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Running: Lost runners cause confusion
By Joe Shafran, For The Capital
Not to belabor a point, but my mention in the previous column about the B&A half and full marathon on Sunday March 6th, and the runners who took an "embarrassing" six hours to do the full marathon brought some response and some criticism, enough that I need to clarify a couple of points.
The word "embarrassing" caused the most problem. In the article, I mentioned the runners from Ohio, the family of three, who overshot the Aquahart Road turn around in the full marathon at the B&A and who kept on going until they reached Glen Burnie, where they realized they had gone too far and so, belatedly, doubled back to the finish line at Severna Park, which ended them up in a little more than six hours. I tracked the family down in Ohio and did speak to the husband of that family. He said it was embarrassing for his family, his wife and 15 year daughter, who are veteran marathoners and whose six hour timing was a bit hard to explain to fellow members of the 50 Plus Club, whose members run marathons in all fifty states. In using the word "embarrassing" I was paraphrasing John Lutsek only and should have mentioned it. Some six- hour marathoners took issue with my characterization and I don’t blame them. I well know there are some folks who are proud to have finished a marathon even though it took more than six hours. So please forgive me.
But getting back to the Lutsek’s of Vienna (they pronounce it Vy-enna), I was thinking that in their wanderings into Glen Burnie, had they made a left turn on Dorsey Road, they would have ended up at BWI via the BWI (not the B&A) Trail that follows the Airport Loop that brings you along to Telegraph Rd (MD 170) and eventually brings you back to the Armory. Other than ducking for low flying aircraft, it’s a delightful long run if you keep to the right and hope the bikers give a signal as they approach. Anyway, the Lutseks have a certification that they ran a Maryland marathon and are getting ready for their next one, the Derby Day Marathon in Louisville, Kentucky the end of April.
The trail issue and what the Lutseks termed a lack of direction brings up a point. Some months ago, Dean Johnson, former Annapolis mayor who takes an interest in trail use mentioned to this columnist that it might be a good idea to install markers on trails that not only give the mile number, but also the distances to and from a starting or ending point. Interesting that he brought up that subject. He must be aware that there is a long-range expansion plan for the trail system in this area. In the previous column, I noted that in the FY 2006 federal budget there is mention of funding for more trails in this area, one on the Broadneck Peninsula and another to connect Annapolis and Odenton. As for markers, I do think it’s a great idea, but I recall that a few years ago the National Park Service installed them on the Mount Vernon trail along the Potomac River, only to find that they were being pulled up by souvenir hunters. Dean Johnson suggests they be imbedded in the surface.
And I’m keeping an eye on Kent Island, where a new six mile trail is due to be opened in the fall. This one is along Route 8 south, connecting a point just south of Stevensville and Romancoke. That’s in Queen Anne’s County where a couple of years ago they built a two mile Cross County trail from the Bay Bridge east along Route 50 at Chester that on some Sundays it is so crowded with hikers, bikers and runners that I suspect they will soon have to consider an Easy Pass lane.
In it’s Best Foot Forward piece in the Feb. 28th issue of U.S. News and World Report, they do the story of 32 year old David Rozelle, the soldier who lost his leg when a land mine exploded in Iraq and now with a prosthesis is training to run the New York Marathon , vowing to break the six hour mark. Rozelle says the loss of his leg was not the low point of his life, it was the starting point. He balances on his prosthesis, which he says is an amputee’s "symbol of winning". He says he will return to his unit in Iraq after the marathon.
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There are lot of local races and running activity coming up, but I wanted to elaborate on one in particular , the David A. Nagey Caring for Kids 5K Run and Walk at the new Indian Creek School on Evergreen Rd in Crownsville on Sunday, April 17th. I recall this race in particular because three years ago I promoted it in this column. Three years ago it was for a single cause, the Indian Creek School. It is now called the David A. Nagey Caring for Kids 5K Run and Walk, in addition to being for Indian Creek School. Two years ago, Dr. Nagey, a good runner in his 50’s, collapsed and died of a heart attack in the race. It so happened that one of the race volunteers, stationed at the start line was his wife, Elaine Nagey, the Capital columnist. She got the shocking news a bit later that morning that the ambulance arriving for a collapsed runner a mile or so from the start line was for her very own husband. Elaine will be volunteering again at the start line on Sunday the 17th. Proceeds go to both the school and now the David A. Nagey Foundation for Perinatal Outreach, Education and Research. You can contact Ramsey Alexander at 410-263-4295 for details. Strollers, wheelchairs, wagons and joggers are welcome, but please, no pets, rollerblades, bicycles or skateboards.
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And as for another race, the Cherry Pit 10 miler, on Sunday April 10th at Edgewater, there is some significance. This race is on the same morning as the annual, but long-closed to registration, Cherry Blossom run in Washington D.C. Some of those who are shut out of that D.C. race which is run along the Tidal Basin under the blossoms, come to the Strider’ s run that traverses the scenic roads of the south of Anne Arundel County. And there’s a slogan for the local race. But first, do you recall a while back in one of the Goodrich tire promotions, their saying was " The Other Guys Have The Blimp"? As for this race, the Striders say, "Those guys have the Cherry Blossoms, we have the Pits". Be in touch with the Striders at 410-268-1165.
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In the Runner’ s Gazette, there’s a contributor by name of Bernie Green, "Doctor" he calls himself, who pokes fun at runners such as:
A bird in hand means you are running with poor form.
A cramp never strikes twice in the same place.
Man is known by his PR’s.
A rolling stone gathers scads of crippled runners.
Look before you lace.
Familiarity breeds contempt, especially on a multi-loop marathon course.
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Calendar:
Sat April 2, 9 A.M. Eldersburg, Run with the Knights 5k . Century High School 410-549-1123
Sun. April 3 9 A M Glen Burnie, Seventh Day Adventist Church, 508 Aquahart Rd. Health Fair and Run.. to feed the homeless. 410-760-7536
Sat. April 9. 9 A.M. Greenbelt Park, 6460 Capital Drive. 18th Annual Springburst 8K , 2 loops over moderate hills on paved park roads. A 1K fun run for young children follows the start of 8K. Call 301-982-2457
Sat. April 9, 9 A.M. Leonardtown. (St. Mary’s Government Center) 5 K/10K/ 5K fun and walk For the hospice. (301)475-2023.
Sun April 10 Edgewater. 8 A.M. Central Middle School , South River High School Complex ,221 Central Avenue East. Annapolis Striders’ 25th Annual Cherry Pit ten miler….Call 410-268-1165
Wed. April 13, 7 P.M.( an evening race for a change) Westminster, Main Street Mile… 410-848-8332
Sat April 16, 7:30 A.M. Ocean City. Marathon… starting at Sunset Marina. (443)- 497-4324
Sun. April 17, Crownsville, 8:30 A.M. The David A Nagey Caring for Kids 5K run and walk. Indian Creek School. 680 Evergreen Rd… Call 410-263-4295.
Sun. April 17.8 A.M Washington, D.C. West Potomac Park… 22nd Annual Sally Mae 10K . Also 2K Walk and Run and Wheelchair race. Call 703-533-4849
Sat. April 23, 8 A.M. Bates School Track, Spa Rd. Annapolis (behind Maryland Hall) First session of the Annapolis Strider’s Learn to Run Program. Ten week course. Meets Tuesdays
and Thursdays at 6 P.M. and Saturday’s at 8 A.M. Call 410-451-4155.
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