Marathon and crime
My article on crime along the marathon route has brought two nice e-mails from readers who made a valid point that I missed -- many people run not despite the route going through some depressed neighborhoods, but because they go through some depressed neighborhoods.
I found these comments refreshing. I know the marathon planners try to avoid the most dangerous pockets of the city but that's next to impossible while planning a 26.2 mile trail. I think people in these neighborhoods need to be include in more such events.
Here are the nice e-mails:
Tomorrow marks the 8th time I will run the full Baltimore Marathon and I feel you missed an important part of why Baltimoreans run this race. It is BECAUSE it runs through the challenged neighborhoods of this city, not despite it. There is nothing more inspirational than receiving a high five from a youngster who feels privileged to have us running through his or her block. They thank us for running – we thank them for sticking it out and helping to return Baltimore to greatness. Your article made it sound like running through these neighborhoods was a necessary evil. To me it is what makes it so special. I was born in New York, lived in Chicago for 12 years, and moved to Baltimore in 1996. It was not until I ran the inaugural Baltimore Marathon in 2001 that I felt I could call myself a Baltimorean. And as long as we run through ALL of the neighborhoods of Baltimore, not just the Inner Harbor, I will continue to run the Baltimore Marathon.
David Koch
Nice article-I’m running on Saturday, and I’m glad that visitors (and locals) will have to see all of our city, not just the “destinations”. It’s easy for people out of town and out of the city to forget that families make their lives in these neighborhoods, and I hope they get that when they travel through during the race.
I also have to say that over the last six weeks I’ve been training, I’ve made the run up and down McCulloh, Washington, and Madison (and 33rd and Eutaw and St. Paul) numerous times by myself at various times of day, and that no one has ever given me the least bit of guff. In fact, I’ve gotten more encouragement and “good mornings” on McCulloh St than I ever do downtown or in Charles Village.
Categories: Confronting crime, East Baltimore
Comments
Great comments. Yes, it is the Baltimore Marathon and to include all neighborhoods is the way to go.
Posted by: ruth | October 9, 2009 10:07 AM
I agree with bmorereader, who commented on the column itself. I love the fact that the course embraces all parts of the city (although personally I'd appreciate a detour around a few of those hills!)
As the second letter writer noted, hopefully it introduces some runners to parts of town they might not normally travel through --- and demonstrates that REAL people do live in these neighborhoods and care about their communities.
Posted by: Liz Kay | October 9, 2009 10:50 AM
Oh wow...how inspiring!! I would love to be a runner :) I have spent my life as a competitive swimmer and would really like to start racing some how again. I am so afraid that I am just too out of shape these days and that I will end up so sore that I won't follow through...ug. I do love my Topricin pain cream though and maybe since it works so well for my sore muscles I could just stock up on it and get moving. My goal is to run in a Marathong...awesome! Thanks :)
Posted by: smilinggreenmom | October 10, 2009 8:41 AM
I enjoyed running through the different areas of Baltimore. The children & residents in some of the boarded up areas were very supportive, although I must admit that I was expecting the characters from the Wire to step out at any moment. I think it's nice that Baltimore embraces all of its parts. DC makes a point of ensuring that all runs only go through the most pristine areas of the city, even though there are plenty of neighborhoods with serious blight within a rock's throw of the Nation's Captiol and the White House.
Posted by: Tina | October 10, 2009 6:55 PM
I ran in the half marathon yesterday, and I thought it was great to see all different parts of the city. The support in all the areas, but especially in the more depressed areas, was GREAT - I got hundreds of high fives from children and encouraging words from everyone. There were locals at every intersection cheering us on. It was very inspiring, and I think it is important to see all sides of a city. I am from Massachusetts, and the time I have spent in Baltimore prior to this weekend was only visiting JHU and the Inner Harbor, so I was happy to run through so many different parts of the city. It was wonderful to see people living in ALL parts of the city supporting all the runners, and we really appreciated it! I think it made the run special, and I definitely want to come back and run in Baltimore again!
Posted by: Jess | October 11, 2009 8:02 PM