first made on the running festival's Facebook page, was made through a silly video:

The map of the full marathon route can be seen here.

Posted by Anica Butler at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Running
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Getty Images

UPDATE at 3:30 p.m. THE RACE HAS BEEN CANCELED

Annapolis Emergency Management has canceled the race. More details as they become available. 

Even as Hurricane Irene comes barreling toward the East Coast, the organizers of the Annapolis 10-Miler road race say they are planning to hold the race as scheduled.

From the Annapolis Striders website:

"First, the safety of our runners is our paramount concern. Usually this concern revolves around the heat, but this year it might be something different. We stress "might" as NOAA has a zero percent chance of hurricane winds in Annapolis, and only a 20% chance of tropical storm winds.

For the small hand full of people who have emailed us prophesizing "fallen trees & limbs, downed power lines, hard rain & flying debris, etc." our response is simple - where the storm will actually go is anyone's guess. On the outside chance that Irene comes up the Bay, both the Striders and the various Police Departments will cancel
the race. But none of us are going to make that call this early. We continue our planning, and are adding contingencies.

It is also highly unlikely that the race will, or even can, be rescheduled."

Posted by Anica Butler at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Running
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Just spotted this from the Visit Baltimore website:

Book your Northeast Regional tickets August 23 – 25, 2011 for travel October 12 - 27, 2011 and get the lowest fares around. Travel between Baltimore, MD and New York City, NY for just $29. And go with comfortable seating, electrical outlets for laptops and other devices, and extra storage space for your luggage. 

I haven't clicked through to see how many tickets at this fare are still available, but the site does say tickets are limited and you must book by Thursday. 

Posted by Anica Butler at 8:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Where did the summer go? I just looked at the calendar and realized that the Annapolis 10-miler  is on THIS Sunday, Aug. 28th.

This is really bad news for me, because my last run, at 8 miles, was truly miserable. Quite possibly my worst. run. ever.  And I've heard the A-10 is HARD (this will be my first time).

Best of luck to everyone who is running the race this weekend. Hope your training is going better than mine!

Posted by Anica Butler at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Running
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With fall racing season fast approaching, I'm reminded it's time to think about what shoes we'll be racing in. Shoes that you are training in now, for example, likely won't get you across the finish line if you're training for the Baltimore Marathon or Baltimore Half, according to Jim Adams, owner of Falls Road Running Store.

I'd seen this online shoe-finder tool before on the Runner's World website, but it was highlighted on my of my favorite blogs, Lifehacker, today, so thought I'd share their post.

The RW Shoe Finder asks you to answer a series of questions, then recommends shoes based on your answers.

If you know your foot type and what type of shoe you need, it can be helpful to see what else is out there if you're looking for something new. If you're new to buying running shoes, this interactive could help you create a list of shoes you might want to try on once you get to the running store. (If you're a newbie, I highly recommend going to a running store whether or not you have a handy web tool.)

If you test this out, let me know what you think. 

Posted by Anica Butler at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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Let's talk about self-assurance.

Usain Bolt certainly does.

The famous Jamaican sprinter is not shy about his plans for the IAAF championships, which begin Saturday in Daegu, South Korea. From an interview this week with the Associated Press:

"I am always confident. I am unbeaten this year and aim to defend all my titles in Daegu," Bolt told The Associated Press in an email.

On top of his individual gold medals, he also helped Jamaica win titles in the sprint relays at Beijing and Berlin.

Anything less than nine gold medals from Beijing and two world championships would be a disappointment for him ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.

Continue reading "Does Bolt's bragging-to-success strategy work for you?" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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The USATF Junior Olympics (edit: not to be confused with the AAU version), which have been taking place this week in Wichita, wrap up today.

The most recent local staging of the championships was in 2006, when Morgan State hosted.

Continue reading "Junior Olympics wrap up today" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 6:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (here via AP/WSJ), The Families of Flight 93 Runners charity will take part in the New York City Marathon this year. Their run will raise funds for the national memorial commemorating the crash of a hijacked United Airlines plane in Somerset County. From today's article:

Three of the 24 people running for the charity also participated in the 2002 New York marathon. The charity is made up of relatives and close friends of the 40 passengers and crew who fought with terrorists to crash the plane into a field in Somerset County.

Read the whole article here.

Here's a 2008 video by The Baltimore Sun's Chris Assaf, documenting volunteers at the Shanksville crash site:

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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My boss showed me airfarewatchdog.com a few months ago, and I keep an eye on it now and then.

Continue reading "Pan-Atlantic marathon trip, anyone?" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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I haven't pulled together plans for the upcoming 3-day July 4th weekend, but for those of you who mark their calendars way ahead ... there's a Halloween-season 5K with a twist in the works.

Run for Your Lives promises a zombie-infested 5k in Darlington. There will also be 12 obstacles -- races with obstacles are increasingly popular -- as well as choices of routes. That means this race will require a little more than the ability to sprint away from zombies trying to get your flags. There's some strategy and navigation in here too.

Plans call for the other side of the finish line to have an "apocalypse party."

Behind the event are two Marylanders, promoters say. Ryan Hogan, managing member of Reed Street Productions LLC in Bel Air, owns warwear, the performance apparel & accessories company that has been a sponsor of other events. He approached Derrick Smith about creating an event that included obstacles. Smith added the zombies. And there you have it.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Outdoors, Running
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Today's NCAA racing recap from the Eugene Register-Guard was wily, antagonistic and sneaky-like, as reporter Custis Anderson teased readers of his article with this lead:

DES MOINES, Iowa — One runner moved effortlessly into the final. Another saw his collegiate career come to a premature end.

That was the story for Oregon’s Matthew Centrowitz and A.J. Acosta on Thursday in the semifinals of the men’s 1,500 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium.

I'll break the suspense: Broadneck native Centrowitz is still in the competition for Saturday's NCAA 1500 championship.

Continue reading "NCAA track update" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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The Rails to Trails Conservancy sent out an e-mail blast to supporters this morning in hopes of giving Sen. Ben Cardin an earful from walkers, runners and cyclists.

Here's a piece of the missive:

Continue reading "Conservancy to Cardin: Don't defund us, bro" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Bicycling, Outdoors, Politics, Running, Safety, Traffic, Walking, Washington
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 I am about to go on vacation again, but this time, I am definitely packing my running shoes.

Before a trip to Paris last month, I did a web search to see if I could find some good running routes.

I didn't (I did a bad search) and instead found a blog post ranting about how no one runs in Paris, and when the author tried, people were mean to her. I know, it makes no sense that I'd be swayed by one blog post, yet, I was. I left my running shoes at home.   (photo of Paris Marathon passing my hotel)

Turns out, my hotel was next to the the Jardin des Tuileries, and there were people running all over the city, and especially in the park, while I was there. Now, it was the weekend of the Paris Marathon, but research upon my return confirmed that running is a popular activity in Paris. When we finally checked with the concierge at the hotel we were staying in, I found out that Runners World had actually created a running map of Paris, which he gave us a copy of. I was so sad, I almost bought a pair of running shoes my last day there.

For this vacation, I'm heading to Greece and Istanbul. When I casually mentioned to a friend who's been to Istanbul that I planned to run while there, she looked at me like I was crazy, and told me that no one runs there. 

This time, Google results gave me a different story. According to a running magazine article I found, plenty of people do run, there are some well-established running routes, and Istanbul also has a marathon. I did read though, that I might want to run in pants instead of shorts.

But even before I did a web search, I'd decided to pack my gear no matter what I found. Even though running shoes take up a lot of room in my luggage, I think I'd rather have them with me and never unpack them, than not have them when I want them (the weather in Paris was so beautiful!).

I had such an amazing time running in Argentina last year. I can't imagine not taking the opportunity to run in a foreign land if it's an option. 

Anyone else have a running abroad story? Do you regularly pack your running shoes on vacation?  

Posted by Anica Butler at 3:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Running
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This weekend I did the Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, MD. I'd say it was both fun and challenging. The course was really hilly. Really hilly. For me, the worst obstacle was the very high rope ladder climb. I'm afraid of heights and so was the guy in front of me. He stopped at the very top, which meant I spent much longer at the top than I wanted to. The worst obstacles physically were the five walls. I had to hoist myself out of the mud and over the slippery walls and then drop into a watery pit. Five times. I highly recommend this for folks who are looking for a unique challenge and have a fun bunch of friends who are crazy enough to agree to do this. Here's a little video I put together:

Posted by Leeann Adams at 3:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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Cars won't be the only thing racing during Baltimore's Grand Prix weekend. 

There will also be a 5k held the night before the car race, on the actual Grand Prix course.

Here's part of the press release about the 5k: 

The Baltimore Grand Prix and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield have
partnered to host the CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield 5K Run on Friday, September 2, 2011. The 5K run will encompass the 2.0 mile Baltimore Grand Prix temporary street circuit course traveling through the heart of downtown Baltimore and start right after the race cars have left the track.

Posted by Anica Butler at 1:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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For the past few summers, I've thought it would be fun (yes, fun!) to go to some group track sessions. 

But as a journalist, I keep unusual -- or at least late -- hours. So the speed/track sessions I've found around town don't work for me. I know of sessions at the Hopkins Track at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays, which is before I get off work, and the Pacemakers' 5:30 a.m. session on Wednesdays, which is just waaay too early for me to even consider being out of bed.

To get faster, I know I don't need a group. Or even a track. I've even got a recent Runner's World article that tells me how to do speedwork on my own, on a road or a trail. 

Now, I know this might sound weird, but I have found memories of Coach Scott - my cross country coach from high school - and the barf-inducing track sessions she tortured us with. Just the mention of the word "fartlek" gave me butterflies and made me wish I'd stayed home. But no matter how hard the workout, I was always happy afterward. Not just because it was over, but because I'd gotten through it. And each time, it got a little easier to stomach. I got stronger. And faster.

Now that I've completely over-romanticized my high school track torture, I'm wondering if anyone out there knows of a group with speed workouts that I'm not finding. Something on the weekends? Or later in the mornings on weekdays? Anything? 

I can't be the only only who works long days and would be interested in such a group. 

Posted by Anica Butler at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Running
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I saw this interesting story about a marathon in the Gaza Strip last week and thought I'd share.

From the Associated Press: 

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- This territory was made for such a race, some 26 miles from top to bottom.

More than 1,000 runners took part Thursday in the Gaza Strip's first marathon - or, at least covered part of the course - offering a lighter moment in a place often torn by violence and war.

"There is the New York Marathon, the London Marathon, the Tel Aviv Marathon, and now there is also the Gaza Marathon," said Chris Gunness, spokesman for the U.N. body that organized the event.

About 50 runners left the starting line at dawn, setting out on a course that went from the northern border town of Beit Hanoun near Israel, cut to the Mediterranean shore and dashed to Gaza's southernmost tip on the Egyptian border.

Just nine runners - Palestinian athletes training for next year's Olympics and international aid workers - ran the full course.

Posted by Anica Butler at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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Hi. Remember me? Fair-weather runner here. I confess, my running has been about as frequent as my blogging, which is to say, pretty much non-existent.

Sure, there were some nice weekends when I was able to run six miles or so with friends, but as soon as the weather turned blustery, rainy or cool (i.e. spring) I retreated to the indoors.

But as the weather has turned nicer, I've noticed more and more runners outside pounding the pavement in my neighborhood. It's turned my thoughts to -- what else? -- racing.

I was peer-pressured to sign up for the Annapolis 10-miler this week. I've never run it, but I am assured it's a challenge, not to mention hot. I also plan to sign up for the Dreaded Druid Hills soon. I am terrified, yet drawn to the race at the same time!

That's it for now. I'll definitely be adding more races, including at least one half marathon in the fall. My main goal this year is try to run consistently, despite all the planned vacations, warm-weather happy hours and all the other great events that start to happen when the weather gets nice.

How's your spring shaping up?

Posted by Anica Butler at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Running
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Where she walks: I encountered Liz Frantz on a connector for the James F. Hall trail, near the Maryland/Delaware border in Newark.

Age: 20

Continue reading "On foot with Liz Frantz" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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I received an e-mail last night from the Maryland Half Marathon mentioning that they have 200 spots left for their May 15 event, which is going to be on a new course in Howard County. Organizers are calling that a a record pace for registration.

According to athlinks.com, last year's event had over 1100 finishers, so assuming a similar number of slots and considering the course relocation, I'd say that's a pretty healthy ratio for two weeks out.

(As a comparison: Last summer's Frederick Running Fest half, held in the last summer for which a companion full marathon was offered, is listed by athlinks as having 2,626 finishers. That event closed its registration last week.)

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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I'm tweeting about the Penn Relays. Read updates after the jump. (Page refreshes every minute in most browsers.)

Continue reading "Penn Relays tweets" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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A new triathlon is in the offing for May 14 in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. It’s the inaugural TriRock Annapolis Sprint Triathlon.

The event will start with a swim in the Annapolis Harbor, followed by a 12.4-mile bike ride that will end at the foot of City Dock.

A 5K run, the last leg, will loop through city streets. Organizers expect the event to attract about 1,500 to 1,800 participants and as many as 2,000 spectators. Start time is expected to be at 7 a.m. and city officials say the breakdown of portable facilities should be done by around 5 p.m.

For event information and more, click here.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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The Frederick Running Festival -- no longer a marathon, but still a pretty big event -- is closing out its registration at 10 this morning.

To register, visit the festival's home page: http://www.frederickrunfest.com/.

Continue reading "Reminder: Frederick Running Fest registration closes today" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Running
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In case you missed it in our right rail, here's a Runner's World feed on the Boston Marathon. Follow along from your desk.

Posted by Kim Walker at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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As we enter the weekend of the Boston Marathon, we've posted an updating feed of marathon tweets on the right portion of this blog (courtesy of Runner's World via Candus Thomson).

Continue reading "Tidbits: Boston Marathon updates; event questions; Lel in London" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Bicycling, Running
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Sun reporter Don Markus has a couple updates on the man shot outside a Ritchie Highway mall. From Markus' article:

Continue reading "Shooting near B&A trail" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 4:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Bicycling, Outdoors, Running, Safety, Walking, Weekend
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A WTOP article this morning about Metro being a non-option for athletes at tomorrow's National Marathon left me wondering: How frequently does this kind of logjam occur?

(For what it's worth, spectators can still use the system.)

Continue reading "Comparing marathon start times" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Marine Corps Marathon, National Marathon, Philadelphia, Running, Traffic, Washington
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When the Suntrust National Marathon starts at 7 a.m. Saturday, Lisa Reichmann will already have been up for about 3 hours.

For the top Maryland woman at last spring's event, that won't be a huge change. "I wake up every morning at 4:15," says Reichmann, a former attorney who's now a full-time parent for three young children.

She will go to pick up a friend at 4:30, then drive southeast from Gaithersburg to the area near RFK stadium, where she'll join more than 15,000 people in the combined marathon, half-marathon and team relay.

Continue reading "2011 National Marathon preview" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 7:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: National Marathon, Running, Washington, Weekend
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According to marylandweather.com, we can expect temperatures just above freezing for the Suntrust National Marathon on Saturday: As of this morning, the predicted high is 45°, with a potential low for the day of 35°.

I've been running in shorts lately, but that temperature range would definitely be tights/hat/gloves weather for me, especially considering the early 7 a.m. start time.

Continue reading "Forecast for Saturday's marathon in Washington: A bit chilly" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: National Marathon, Running, Washington, Weekend
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What I’m doing: I'll be going down to watch the National Marathon on Saturday, then probably doing some makeup mileage on Sunday.

Why: I've never seen this relatively new race -- this will be its sixth year -- and while it's not as big as autumn's Marine Corps Marathon, I respect the ambition that it takes to call yourself the National Anything right out of the gate.

What else I recommend: The Keep Your Colon Rollin 5K gets 10 points just for its name. I know nothing else about this race. I'm also curious about the Great Escape 5K in Cumberland (both links after the jump).

Other options:

Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Events, National Marathon, Running, Triathlon, Walking, Washington, Weekly roundups
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Where he walks: Dave Barone goes out most days on the Heritage trail in York, PA. The trail connects with Maryland's NCR route.

Age: 63

What he does: Retired after 32½ years at the the USDA Forest Service. He and his wife both worked at the headquarters in Washington, DC.

Continue reading "On foot with Dave Barone" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running, Walking, Weekend
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Commenter Linda mentioned yesterday that she's training -- on her own -- for her first ever race, the Baltimore Women's Classic, a 5k in the city in June. (Yay Linda!)

Today, I received an e-mail about the official training program for the race and thought I'd share. The 8-week program only costs $20, and runs will be held at three different sites. Seems to me to be a good way for a newbie to get started.

Here's some info from the e-mail: 

The 2011 Baltimore Women's Training Program presented by Charm City Run will be held all around town and on three different nights of the week... one is sure to fit your schedule and provide you with a great opportunity to start a walking or running program or energize your present routine. Our eight-week session begins the first week of May to prepare you for the Baltimore Women's Classic 5K on June 26.

 For only $20, your 8 weeks include:

- a training program designed for beginning walkers, intermediate walkers, beginning runners and intermediate runners

- health and fitness clinics

- music for your workout provided by a DJ (at most locations)

- a training program t-shirt

- group coaches to help you achieve YOUR fitness goals

For more info, check out the website for the BWC training program. 

Posted by Anica Butler at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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The NCAA male and female indoor championships start tomorrow in Texas. Maryland's Kiani Profit (Pentathlon) and Dwight Barbiasz (High jump) will be there, along with several other locally-tied people. (See these links for division I seedings of men and women, respectively.)

I always liked indoor track in high school, especially in old buildings. Unlike newer facilities, old buildings sometimes had poorly placed girders or overhangs near their tracks, making the experience much more exciting than usual: A race feels much faster when there are giant pieces of metal whizzing by.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running, Weekend
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I wish I was one of those people who run outdoors year round. Heck, I wish I just ran anywhere year-round. 

But because it's too cold for me in January and February, and I LOATHE the treadmill, I just took more than two months off running, save for a few weekend 6-mile jaunts with friends when the weather was freakishly warm late last month.

On my way home from work this week, I've been pleased to see more and more runners out on the streets. "That reminds me," I thought to myself yesterday, "I really ought to start training."

I've checked the calendar, and sure enough, I've got exactly 10 weeks until my scheduled half marathon. I'm mildly freaking out, and also still having a hard time getting motivated to get my butt outside. Maybe I need a new outfit? Or maybe I just need a hard shove out the door? Signing up for races this summer and fall is getting me excited, but I'm just not quite there yet.

Anyone else gearing up for a spring race? Or looking for inspiration/motivation to get out the door?

By the way, I really admire everyone I know who's running the National Marathon or half marathon in a few weeks. Kudos for training through the winter! And good luck! :)

Posted by Anica Butler at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: General Fitness, National Marathon, Running
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My wife just took me to Jessup's popular Blob's Park for the first time to celebrate Fasching, and they had some pretty good sauerkraut, served along with tasty Weisswurst and a bunch of other options. I'm looking forward to going back. (It was particularly good recovery food after 21 miles in the morning -- vote for a more sane running schedule here.)

It's with interest, then, that I read an article today about sauerkraut's positive qualities.

Continue reading "Another case where fermentation isn't a bad thing" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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While working a summer job years ago at the New York Burrito shop in Lansing, MI, I often would see a group of shirtless, middle-aged men run by during the lunch hour.

Asking who they were got me a quick reply from our overworked manager: "The Turtles."

I'm hoping to start a similar group, sans the shirtless part. I need your help. Tell me when you would be able to participate in a lunch run like this. Pace would likely start at 8 or 9 minutes per mile, with faster groups potentially forming if we got a big turnout. (I would also be interested in suggestions for walking: Just leave a comment if you're interested in that side of things.)

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: City of Baltimore, Outdoors, Running
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What I’m doing: It's likely that my wife and I will go hiking on our own on one of the weekend days.

What else I recommend: The Kelly race is a big Baltimore tradition. There are also other St. Patrick's Day events around the state, along with the pub run (which is being set up by a group that I run with sometimes -- all links are after the jump).

Other options:

Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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What I’m doing: Not sure yet. Probably tonight's Federal Hill run, at the very least.

Why: I'm tempted to drag myself out of bed and cheer for some friends doing the B&A trail races next weekend. Then again, I'm tentatively scheduled for 24 miles the day before, so I might just phone it in and bring brownies to our next training run. We'll see.

What else I recommend: A lot of people will simply want to recover from last weekends club challenge. For those who don't, there are a couple of pretty distance-heavy options in the RASAC and Seneca Creek runs, along with the first hint of the spring season for shorter races (WRRC prediction run, Get Pumped for Pets, etc -- see links on full list below).

Other options:

Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Just as another cold and icy day this week left me with no inspiration to head for the gym, inspiration arrived. The AARP magazine -- yes, the one from the organization for people age 50 and up -- has a piece about the benefits of exercising as we age.

The article includes a fair share of aging medalists who train and still compete. But beyond that, it points to studies of adults who exercise -- and that can be running, playing tennis, swimming, anything that's physical activity. Those show that some of what we've come to think of as inevitable debilitating effects of aging aren't all wrapped up in growing older.

Studies that compared sedentary adults to those who exercised showed that being a couch potato apparently is a huge risk factor for declines in strength, endurance, aerobic capacity and muscle mass in people approaching middle age and beyond.
The people who were fit -- not surprisingly, their aerobic capacity had declined by half as much as in the sedentary middle agers.

For me, that's inspiration to watch tv while I'm on the elliptical instead of on the couch.

To read the article, click here

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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A couple weekends ago, my wife and I packed up our dog and headed to Philadelphia. I ran a race, but we also spent some time checking out the tunnel system under the city, known as the Philadelphia Concourse. I was reminded of that yesterday evening on my way home, as I wished for a tunnel that would take me under certain still-icy stretches of Baltimore's street grid.

I won't get that wish anytime soon, but I can at least write about what I learned in the concourse.

When walking in the tunnels on our Philly trip, I initially posited that they might form an interesting route for people seeking winter exercise -- sort of like mall walking. Here's a map of some key spots where we stopped on our walk (with direction of travel roughly clockwise, starting in the south -- you might have to zoom in):

Continue reading "Enclosed walkways for working out: Hit and miss" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 1:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Registration for the Baltimore 10-miler opens March 1st at 10 a.m, according to an e-mail that I received today. 

The race, which will be held June 18th, starts and ends in Druid Hill Park, near the zoo, and takes runners around Lake Montebello.

I can't say what this race is like, because I ended up deferring my registration last year. Anybody else run it and have any thoughts? My impression is that it's a pretty hilly 10 miles.

The race is put on by Corrigan Sports -- the organizers behind the Baltimore and Frederick running festivals.

The e-mail was a reminder to me that it's time to get in gear and start training! I was much more excited out ramping up my running when we had a few warm-ish weekends. Now that it's cold and snowy again, I'm thinking of staying indoors until April.  

Posted by Anica Butler at 4:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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Registration for the Marine Corps Marathon begins tomorrow, Feb. 23, at noon.

The race site's registration page currently links to sister events. While it doesn't have the prize purse of Boston, New York or Chicago -- nor even Baltimore -- the MCM is one of the largest races in the country, and with that in mind, I would plan to sign up quickly if you want a spot.

Continue reading "MCM registration opens tomorrow" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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What I’m doing: Probably just distance training this week -- no races likely.

What I recommend: If you're able to somehow squeeze yourself into the club challenge in Howard County -- see the link after the jump -- it seems to be the big event for the coming weekend. It's officially full. Good luck.

Continue reading "Walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Maryland head track coach Andrew Valmon has been submitted as the most likely leader of the U.S. men's team in London, according to Reuters. From today's earlier story on Valmon's nomination:

Collegiate coaches Andrew Valmon and Amy Deem have been selected to lead U.S. athletics teams at the 2012 London Olympics, USA Track and Field (USATF) announced Thursday.

Maryland's Valmon will coach the American men and Miami's Deem will direct the women.

Read the full story here>>

The Maryland coach since 2003, Valmon has prior international-level experience as head of the 2010 U.S. men's world indoor championships team. He also worked as an assistant coach in the 2009 outdoor championships and had previously served in a relay coach role for USA Track & Field, according to the University.

The nominations by USA Track & Field, still need approval from U.S. Olympic Committee's CEO Scott Blackmun, Bloomberg reports.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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What I’m doing: The Olney Country Road Race looks viable, if I'm up for a Sunday event.

Why: Last weekend's race started a bit late for my taste, at just after 10 a.m.. While I'm normally a big fan of the HCS afternoon runs, I like the Olney race's 8 a.m. start time.

What else I recommend: The GW marathon is a bit out-of-the-way for me, but it looks exciting: It's in its 50th year, so they must be doing something right.

Other options:

Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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An area along the river-facing side of Philadelphia's Kelly Drive is known as Boathouse Row, and right on cue, a crew of men glided by as I did a belated warmup this morning for the Cupid's Chase 5K.

I was warming up at the last minute because, like the majority of my preregistered race-mates, I stood in line for a good 25 minutes before getting my race number. That's somewhat forgivable, since this was the event's first year, and the turnout was significantly higher than the slightly green organizers had expected.

Continue reading "Participant's perspective: Cupid's Chase 5K, Philadelphia" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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If you're a fan of the symphony and a fan of running (*raising my hand*) this sounds like it could be a neat way to run the Baltimore Marathon -- or any of the other Baltimore Running Festival races -- and raise money to support the BSO:

By joining the Bolt for the BSO team, you will gain inside access to one of Baltimore’s cultural jewels, and your support will help the BSO reach over 350,000 patrons each season. Each runner is asked to raise a minimum of $500 (see website for details), and we will provide a tee shirt, a private tent with gear-check and food on race day, invitations to Bolt for the BSO events, a personal webpage and much more!

I found out about Bolt for the BSO on Facebook.

Posted by Anica Butler at 1:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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What I’m doing: Heading up to Philadephia to run a 5K race up that way.

Why: Held at 10:00, the race is late enough in the day that it won't be too tough to get there on time. (It's also right across the river from the country's oldest zoo.)

What else I recommend: If I were around, I would probably crash one of the breakfast runs on Saturday or maybe head up to Carroll County for the McDaniel group run on Sunday. The Howard County Striders' Sunday race also a appears to be a nice, low-key, non-heart-and-flower event, if past iterations are any indication, and with most of the Striders races charging less than five bucks for registration, it's probably the best deal in the area -- probably cheaper than some training runs, when you factor in gas or food.

Other options:

Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 7:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Belgian runner Stefaan Engels has set a Guinness World Record running a marathon a day for a year.

Engels, 49, known as "Marathonman," began the challenge a year ago in Barcelona to promote fitness.  He completed it on Saturday after running the "Carretera de les aigues" (Road of the waters).

AFP photo by Josep Lago

Posted by Jerry Jackson at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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Less than a month after his Wanamaker Mile winning streak came to an end at Madison Square Garden last week, Bernard Lagat will attempt to break the United States indoor two-mile record at another talent-heavy New York race, this one scheduled for Feb 12 at the Armory.

Continue reading "Bernard Lagat hopes to set national indoor record" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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What I’m doing: Probably just running around the B&A trail's BWI loop over and over to get my required mileage. One happy point: If I appear a bit suspicious but still behave in a civil manner, the TSA mall cops are now officially legally unable to arrest me just for being there and looking weird, according to a court decision reported last week. (On second thought, I'm not sure I really want to memorize legal decisions just to feel comfortable running without a passport -- maybe I'll jog in Towson instead.)

What else I recommend: Brian Hand, a professor of exercise physiology at Towson University, will be hosting a fairly inexpensive "Basics for Beginning Runners" workshop at Falls Road Running Store on Saturday morning at 11. If you're interested in information, he's available here.

Other options:

Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Treadmills are the top home exercise machine. Frankly, one that I once had got more use drying clothing than it did anything else. It now lives in someone else's house.

In the February issue, Consumer Reports tested home treadmills and their cousin, ellipticals. The verdict: You don't have to buy the fanciest or priciest to get a decent machine and a decent workout.

The nonprofit consumer organization gave its best-buy rating to seven treadmills, three nonfolding and four folding. Even so, the highly rated nonfolding PaceMAster Platinum Pro VR costs some $2,000. A highly rated folding treadmill, the Horizon T202, costs $800. Three ellipticals got a best-buy rating: the Nautilus E514, the Horizon EX-68 and the Schwinn 420.

Among their tips: Ellipticals elevate you, so make sure you've got enough ceiling clearance. Test out treadmills to make sure they're long enough for your running stride. Spending more $$ on a treadmill usually gets you more horsepower and a sturdier machine. Sturdy design, a good warranty, your comfort and features you really will use are what to look for.

How many shirts it will hold for drying wasn't part of the evaluation.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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As a bit of a companion to last week's post about trail/road intersections, here's some new information: In Virginia, a test of lines on the road -- some a bit bizarre -- at trail intersections appears to be a success.

Continue reading "Report: Strange lines help at trail crossings" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 4:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Less than three weeks after announcing that he would be running in the London Marathon, professional American runner Dathan Ritzenhein has pulled out because of injuries, according to the Associated Press.

Continue reading "Dathan Ritzenhein out of London marathon" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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Falls Road Running Store has posted a video of the 2010 Celtic Solstice race on its Facebook page.

You can tag yourself on the video on FB, or just watch it below!

I haven't watched it yet, but thought I'd share. Warning: It has music.

Posted by Anica Butler at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Running
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I've had e-mails for a few new events pop up in my e-mail box recently. 

First, Falls Road Running Store will be hosting a 5k at Cylburn Arboretum in April. Spring will be beautiful at the arboretum, and even though I'd sworn off 5ks, the setting might make this one worth it.

Here's what the store's e-mail had to say about it:

We have a new event in Baltimore City -- The Paths of Cylburn 5K on April 10th.   This is one of Baltimore's  best kept secrets, garden paths and wooded trails in Baltimore City.  

Registration is now open at the links above.

Another event that I wish I'd known about before I, in a moment of insanity, signed up for a triathlon is the DUthe2, a duathlon in Howard County. 

The DUthe2 is on August 7, and consists of a two mile run, a 26-mile bike, followed by a four mile run. I believe this is a new event, but can't tell from the website.

Also, in my inbox, was the list of Falls Road-sponsored races for this year. Here it is:

Posted by Anica Butler at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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There's a fantastic little debate going on right now over at Wash Cycle about whether right-of-way is sometimes a curse for cyclists and pedestrians. To briefly paraphrase the author's point: Signage at certain trail crossings breed ambiguity and danger, so it's worth arguing that planners removing white crosswalk lines from some mid-block crossings might actually be doing cyclists a favor in terms of safety, regardless of whether it's legal or bike-friendly to do so.

To be honest, the conversation has way too many subtleties to re-voice here without simply duplicating most of the source post. I strongly suggest a look at Wash Cycle's version. It's quite interesting.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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While reading about a woman who did three marathons in three days (with better results than you'd probably expect), I was introduced today to the concept of the Marathon Maniac, with uppercase M's.

As indicated on the national group's somewhat morbid hall-of-fame page, their standards are rather high. To be a hall of famer, you can do a number of crazy things, the least dangerous of which, in my opinion, is to run "333 - Lifetime Marathons / Ultras." Just to get into the group at a basic (bronze) level, you have to run two marathons within a 16-day time frame, and as with many groups of insane people, they take the ranking thing way beyond any necessary border, eschewing the usual categories for a whole periodic table of hierarchy: You can be labeled as earning bronze, silver, gold, iridium, ruthenium, osmium, palladium ...

Continue reading "Any marathon maniacs around here?" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Running
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Dathan Ritzenhein will run in the London Marathon, where he will go up against a strong field as practice for the 2012 Olympics. That field will including Sammy Wanjiru, the Chicago and Olympic marathon champion who has reportedly reconciled with his wife after charges of bizarre and dangerous criminal behavior in December.

Continue reading "Ritzenhein to run London" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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I have enjoyed a run through some of the Baltimore sites related to famous mystery author Dashiell Hammett, just in time for the 50th anniversary of his death, which will be Monday. Here's how it goes:

I start my Saturday run at the Baltimore Sun headquarters. While Hammett mentions newspapers frequently in his stories, I have to admit that I'm just beginning here because it's the easiest place to start.

The first stop of any real relevance on my run is a building at the southeast corner of Calvert and Baltimore streets. Currently used for a variety of purposes, including an HR office for the city, it was once the home of Baltimore's Pinkerton bureau. Hammett's years as a Pinkerton detective would be vital when he started writing mysteries. In addition, golden figures of birds that adorn the building -- several smaller ones around the structure and two large ones at the entrance -- are thought to be the basis for what main character Sam Spade calls "the dingus" in The Maltese Falcon.

Continue reading "A Hammett anniversary run" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Some time within the next week, I'm hoping to jog or bike through a bunch of Dashiell Hammett-related places around the city, since the anniversary of the famous mystery writer's death is coming up. I'll write about the results in detail, but for now, I figured it was a good idea to solicit additions. Here's a draft of my list as it stands now:

- Baltimore Polytechnic, where Hammett studied for a semester before dropping out
- Edmondson Avenue/Harlem Park, where a dream sequence began in Red Harvest
- One South Calvert Street, formerly home of Pinkerton's Detective Agency, where Hammett worked
- Former B&O Railroad headquarters on Charles Street. (The railroad was one of Hammett's non-Pinkerton employers in Baltimore)
- Mount Royal Station, through which a missing character's baggage was tracked in The Girl with the Silver Eyes
- Union Station (now Penn Station), where one of the main characters in The Assistant Murderer bought a one-way ticket to Pennsylvania. (The whole story took place in Baltimore, so this is a slightly random sample)

I know this can't possibly be exhaustive -- it would simply be too long -- but I'm interested in any suggested additions. What key sites am I leaving out?

UPDATE: The full Dashiell Hammett map/post is now up.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 7:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Running
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Wanjiru at the 2010 Chicago Marathon.

The marathoner is accused of threatening a housekeeper, wounding a security guard and making threats against his wife's life, writes James Kariuki in Kenya's Daily Nation. He was allegedly then found with an AK-47 rifle. The athlete's lawyer says the situation was a setup, according to the Kenyan report.

Wanjiru has been a champion in multiple big events, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the London Marathon. Most recently, he won the Chicago Marathon.

As of Thursday afternoon, comments on the Daily Nation site ranged from conspiracy theories to sadness.

Wanjiru lives on an estate in the Rift Valley, which is home to most of Kenya's fastest runners.

Chicago Tribune file photo by Stacey Wescott

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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I have not always been big on new year's resolutions and have usually forgotten the few I have made by the end of January. But, last year, instead of giving up soda, a resolution I managed to keep for only three months, I decided to set a cycling mileage goal for the year.

According to my bike computer I had logged in the neighborhood of 3500 miles a year in past years but had not kept very good records. So, I figured 5000 miles for the year was an achievable goal, especially broken down into bite-sized pieces. I only had to average 416 miles per month or 13.6 miles per day, roughly my round-trip commute to work.

The key to sticking to my goal was to record my daily mileage on a calendar, focusing on staying ahead of weekly and monthly targets. I also found that picking a few long distance events and registering early was a good way to maintain focus.

I ended up hitting the 5000-mile mark in mid September while riding the Civil War Century. I have slacked off a bit since then but will have about 6300 miles for the year - by far, my biggest year ever.

So what's next?

Continue reading "Lofty goals for 2011" »

Posted by Jerry Jackson at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Bicycling, Running, Triathlon
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First of all, sorry for the darkness lately. With holidays and vacations, we've either been not around or extra busy. 

I am definitely planning to do some posts on New Year's resolutions, since fitness goals are usually included on many of our lists. Stay tuned for posts on joining a gym; gym alternatives; making realistic goals, and tips for keeping your resolutions once you've made them. You may have to wait until after Jan. 1 to read all of them, though!

In the meantime, here's some info on a New Year's Resolution Run in Patterson Park on Jan. 1. Don't worry, it's in the afternoon, so you can still stay up late on New Year's Eve!

Saturday, January 1, at 2 PM is the big day for the Resolution Run! Weather.gov is saying it will be partly sunny with a high of 53º, which sounds like fine weather to take in the landscape of Patterson Park!

Registration opens at 12:30 PM at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Hall at 2638 East Baltimore Street. If you've already registered, plan on getting your packets early at one of our Packet Pick-Up events (if you haven't, you can do so at Pick-Up):

Wednesday, December 29, 2010
12 PM - 5 PM at Falls Road Running Store
6247 Falls Road in Baltimore
410-296-5050

Thursday, December 30, 2010
12 PM - 5 PM at Earl's Place
1400 E. Lombard Street
410-522-0225

The race begins at 2:00 PM, and the chili, cornbread and homemade cookies will be ready for you after you've run or walked across the finish line. Even if you're not in the mood for chili, be there for the awarding of the trophies and random prizes. Plus, clients from Earl's Place will share their stories on where they've come from and where they're headed after coming to Earl's Place.

Trophies will be given to the top three male and female finishers, plus the top three male and female finishers in the following categories: 15 and under, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 and over. Plus, random prizes will be awarded at the post-race celebration!

Even if you don't need to make a New Year's Resolution to keep yourself in shape in 2011, convince one of your sedentary friends to take up the active lifestyle and join us running the road in 2011.

Bob Olsen
Founder
Baltimore Resolution Run

Posted by Anica Butler at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Running
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