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Running writer endorses walking bill
Sunday permits become obstacle to road races
By JOE SHAFRAN
Two years ago, I wrote in this column that we runners lost a good bet when the Maryland General Assembly voted to make walking the state exercise. The bill passed both houses of the Assembly but was vetoed by the then governor, calling it “silly”. The sponsor of that legislation,Delegate William Bronrot, (D-16) of Montgomery County, submitted the bill again this session with cosponsors. This time, he asked if I would not consider testifying for the bill, HB1311. Long story short, I did testify last week before the Committee On Health and Government Operations, many of whose members seemed a bit surprised that a running columnist would endorse a walking bill. But I informed them that for a few months before I took up running long ago, I was a walker. There were no objections I am told that Governor O’Malley has announced he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk. As an aside, in preparing for my testimony, I was warned that the Committee is made up of all lawyers and that I might be “ worked over”. I am pleased to report that I was not “ worked over” and unless Robert Costa the Delegate from South Anne Arundel County and a committee member is a lawyer and I don’t know of it, he is also a career county firefighter, whom I expected any moment to jump out of his seat to go fight a fire.
Speaking of Governor O’Malley, I recall, a few years ago, when as Mayor of Baltimore, a group of runners came to him with the idea of reviving a marathon for Baltimore on a Sunday morning. His answer was ”no”, not on Sunday, what with the church services and the Raven games, but suggested it be on a Saturday and said that he would personally go door-to-door to sell the skeptical downtown merchants and others on the idea, which he did. And the rest is history. Now called a festival, the Saturday morning event draws thousands of runners and spectators each fall and generates millions of dollars in revenue.
This brings up a growing problem here in Anne Arundel County on the permitting process for Sunday races, even without Raven games. You might recall that last year the Striders had to cancel their long-held Sunday Metric Marathon when the State refused them a permit for the use of a portion of a state road. Then last September, there was a public outcry over traffic and other problems caused by the inaugural Annapolis Triathlon , the fallout of which is still being felt, according to Erik Robey, the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Anne Arundel County whose office has final say on permits for races and being felt also by the group trying to finalize a permit for the Sunday, June 1 Zooma half- marathon in Annapolis. The brochure for the race has it starting at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium , routed to the B&A trail, but the problem seems to be the use of public roadways to and from the Stadium on a Sunday.Having been turned down, the race promoters say they are filing a revised permit. Close to 800 runners are already signed up for that race.
While I didn’t get comments by going to door-to-door as Martin O’Malley did as Mayor, I did get some merchant reaction to the local problem, one in particular on permitting from Andre’ Williams, who is a partner in the Gotta Run stores, here in downtown Annapolis and at Pentagon Row in Arlington, a place where there are also quite a few running events. Williams says he welcomes Sunday running events in both locales saying it is good for business, in downtown locations especially, but that attention must be given to establishing uniform area-wide standards that will help in the permitting process.
The family of the late Ben Moore has announced that the memorial service for Ben will be 10 A.M. Thursday March 6 at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel to be followed by a service at the Academy Columbarium.
It appears one of Ben Moore’s legacies, Moore’s Marines, the training for the Marine Marathon in Washington and Arlington in the fall, will continue both as a Strider effort and also through the sessions each Saturday morning conducted by Ron Bowman and his associates at the Park n’ Ride lot on Truman Parkway in Annapolis.
Runners of the Week... One is Scott Koehler, 24 of this area, who I liken to Tiger Woods. Scott wins all the 5k runs he enters. I thought he went away for his job and would give us some relief , but I see he’s back and won the recent Valentine’s Day 5K at Kinder Park in a bit over 16 minutes. Scott is a very nice fellow and an accomplished runner and I really do welcome him back. And as for the other runner of the week, actually , they are two females who finished neck and neck also at that Kinder Park race Dr. Christine Morganti beat out Sheryl Kline by a split second. From Kline on coming in second for a change, there was a philosophical comment, that she was honored to be able to keep up with a world-class runner like Dr. Morganti. Their timing was 19:14 :20 and 19:14:60 Both runners are in their 40’s.
Races of the week for adults and kids… The Strider’s annual B& A Trail, half and full marathon this Sunday, which seems to use only one lane of one block of a public road. They start at 7:30 A.M. and then at 10 A.M at the Severna Park High School track, the kids show their stuff in the second of the Strider’s Kid’s run series conducted by Susan Noble. There you will see the Olympians of 2020.
Running Calendar
Sun. Mar. 2, 7:30.A.M. B&A Trail Marathon & Half Marathon…
Meet at Severna Park High School. www.annapolisstriders.org.
It’s the 17th year for the marathon and the 13th for the half.
Sun. March 16, 8:30 A.M. Annapolis.
On the corner lot with the for sale sign at Spa Rd and Hilltop Lane. Annual Aleph Bet Day School 5K Fun Run /Walk, benefitting Aleph Bet Day Walk is 2 miles. Call the school at 410.263.9044
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If you have a suggestion for the runner of the week,
please e-mail me with a contact number.
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