baltimoresun.com

December 9, 2011

Oh dear. The Internet is upside-down again.

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 | | Comments (2)
        

October 21, 2011

We want to see your Komen pictures


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.

October 18, 2011

Video about Phil Anderson of Bel Air

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 | | Comments (0)
Categories: Running, Walking
        

October 4, 2011

International Walk to School Day is tomorrow

By Keshia Pollack and Alicia Samuels

On Wednesday, Baltimore schoolchildren will join students from around the world by participating in International Walk to School Day. Now in its 15th year, this global initiative aims not only to help keep students healthy but also to improve air quality (fewer motor vehicles, less pollution) and decrease traffic congestion (nationally, as much as 20 percent to 30 percent of morning traffic is generated by parents driving their children to school).

To many readers, walking to school may not seem like news. If you were born before 1960, almost half of your peers likely walked or biked to school. Currently, however, only 13 percent of children ages 5 to 14 do, meaning the vast majority are missing out on this daily opportunity for physical activity.

The reasons behind this are complicated, but urban planning is one important factor. Many of us now live in communities that were designed for driving at the expense of walking, and the distance from our homes to resources such as shops or schools is prohibitive. (The "neighborhood school" may be quite far from the neighborhood). Indeed, research shows that among children who do not usually walk to school, distance is the most common barrier, followed by traffic danger.

Continue reading "Walking to school: Steps toward health" >>

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 5:04 PM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Walking
        

September 16, 2011

Short walk!

Here’s a totally nonathletic, short, free walk for newbies, people up for a morning stroll at the Inner Harbor and anyone interested in a few tidbits about little-known services promoted by the state’s court system.

The District Court of Maryland Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and the Mediation and Conflict Resolution offices are holding a 3K walk around the Baltimore Inner Harbor on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m.- noon.

Info tables will spotlight groups that offer conflict resolution services for families, schools, neighborhoods and more – think mediation, community conferences, conflict coaching.

Chief Judge Robert M. Bell of the Court of Appeals will make opening remarks. The walk goes to the Pier 5 Lighthouse and back to Rash Field, and includes a scavenger hunt with prizes.

Register today and you'll get a free t-shirt and a tote bag that says: Walk for peace in our communities. They’ll also be available, first-come basis, on Walk Day. To register: click here.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 4:08 AM | | Comments (0)
        

July 29, 2011

Beacon Park: More connections, please

Today's story by Frank Roylance about Beacon Park plans contained an interesting nugget:

In focus groups and email and phone surveys, the consultants found that, overwhelmingly, their target audience was looking for a "walkable" community with ample green space, a relaxing atmosphere with athletic opportunities, nighttime activity and a top-ranked school.

The biggest barrier for this audience was crime. Sixty-nine percent of those who rejected the location cited "risk and safety" as the reason.

The consultants also concluded that the new community needed a "story" or "theme." After more research they determined that the theme that most appealed to the Hopkins community and the broader Baltimore residents surveyed was "wellness."

Full story

I like the idea of a health theme, but I have to cringe a bit at the idea of yet another walking/jogging path that just doubles on itself, making any runner feel like a tiny space station that just goes round and round.

Continue reading "Beacon Park: More connections, please" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:20 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Walking
        

June 13, 2011

Walking on flag day

Tomorrow is flag day, and Terry Mahoney, a Baltimore accountant, will be marking it in a very exertive way. From Mary Gail Hare's Sunday story on Mahoney's planned 18-mile hike:

The 41-year-old veteran, who served six years in the Marine Corps, is walking to raise awareness and funds for severely injured veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. All pledges to his effort will go to Sentinels of Freedom, a California-based organization that helps veterans who have survived devastating injuries get on the road to recovery.

Mahoney hopes to make that road smoother by endowing a $60,000 scholarship that will handle one veteran's expenses for about four years, allowing the soldier to attend school or a training program.

See the full article here.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:40 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Walking
        

June 9, 2011

On foot with Colin MacIndoe

Where he walks: Colin MacIndoe uses the Easton Rail-Trail, going 3 to 5 miles on most days

Age: 76

What he does: Retired from the Maryland State Police

Continue reading "On foot with Colin MacIndoe" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 3:07 PM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Walking
        

June 8, 2011

Conservancy to Cardin: Don't defund us, bro

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 | | Comments (0)
Categories: Bicycling, Outdoors, Politics, Running, Safety, Traffic, Walking, Washington
        

June 4, 2011

National Trails Day & reopening of Heart Smart Trail

A healthy outdoors option for Sunday, which just happens to be National Trails Day:

Walk the Heart Smart Trail at Gunpowder Falls State Park.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Franklin Square Hospital Center are scheduled to reopen it with festvities from 1 to 3 pm Sunday, according to a news release we received.

The walking path is one mille long.

Events include a ribbon cutting ceremony, health awareness activities, and raffles, prizes and outdoorsy fun. Pets are welcome.

And of course there are health benefits to taking a walk.

The action will be at the park's Sweathouse Branch Area, Belair Road / Route 1 in Kingsville.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 2:09 AM | | Comments (0)
        

May 23, 2011

Win a free towel: Tell us why Biking is so darned manly

How manly is cycling? Walking and cycling are struggled to grow as transportation options in America over the last 10 years, according to a Reuters article published this morning, with most of the growth occuring among men.

Some other groups have even reported losses, with a Rutgers researcher bemoaning the lack of participation among non-males and those without means.

From today's article:

Continue reading "Win a free towel: Tell us why Biking is so darned manly" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:57 AM | | Comments (6)
Categories: Bicycling, Outdoors, Safety, Traffic, Walking
        

April 15, 2011

Walking - but not too far

You're seeing all these 5Ks and up in listings everywhere, and you scroll past them because that's just too far to walk, much less run. But being a newbie or non-marathoner isn't a sign that you should plop back on the couch with a bag of chips.

Don't skip over the notices so fast. Plenty of these, especially the fund-raisers, have walks. Walks, jogs, strolls -- whatever you want to call them -- get you outdoors and moving. You're going at your own pace and at a distance that suits you better, typically up to a mile, and you'll have lots of company on your walk.

For example, on Saturday morning, the Baltimore State's Attorney's Office has a 5K run to raise money for an emergency fund for crime victims. But it also has a 1-mile walk. The event is in Patterson Park. Registration, $25, for the 9 a.m. event, opens at 7:30 at the Virginia S. Baker rec center.

In Annapolis, on May 21, the police department presents a one-miler to benefit Special Olympics Maryland. Registration is $25, but less for kids. Some entrants will do a 6-minute mile, but the program is geared to include walkers. You can take home an award even if you aren't the first to cross the finish line. They're promising to include awards for such non-athletic categories as best costume.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:00 AM | | Comments (2)
Categories: Events, Newbies, Outdoors, Walking, Weekend
        

March 29, 2011

Shooting near B&A trail

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 | | Comments (0)
Categories: Bicycling, Outdoors, Running, Safety, Walking, Weekend
        

March 21, 2011

Weekly walking/running roundup

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" »

March 16, 2011

On foot with Dave Barone

steve-mellott.jpgWhere 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 | | Comments (0)
Categories: Running, Walking, Weekend
        

March 11, 2011

Treadmill incline level?

Trying to work certain muscles a little more and burn more cals, I set the incline on the treadmill to 14. I walked briskly. My legs were a little sore after the first day, so I lowered the incline -- barely -- the second day.

Not that I took the hint from my legs. On Day 3, the incline was nice and high, and by the time I had walked 3 miles, I thought my shins would crumble. I lowered the ramp level to a slight incline, but of course it was too late, and I couldn't even think about the treadmill on Day 4. Regular walking during the day didn't bother me.

This was clearly a sign that the ramp was up too high. When I tried again a few days later, I
started at 14, then kept dropping the incline and felt fine. Obviously the message was that a little of incline level 14 was OK, but there is such a thing as too much of it.

Anyone else have that happen? And what did you do about it?



Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:54 AM | | Comments (1)
        

March 7, 2011

Weekly walking/running roundup

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 | | Comments (3)
        

February 28, 2011

Weekly walking/running roundup

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 | | Comments (0)
        

February 23, 2011

Enclosed walkways for working out: Hit and miss

Click to view full postA 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 | | Comments (0)
        

February 21, 2011

Walking/running roundup

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 | | Comments (5)
        

February 18, 2011

Product Review: Win a small tote for gym, sports

Go CaddyThis is me walking from car to gym: I dig into a jacket pocket and pull out my earbuds, and if I'm lucky, only a grocery receipt, pen and parking pass tangled in the wires fall out in the parking lot.

Walking the dog, I have so much stuff in my pockets and hands that I wish fanny packs would make a comeback.

So when the Go Caddy arrived in Exercists-land, I took this thin little lightweight tote with pockets and water bottle holder for a test run.

It's the creation of a Florida woman who found regular gym bags too big, but without one, she got her exercise bending down in her Y's parking lot to retrieve everything she dropped.

My take: It's roomy enough for my gym needs. With keys, tissues and cell phone inside, the rubber-backed microfiber squashes small enough to fit in the junk bin of the treadmill -- or, with water bottle, stand in it. A small towel will fit inside.

It's also good for a walking the dog. Multiple compartments let me organize plastic bags, letters, cell, etc. and sling it over my shoulder. That would probably translate to short easy hikes. I like the security of a Velcro-close pocket, though I could go for a zipper on the pouch. I don't need the key clip.

A nod to the water bottle sleeve -- removable so the inside of the bag doesn't stay damp and gross. It's about $20 at the Go Caddy site and other retailers including Amazon.com

We've all found special fitness and sports accessories that we've come to rely on. Tell us about yours and we'll toss your name in the Go Caddy for a chance to win it.

Continue reading "Product Review: Win a small tote for gym, sports" »

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (6)
        

February 17, 2011

On foot with Steve Mellott

steve-mellott.jpgWhere he walks: I ran into Steve Mellott walking with his Chocolate Lab on a stretch of the C&O Canal trail just south of Williamsport, near Hagerstown. He doesn't always stick to the same stretch; the area near Fort Frederick is his favorite.

Age: 46

What he does: Trucking, maintenance and repair work

Where he lives: Mellott has his home on Falling Waters Road, a rural area about a mile from the portion of the trail on which we were walking. The road roughly follows a westward bend of the Potomac River.

What's the routine? He tries to walk on the towpath every day.

Continue reading "On foot with Steve Mellott" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 1:47 PM | | Comments (0)
        

February 15, 2011

Weekly walking/running roundup

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 | | Comments (0)
        

February 12, 2011

Participant's perspective: Cupid's Chase 5K, Philadelphia

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 | | Comments (1)
        

February 7, 2011

Weekly walking/running roundup

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 | | Comments (0)
        

January 31, 2011

Weekly walking/running roundup

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 | | Comments (2)
        

January 29, 2011

More fun than blowing at windmills

In a nearly-dark room, a crowd of people perspire over their labors, feeding the metal machines around them. A taskmaster stands in front of the group, illuminated by a glowing screen that displays their collective output in watts, constantly egging them toward a more productive work session.

It's not a Fritz Lang dystopia or an Apple commercial: It's a Howard County spinning class on a Saturday morning, and the people seem to be enjoying it quite a bit, thank you.

We'll be publishing more details in a day or two, but for now, the basics are that the Columbia Athletic Club installed more than two dozen new bikes in November. Those bikes were then modified by a Connecticut company, which added generators to the mix, along with an inverter -- a file cabinet-sized device that allows the bikes to feed energy back into the public grid.

Continue reading "More fun than blowing at windmills" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 4:40 PM | | Comments (1)
        

January 28, 2011

Treadmills, ellipticals for home use rated

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 | | Comments (2)
        

January 27, 2011

Report: Strange lines help at trail crossings

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 | | Comments (0)
        

January 24, 2011

B&A repair update

The Baltimore and Annapolis Trail in Pasadena is likely to remain detoured for at least another 11 months. That makes me a bit sad, since I run on the trail every few weeks, but I'm pleased to have a timeline in hand.

Continue reading "B&A repair update" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 11:34 AM | | Comments (4)
Categories: Walking
        

Weekly walking/running roundup

What I’m doing: I have a 15-mile run scheduled on Saturday, but if I'm feeling good after that, I might check out one of the Sunday McDaniel runs.

What else I recommend: If I weren't in distance mode on Saturday, I would probably do the RASAC Fox 5k. I haven't been to a RASAC event yet (to my knowledge), and it looks like a nice, cheap, laid-back run.

Other options:

Weekdays - Weekday walking program in Glen Burnie,
Open track workouts, MCRRC weekday workouts, Annapolis Striders weekday morning runs, Monday runs in Federal Hill, Reston all-comers group run, Weekday runs at Goucher, PG Thursday runs, ESRC weekday runs, Wednesday pacemakers workouts

Saturday - High Cloud Snapple Half Marathon, RASAC Fox 5K, Howard County Striders bagel runs, John Lewis Memorial Run
10 Miler
, Frederick breakfast runs

Sunday - Sunday running at McDaniel, BAH3 Sunday run (caveat: A bit bawdy, by definition),


What did you do last weekend? Upload race photos here.



More events | Submit an event | About these roundups

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 8:29 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Walking
        

January 20, 2011

Trail crossings: Are safety gains worth a few trade-offs?

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 | | Comments (0)
        

December 17, 2010

Dump Your Plump

For the third year in a row, Fort Meade is rolling out Dump Your Plump after the holidays. A free exercise program of about eight weeks, it's got mandatory weigh-ins, is modeled on TV's "Biggest Loser" show, and has a fitness and wellness focus.

It's open to variety of people with a Ft. Meade connection, including contractors. While individuals can sign up, the focus is on the team approach. Nobody wants to be person dragging down the team down.

"You don't need so much internal motivation. You've got external motivation," Scott Myers, chief of community recreation, told me.

In its first year, the program had 112 participants. Last year, it had 260. And Myers said many more are expected to sign on for the January 2011 program.

Last year, the top four-person team, Fat Fire 4, dumped 123 lbs.

Myers said anyone trying to start a fitness program after the holiday binge or just starting up shouldn't jump-start it with weights that are too heavy and with tiring runs.

His tips:

1. Walk. Set a comfortable pace. Outdoors is nice, but don't use winter weather as an excuse to plop down on the couch. Indoors is fine -- gym, mall, wherever you're comfortable. 45 minutes a few times a week is an excellent start.

2. If you go to a gym, try recumbent bikes and cross-trainers. Swim. Low-impact exercises are good.

3. Don't feel pressured because the guy on the next treadmill runs at 6 mph. Go at your own pace.

4. Have a team, or group that you exercise with. It's more fun. And nobody wants to disappoint the team.

Information on Dump Your Plump: ftmeademwr.com



Posted by Andrea Siegel at 11:55 AM | | Comments (0)
        

December 6, 2010

Weekly walking/running roundup

What I’m doing: Not sure yet. I might head down to the Figgy Pudding race if time and budget allow.

Why: It's been months since I took part in a Baltimore race.

What else I recommend: The Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk for Arthritis also looks like a fun city event. A couple friends have also mentioned interest in the Anniversary Run.

Other options:
Daily Glen Burnie walking program, Annapolis walking ghost tour

Frederick Reindeer Rescue Run, 4th Annual Fells Point Figgy Pudding Race, NCR Trail Snails group run, Berlin Reindeer Run 5K & 1 Mile, HCI Santa Shuffle 5k Run/1 Mile Fun Walk

Westminster Sunday group run, Rockville Jingle Bell Jog 8K, Anniversary Run 15K, Baltimore Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk for Arthritis, Glen Echo Bread Run 10K, RASAC "Rocky" 5-miler, Legends of the Fall series (final event)

Monday run in Federal Hill

What did you do last weekend? Upload race photos here.



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Posted by Patrick Maynard at 1:45 PM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Events, Running, Walking, Weekend, Weekly roundups
        

December 1, 2010

Tops in fitness: Share your thoughts

Where's your go-to place for a long run? What's the area's best-equipped gym, most accessible swimming facility, hottest new exercise class?

We're hoping that over the next 10 weeks, you can help us figure out the answers to those questions and more. 

Next week, we'll launch 10 weeks of fitness Top 10s. We'll list a topic, take your suggestions, add some ideas of our own, and compile them into lists. 

We're tentatively thinking of listing places for running, biking swimming and doing yoga. But we're also considering top recreation sports (and leagues), places to hike, best non-traditional fitness, best classes.

If you're got some ideas for a top 10, or if there's anything you'd like to see, let us know! 

Posted by Anica Butler at 8:00 AM | | Comments (2)
        

November 29, 2010

Weekly walking/running roundup

What I’m doing: After a week of on-again-off-again cross training, I'll probably start running a bit on Saturday, most likely joining friends in Anne Arundel County for a short piece of their longer route.

Why: It's generally a good idea to recover slowly from a marathon -- Philadelphia, in this case. Additionally, I have to return some Thanksgiving Tupperware down in that direction.

What else I recommend: There are jingle bell runs throughout the country, but very few of them are in places as well-suited as Ellicott City, which looks like it could easily host Santa's workshop. If you go to their Jingle Bell 5K, be careful: Part of what makes the downtown picturesque is its location in a valley, and that means lots of hills are almost a certainty.

Other options:

Glen Burnie daily walking program, Annapolis ghost walk, PRR all-comers group runs

Family nature walk, Frozen Slopes Cross Country, BYRON 15k Mountain Run, BYRON 15k Mountain Run, Ellicott Jingle Bell 5K, Reindeer Run, Santa Shuffle 5K, http://athlinks.com/CalendarItem.aspx?centryid=147810">Gar Williams Half Marathon, Wright Stuff 5K Fun Run & Walk, RASAC Long Distance Run, Southern High School Bulldog 5K Run and 1 mi Walk, Frozen Foot 50K, Share the Holiday Spirit 5K Run/Walk In Memory of Laura Gondeck, NCR Trail Snails Saturday Group Run, Solomons Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis 5K

Master's 6-miler and Holiday Social, Legends of the Fall #6, Sunday Morning Group Runs, Dancer Dash 10K, RASAC Charity 5K, Iron Fitness 140.6 min indoor triathlon

What did you do last weekend? Upload race photos here.



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Posted by Patrick Maynard at 12:35 PM | | Comments (1)
Categories: Events, Running, Walking, Weekend, Weekly roundups
        

November 15, 2010

Weekly walking/running roundup

What I’m doing: I'll be picking up my Philadelphia Marathon packet on Saturday, then running the race on Sunday.

Why: Thanks to the Philly's proximity -- along with my wife's willingness to drive for a day trip on Sunday and a $3.50 round-trip ticket on megabus for Saturday -- I won't have to get a hotel room. That makes this race a pretty good deal, if you're considering it for next year. (This year's event is sold out.)

What else I recommend: My coworkers have been raving about the JFK 50 for weeks now. The Battle of the Potomac also caught my eye.

Other options:

Tidal Basin 3K & 1500m

2nd Annual Heather L. Hurd 5K Walk/Run, St. Jude's Give Thanks. Walk., Fells Point PubWalk, Run Under the Lights 5K, Lights on the Bay 5k Fun Run, Stone Mill 50-mile, Mount Vernon GhostWalk, Howard County General Hospital Dazzle Dash (run), Bita's Run 5K, Rampace 5K, Bobbi Jo Memorial Turkey Chase 5K, RASAC Gunpowder 50K, One World Run a 5K to benefit Project AIDS Orphan, Toys for Tots Turkey Trot, Battle of the Potomac XC Championship

Legends of the Fall 2M/10K/15K, Cold Turkey 10K, JFK 50 Mile, Flying Feet Burk Memorial 5K, Stone Mill 50 Mile Run, Howard County General Hospital Dazzle Dash (walk), King of the Road 5K, Wounded Warrior 5K Run/Walk,

Daily walking program, Annapolis Ghost Tour

What did you do last weekend? Upload race photos here.



More events | Submit an event

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 2:37 PM | | Comments (1)
Categories: Events, Running, Walking, Weekend, Weekly roundups
        

November 12, 2010

Not 10,000 steps

And the number of steps I took the other day was ... a disappointing 6,821. The goal, experts say, is 10,000. Obviously my regular activities aren't enough. This was a wake-up that I need to get moving, especially on the days I don't get the to the gym.

I don't make it to the gym every day, and I didn't on this day. A couple miles on the treadmill would have pushed me over 10,000.

Now, that was on one pedometer. It was my Rice Krispies clip-on one. And it was uncomfortable enough.

I'm going to try this again, taking the steps instead of the elevator and doing other easy things to increase the number of steps.

I'll use the pedometer periodically to see if the number goes up.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:26 AM | | Comments (3)
Categories: Newbies, Walking
        

November 8, 2010

A week after election, Maryland walking issues remain

badbridge.jpg

James T. Smith started the rebuilding of this pedestrian bridge in Baltimore County. It will now be up to Kevin Kamenetz to finish it.
Baltimore Sun photo by Lloyd Fox.

Last week's gubernatorial election results will influence a bunch of well-documented transportation issues, including construction of the red and purple lines and the completion of the ICC. Michael Dresser wrote about the transit part of that last week, and he covered the ICC topic in today's paper.

On a more local level, here are a few projects that are likely to be influenced by election results:

Continue reading "A week after election, Maryland walking issues remain" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 11:01 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Bicycling, Politics, Running, Walking
        

November 5, 2010

Walk. And count your steps to fitness.

Walking is a key to good health, fitness, losing weight, staying limber, you name it. The perfect exercise and you don't even need fancy equipment to do it.

We're always told we don't walk enough. What's enough? Experts say that's 10,000 steps a day.

But who's counting?

Next week, I am. It's time to find out how much I do walk and how many more steps I ought to be taking.

One day next week -- maybe two, if I remember -- I'm going to put on two pedometers to count my steps. Mind you, mine are not the snazzy ones with GPS, a stopwatch and all that. Mine were freebies. One fell out of a Rice Krispies box. The other was from a health fair, or maybe a county fair.

We'll see what they say. I'll probably be in the category of stragglers. Check out this study, which says most Americans are thousands of steps behind people in many other countries.


Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (4)
Categories: Walking
        

November 2, 2010

Regular exercise, fewer colds

common_cold.jpg I can't remember the last time I called in sick. In fifteen years at the Baltimore Sun, I am sure I have used fewer than ten of my allotted sick days.

A study published this week in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that my penchant for exercise may have a lot to do with me making it to work on a daily basis.

Dr. David Nieman, a professor in the College of Health Sciences at Appalachian State University, says, "Exercise is probably the most powerful thing you can do to reduce your sick days this winter.”

According to a news release from ASU, Nieman and his colleagues have spent more than 20 years studying the effects of exercise, diet, weight, gender and education levels on one's health. Regular exercise was shown to have the greatest influence.

A brisk walk for 30 to 45 minutes a day increases the number of immune system cells that circulate in the body, Nieman said. Although these levels decline within a few hours, each bout of exercise is likely to enhance surveillance of harmful viruses and bacteria, and reduce the number and severity of upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold.

 

Posted by Jerry Jackson at 7:46 PM | | Comments (5)
Categories: Bicycling, Media, Running, Swimming, Walking
        

November 1, 2010

Give Angela some IT band advice

knee.jpg

IT band issues usually come in the form of knee pain. You don't have to be a professional athlete to run into the problem, though lots of intervals and track work are often cited as contributing factors. (AP photo by Michael Probst)

Kelly Barten, a community blogger at RunOregon, recently had a reader with an issue that may sound familiar:

Listen IT Band, if you want my children and husband to survive, I suggest you heal up FAST! I rested last week but couldn't pass up running a few miles (six, okay?!) to watch the Portland Marathon on Sunday.

I don't have a husband or kids, but my wife and pets expressed a good bit of incredulity a few weeks back, when I was regularly using foam rollers, packing ice on my knees, doing strange stretches and walking backward down stairs.

Continue reading "Give Angela some IT band advice" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 2:30 PM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Injuries, Running, Walking
        

Weekly walking/running roundup

What I’m doing: I'll be spending Saturday morning churning out the longest of my pre-Philadelphia runs. This will likely be followed by a painful Sunday with as little movement as possible.

Why: With Philadelphia coming up on the 21st, it's time to start tapering down.

What I recommend for others: I really enjoyed last year's Down's Park 5 Miler, as it's a perfect way to view the changing leaves near Gibson Island. I was a big Joe Shafran fan when I worked in Annapolis, so if I feel inclined to get up on Sunday, I'll probably go talk to people at the Joggin' Joe Memorial 5K.

Other options:
Tuerk House Annual 5K/1 Mile Walk, Down's Park 5 Miler , Frizzellburg 3-mi XC @9AM, Feronia Funrunium, 5-Mile Trail Run for Healthier Babies, Cardinal 5K, MCCA-Colombo 5K, Jug Bay 5K/10K for Wildlife and 3K Fun Walk, Be True to Your School 5K, RASAC distance training run, 10th Annual Step-by-Step 5K, One Step Closer Autism Walk

Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 1:13 PM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Events, Running, Walking, Weekend, Weekly roundups
        

An interesting corollary to the 3-foot rule

As cyclists gain clout, one commenter notes that new laws go both ways. (2009 Baltimore Sun photo by Lloyd Fox)

Today's paper had a nice Mike Dresser piece on bad bike behavior. It described the usual standouts -- ignoring signs/lights, hopping up on sidewalks, etc.,. -- but what really caught my eye was an interesting entry in the comments section. Here's what it said:

I have checked with the county police on the 3 foot buffer law and - as all traffic lasw do - it applies to the cyclists as well. How many of you cyclists have squeezed yourselves along a row of cars to be first in a line? That is a violation of the law. How many of you have skirted through red lights? Ran stop signs? turned right on red? I think Mr. Dresser is kidding himself if he thinks only a handful of cyclists are bad eggs. (Bold was swapped for caps -PM)

Continue reading "An interesting corollary to the 3-foot rule" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:30 AM | | Comments (1)
        

October 27, 2010

Loch Raven trail access meeting

loch-raven-biking.jpgMountain biking in the Loch Raven watershed has become a hot button issue again with reports that rangers have begun enforcing a 1998 plan restricting access to the single track trails.

MORE (Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts) will hold an informational meeting Thursday night at 7 P.M. at the Timonium Fairgrounds in the Fasig-Tipton building.

All trail users, bikers, hikers, runners, bird watchers, and fishermen are invited to attend.

Posted by Jerry Jackson at 11:00 AM | | Comments (3)
        

October 25, 2010

Weekly walking/running roundup

What I’m doing: Checking out the Marine Corps Marathon (as a spectator).

Why: While the Suntrust National Marathon is growing, it's a spring race, and the Marine Corps event is what my running buddies all get excited about.

What else I recommend: I'm very curious about the Fire on the Mountain 50K. If it weren't for family being in town, I would almost be tempted to take a trip to Allegany County.

Other options:

Teach, Learn, Play 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run, Miles for Megan 5K and Family Fun Walk, Fire on the Mountain 50K, Seaside 10, Turkey Trot training, KidsPeace 5K run and 1 mile walk , The Calverton School 2nd Annual 5K Halloween Run, Ghost Runners 5k - Walkersville, MD, Big Vanilla 5k for St. Judes, Headless Horseman 5K/1K, Mustang 5K Stampede and Scream & 1 Mile Zombie Walk, Baltimore Crossroads Cross Country Challenge, RASAC Run to Mamma, Pumpkin Pursuit 5K, Kemptown Elementary Fall Festival 5K, Halloweeny Fat Ass Ultra
at Spookhill
, Union City Grill Halloween 5K, Field of Screams 5K Run/Walk, Teach Learn Play 5K, Monster Dash, St. Michael's School 5K Fun Run & 1.5 mile Walk

Susie's Cause 5K Run and Family Walk, Middletown High School Field Hockey Team 5K Run / Walk, Seawitch Fall 5k Classic & 1 Mile Walk, Harford Community College Ecology 5K & 1 mile walk

Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 3:37 PM | | Comments (1)
Categories: National Marathon, Running, Walking, Weekend, Weekly roundups
        

Other choices for 2011

cinci.jpg

Cincinnati will be one of several spring options for runners who were shut out of Boston. (AP Photo)

After Boston filled up in just over 3 hours last week, a lot of people are looking for spring alternatives.

Since I met my wife in Wood County, Ohio -- and since my original home state of Michigan lacks any large spring races of more than 20 miles -- I thought I'd take a shot at Toledo's Glass City Marathon. While a date conflict made that impossible, Ohio thankfully has two other big options in the spring: Cincinnati's Flying Pig takes off in early May, followed by the Cleveland Marathon on the weekend of the 15th. Here are some other prominent spring options around the country:

Continue reading "Other choices for 2011" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:01 AM | | Comments (6)
Categories: National Marathon, Running, Walking, Weekend
        

October 19, 2010

Foraging workshop

One of the things I love most about my on-again-off-again pattern of walking to work is that during certain mid-summer weeks, mulberries along the Jones Falls Trail make eating dinner almost an afterthought. On the downside, I usually have to remember to call my wife after a few trees, since these grazing sessions often make me late by 10-15 minutes. (Mulberries don't necessarily have to be eaten on-site, being more versatile than many people think: See this archived article.)

In a nod to that style of eating, a local park is hosting a Baltimore foraging workshop, according to B'More Green. From their blog post:

Leda Meredith, author of "The Locavore's Handbook: The Busy Person's Guide to Eating Local on a Budget," will conduct an urban foraging tour of Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park on Thursday. She will teach participants to identify edible plants that grow in urban areas and provide some samples of foods made with wild ingredients.

Read the rest of the B'More Green post here >>

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 8:31 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Walking
        

October 18, 2010

On dozing with Miss Darby

While finishing the weekly event update a few hours ago, I noticed that one of these things was not like the others.

Doze with Miss Darby is one of a few "non-races" I've seen in the last decade, and while I don't generally like non-event events, I'm a sucker for alliteration: The name ultimately caused me to move the event into the "evil genius" category of my personal taxonomy. (It doesn't take much to please me.)

My preferences aside, do you think the organizers will get much of a not-really-responding response, as it were? In your opinion, is this just lazy fundraising all around, or is it a respectable way to gain a bigger audience? I'm curious about how people feel on this.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 4:23 PM | | Comments (2)
Categories: Events, Walking, Weekend, Weekly roundups
        

Weekly walking/running roundup

What I’m doing: Probably catching up with some buddies in Anne Arundel County. Maybe interviewing people at a race on Sunday.

Why: Last weekend was the running festival, and next weekend will be the Marine Corps Marathon, so this weekend is the best week to take things easy and meet for a relaxed Saturday run/brunch.

What else I recommend: If you just ran the marathon or half-marathon, I recommend not racing at all. Assuming that's not the case, I like the student-public-hybrid nature of the Raven Classic Cross Country 5K (in list below). I would also be interested in how the Goddard Running and Orienteering Club Fall 10K turns out, especially for anyone using it as an offbeat tune-up for the Marine Corps 10K. For a Friday option, there's the MPRC 5K Walk/Run.

Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Now the recovery begins

recovery187.jpgPreparing for a race distance that's sometimes blamed for deaths can be tough, but what comes after the race is almost as important. Once the celebrations have died down, runners have to figure out a way to reconcile their previous training with whatever comes next.

Thankfully, a blog hosted by our sister paper in Chicago has gone over some options for recovering from the conveniently timed marathon in that city. Most of it can apply equally to recovery from the Under Armour Baltimore Marathon (more coverage here). Here's what they've posted:

>> Immediate recovery

>> Recovery: Day 2

>> Recovery: Weeks 2-16

I wish I had followed this advice more thoroughly after last year's marathon. By not cross-training, I risked injury, but just as importantly, I stopped enjoying what I was doing for a period of a few months. Sometimes a controlled deviation into other interests can be a good thing, especially if you've just had a huge dose of one thing.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 8:35 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Running, Walking, Weekend
        

October 14, 2010

Does exercise keep walkers' brains from shrinking?

walkerguy600.jpg
Baltimore Sun file photo

Walking regularly may help to delay memory loss, according to an article in today's Guardian that cites newly published American research done in Pittsburgh. (Got that?)

Continue reading "Does exercise keep walkers' brains from shrinking?" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 8:36 AM | | Comments (1)
Categories: Walking
        

October 12, 2010

Discussions on crime

Andrea wrote Monday evening about a walker on the B&A trail who was robbed late at night. (A suspect has been caught.)

It was interesting to compare the comments on that story with the thoughts Exercist readers expressed regarding after-dark runs.

To be honest, I found the comments more similar than I had expected. As the person who staffed our old comment-approval system before it was upgraded, I generally find blog comments to be both more positive and more thoughtful than comments on the newspaper site at large. That doesn't seem to be the case here, as I was happy to see productive dialogue in both places.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:28 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Bicycling, Running, Safety, Walking
        

October 11, 2010

About the weekly roundups

By default, I make an effort to list all advertised, Maryland-based running and walking events that are open to the general public within a given week, usually posting most listings on Mondays.


How to submit an event

If you want to highlight a race outside of Maryland (or just want to make sure your race is included), please use the red "Submit an event" link below AFTER reading the rest of this paragraph. To be included on my lists, the submission must be made at least two weeks before the event, and it must include at least one of the following words/phrases in the title field: "5K," "10K," "mile," "miler," "run," "walk" or "race."

Upload race photos | Submit an event

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 11:27 AM | | Comments (0)
        

Google's transit-friendly buttons


View Larger Map

For me, one of the most pleasant surprises online within the last year was Google’s expansion of pedestrian-friendly options.

Offering transit information to a handful of cities for years, Google’s mapping service wasn’t doing a terrible job before. But with the full implementation of the biking and walking buttons, Google has recently created something that is useful not only for finding a bus or train, but for actually getting to a destination once the vehicle stops. As a bonus, it’s not as creepy as Street View.

The pedestrian service seems to recognize “recreational” options pretty well too. I only had to do a couple tweaks to get a recent run mapped onto the gorgeous Gwynns Falls Trail. I’ve been less impressed with the bike tool, which until recently was missing a couple of local bike lanes. To their credit, Google’s staffers did a good job of correcting the error quickly when it was mentioned, but the incident makes me wonder what other routes might be missing, either from this tool or the transit options. As another example, a recent attempt at a simple, station-to-station light rail trip resulted in frustration, with Google continually trying to route me via bus.

How has your experience been with these tools? Does Google generally act reasonable and give good bike directions? Is it cranky about recognizing your favorite walking route? The opposite?

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 6:46 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Bicycling, Walking
        

October 6, 2010

Happy Walk to School Day

BS%20md-walk-school-hairston-.jpg

Left to right, Hannah Rhea, 9, 4th grade, (obscured) Ellie Rhea, 7, 2nd grade, Caroline Zappas, 9, 4th grade, Clifton Rhea, and Amelia Rhea, 5, kindergarten, walk to Stoneleigh Elementary School during International Walk to School Week.


I can't claim to have walked to school recently, as I have no children, but I've been occasionally biking/running/walking to work. (There will be some how-to posts on those topics in the future.) Did anyone take part in today's international event? How did it go? Any surprises?

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 7:26 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Walking
        

October 4, 2010

Weekly walking/running roundup

What I'm doing: Going down as a spectator to check out Bita's Run for Wellness.

Why: Everything I've seen leads me to believe it is a well-organized event that's likely to attract a big, interesting crowd.

What else I recommend: Vibrant Life 5K in Hagerstown, Little Bennett's Revenge in Derwood, Berg-Man Triathlon in South Germantown.

Other options: Celebrate Your Style 5K, Bowie Run for a Cause 5K, Marian House 5K run, Walk and Talk, SMHS Run for the Bathroom 8K, Race for the Ribbon 5K, Crop 5K, IMA World Health 5K Run/Walk for Haiti, Autumn Glory 5K Run & 2 Mile Walk, Arundel 5K and fun run/walk, Pink Ribbon 5K, Clemens Crossing Cougarthon 5K fun run, IOCC 5K Run/Walk, Riverfest 5K Run & 2 Mile Walk, Caribbean Sounds 5K Walk/Run 10K Race, Lightning Running Club YOUTH Cross Country 4K/3K/2K/1K, Ellen's Run 5K, 4 mile 5 hill run Legends of the Fall #3, Lower Potomac River Ten-Mile Run, Renie Amoss 5K Memorial Run/Walk, Dimes for Lyme's 5K & 1-mi

(Added later: 10.10.10 run)

What are you thinking about doing this weekend? Leave a comment, or upload last weekend's race photos here.

About this list: By default, I make an effort to list all advertised, publicly accessible Maryland running and walking events within the next week. If you want to highlight a race outside of Maryland (or just want to make sure your race is included), please send me an e-mail with the subject line “Race listings.” The message must include a direct link to your race’s webpage, and it must be submitted at least two weeks before the event.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 3:33 PM | | Comments (0)
        

A reminder to stay safe

AP photoThe News-Tribune in Tacoma today has a nice Q&A about walking on roads without sidewalks. In brief synopsis: If your mom taught you to face traffic, she was absolutely right. Walking on the left side of the road allows you to see oncoming vehicles, and it makes you more prominent in drivers' fields of view, since your face is more likely to be visible. Wearing light colors and walking with a partner are also likely to get drivers' attention. Indeed, visibility played a key role in yesterday's fatal pedestrian accident, though that death appears to have involved a road-crossing as well.
Posted by Patrick Maynard at 8:41 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Bicycling, Running, Safety, Traffic, Walking
        

October 3, 2010

Participant's perspective: Falls Road 15K

Any time an event involves Druid Hill Park's meandering back roads, there's bound to be some worry about navigation. The organizers of today's Falls Road 15K, in which I ran, took this into account: While the pre-race instructions were a little bit scary, those instructions got us thinking about directions, and the course was full of people pointing us along the way.

Continue reading "Participant's perspective: Falls Road 15K" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 12:50 PM | | Comments (1)
Categories: City of Baltimore, Events, Running, Walking, Weekend
        

October 1, 2010

Weekend Workouts: What do you have planned?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's looking forward to somewhat drier weather this weekend. So, with a gorgeous fall forecast, at least for Saturday, what do you have planned?

Are you riding in the Tour du Port? Running the Fall's Road 15k? Taking a hike with the family? Komen Race for the Cure? Something else? 

 

Posted by Anica Butler at 12:38 PM | | Comments (3)
        

September 30, 2010

Run or walk on the ICC

Mike Dresser over at the Getting There blog has written about a 5k run/walk that will be held Oct. 17 on the Intercounty Connector.

The event will be a fundraiser for Special Olympics Maryland.

Check out Mike's post for more information.

Posted by Anica Butler at 3:30 PM | | Comments (0)
        

September 27, 2010

Baltimore ranks 15th on best-for-walkers list

... but Portland, which is famous specifically for walkability, came in at number nine. That means I treat this compilation with even more skepticism than the healthy dose usually allotted for this type of ranking. (Laura Vozzella writes a bit more about the frequently shaky nature of these lists in this classic post.)

See some perspective from our sister papers in L.A. and Chicago (ranked 13th and 5th, respectively) here. Full results here.

What do you think they got right? What was off-target? Leave a comment.


Posted by Patrick Maynard at 4:42 PM | | Comments (2)
Categories: City of Baltimore, Media, Walking
        

Weekly running/walking roundup

What I’m doing: Falls Road 15K on Sunday, October 3. Why: As the Philadelphia Marathon approaches, I’m moving toward longer races. This will be a good tuneup. It could serve the same purpose for those planning to run in the Baltimore Distance Festival. What else I recommend: The Great Allegany Run looks interesting, as does the Rocky Gap Adventure Race. That said, I’ve never been to either one. More options: Memory Walk Harford County, Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes, Gunston Centennial 5K Run/Walk, Great Allegany Run 15K & 5K, BAFC 5K run and 2 mile walk, Becca’s Run, Race to End Violence 5K, GBIA 5K, Rocky Gap Adventure Race, Run for Autism, Dragon Dash 5K and mile walk, Odenton Day 5K, Bobcat Invitational 3-mile, Eagle 5K Run, Osprey Sprint Triathlon, Ridgeway ES Digital Dash 5K RASAC Ma and Pa Run (6K-15K), Donna Brashears 10K and 5K, Falls Road 15K, CBTF Superhero 5K run/walk, Charm City Run Kids XC series, Holy Child Tiger Trot 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run, NCR Half Marathon, Annapolis Striders Metric, Marathon, Komen 5K, Gulf Coast Relief 5K, Home Run 10K and 5K

About this list: By default, I make an effort to list all advertised, publicly accessible Maryland running and walking events within the next week. If you want to highlight a race outside of Maryland (or just want to make sure your race is included), please send me an e-mail with the subject line “Race listings.” The message must include a direct link to your race’s webpage, and it must be submitted at least two weeks before the event.

 

 

 

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 3:27 PM | | Comments (2)
        

Walking event starting in an hour

This morning's print edition of the paper included this piece by Andrea Walker, discussing a city campaign for healthier living. Ray Rice is among those helping with the effort.

For those who are interested, the kickoff event starts in about an hour at hour, with the mayor guiding a walk from City Hall to the Harborplace Amphitheater.

To read more about the event and surrounding Healthy City Days initiative, check out the full article.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 11:30 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: City of Baltimore, Politics, Walking
        

A rather pedestrian debut

I’m Patrick Maynard, and I’ll be writing about running and walking for this blog. At 501 N. Calvert Street, I twiddle knobs and switches on the Baltimore Sun’s cluster of related sites. While I have writing experience with other papers and have written a few briefs and short pieces for the Sun, I’ve mainly been a tech and presentation guy during my time here.

I enjoy racing occasionally, but I’m no Maurice Pointer, so if you have a favorite hike, race or other on-foot topic to rave about, there’s a good chance that it’s new and interesting to me: Send me a note about it, or leave a comment. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 8:55 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Introductions, Running, Technology, Walking, Working
        
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About Exercists
Andrea Siegel, a reporter at The Baltimore Sun, covers mostly crime and courts in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, as well as legal issues. She wishes she was more physically fit, and, as she's more fond of chocolate than exercise, fitness is a challenge. Her partner on a one-mile-plus daily walk is the family dog, a mixed breed named Moxie, and she exercises at the gym where the D.C. snipers once worked out.
Jerry Jackson has been a photo editor at The Baltimore Sun for 14 years and an avid cyclist for more than 30 years. Inspired by the movie "Breaking Away," he started racing as a teenager in Mississippi when leather "brain baskets" were still the norm. He regularly commutes to work by bike and still enters several mountain bike races a year for fun.
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Patrick Maynard, who will be writing about running and walking, has been a producer for baltimoresun.com since 2008. In 2009, he tweeted on-course for the Sun from the Baltimore Marathon, finishing in just under 4 hours and almost managing to run the whole time. He sometimes walks to the Sun offices on Calvert Street.
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Leeann Adams, a multimedia editor at The Baltimore Sun, also dabbles in content for the mobile website and iPhone app and covers the Ravens via video. She did a triathlon to celebrate her 40th birthday and continues to swim, bike and run -- none of them quickly, though. Her biggest fitness challenge is to balance working, working out, spending time with her husband and being a mom to a 6-year-old boy.
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Anica Butler, the Sun's crime editor, is a former high school runner and recovering vegetarian who spent more of her early-adult years on a bar stool than working out. She is currently training (though poorly) for a half marathon and is trying to live a generally healthier lifestyle. She also hates the gym.
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