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Joggers should think twice before kicking up a storm
By JOE SHAFRAN
Several years ago, if I recall correctly, it took an act of Congress to straighten out a problem of blacked-out telecasts of NFL football games, possibly of the Washington Redskins and here in Maryland, it took an act of the 2006 legislature to put some teeth into a law that had some loopholes in it for joggers or runners and dog owners. This toughening of a law was pointed out at the meeting of the Southern District Police Community Relations Council earlier this month by Captain Thomas Rzepkowski, the southern district commander of Anne Arundel County Police, based in Edgewater. The Captain characterized the new law that went into effect the first of this month as the “poodle kicker” bill that grew out of the incident in Edgewater at the end of January of this year in which a jogger kicked and injured a small poodle that had broken loose from its owner and nipped at the jogger’s heel. The incident made the news around the world. Among other publications, it induced an editorial in the Capital, sort of siding with the jogger. And why did Captain Rzepkowski make a point of it? Because the incident happened right around the corner from police headquarters, on Captain Rzepkowski’s watch, so it was his officers had to handle this bizarre case. The Captain, a few days after the incident, was displaying an inch thick file of e-mails, that he received, in addition to countless phone calls and letters, some critical of the police, some of the dog owner, all because of that loophole in the law that had the Captain’s hands tied. I do understand that it was the reaction of legislature and not a recommendation from Captain Rzepkowsi that got the correction going, but from what Captain Rzepkowski describes, I can only say that as of the first of October, us runners or joggers better think twice about kicking a dog and when a jogger goes by, the owner best have the dog confined or on a leash.
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In the last column, I reported that October and November are busy running and walking months, with among others, the Metric Mile at Harwood, the Cliff Roop memorial at Kinder Farm Park, the Army Ten Miler, the Baltimore Running Festival , the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer events and the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton. This weekend there is the Seaside Ten at Ocean City on Saturday, the Marine this Sunday and on Saturday, Nov. 11 the Richmond, all involving many local runners. And if the snow in the mountains to the west of us last Monday wasn’t enough, we are reminded of the holiday season by the Jingle Bell run at Marley Station in Glen Burnie on Sunday November 12th. By the way, 22 year old Ryan Althouse of Arnold made news as the sixth American and the 18 th overall to finish the marathon portion of the Baltimore Festival in 2 hours and 36 minutes. He had finished the Boston Marathon in 2:39. And as expected, at the Steamtown earlier this month, the 25 or so midshipmen members of the Naval Academy Marathon Club, all in their late teens and early twenties, listing Annapolis as their place of domain, dominated the list of the first 75 finishers with their coach, Strider Nate Nudelman, a native of the Scranton area, coming in number 42 in 2:54 out of a couple thousand. .
Also among the finishers at Scranton was Dr.William “Bill” Tham of Annapolis whom we list as a Runner of Note, a new feature of this column. He came in 67th in his age group in 3:36. Dr. Tham, 47 is not a stranger to running. His very first race was the New York Marathon several years ago. Presently, there are few local or area races of any distance that he does not run or if he doesn’t run you’ll spot him as a water stop volunteer and the one who responds when the call goes out “ is there a doctor in the house ?”... Busy in physical medicine and pain management in Annapolis and Glen Burnie , many people will say that if it weren’t for Doctor Tham , known for his expertise in sports medicine, a lot of runners in town would be hung up with injuries or pain. After eating pasta all this week, he will run the Marine Sunday, hoping to do it in about 3 and a half hours to qualify for Boston in April. I have a feeling he’ll do it.
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Also in this column, we make mention of an upcoming race of note, that I’ll say would be the Marine Corps Marathon Sunday, near and dear to many of us and that now includes TAPS to honor America’s Fallen Heroes. TAPS standing for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
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With the time change this weekend, here’s a tip for runners, joggers and walkers. Keep in mind that nightfall will arrive about the five o’clock hour, and if you are accustomed to running at that time, be sure to wear plenty of reflective gear, run facing traffic and leave the I-Pod at home. Step out of the way from that ton of metal coming at you or behind you. And for those running in the morning, realize that with the sun coming up low in the east it can blind drivers coming behind or at you.
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Running Calendar
Saturday… Ocean City, Maryland.. 9 A.M . The Seaside 10 mile and 5k.$30 OCOCEAN.COM..
Sunday… Iwo Jima Memorial , Arlington, Virginia. 8 A.M.. The Marine Marathon, the 10K, One mile kids fun run MARINEMARATHON.COM
Sat Nov. 4th .. Downs Park, Pasadena.. 8:05 Mile Fun Run, 8:20 Tot run, 8:30 5K. Striders and AA County Dept of Recreation and Parks... Log on to ANNAPOLISSTRIDERS.ORG
Sun. Nov. 12, Marley Station Mall..8 A.M. 5K runs and wall. The Jingle Bell for Arthritis. Log on to WWW.ARTHRITIS.ORG or call 410.544.5433.
Race Results
Steamtown Marathon
Scranton,PA Sunday Oct. 8th
Matthew Byrne, 31, Philadelphia ..2:21:50 . 2. Michael Wardian, 32, Arlington VA, 2:22:29.3. Ross Martinson..28, Conshohocken, PA 2:24:57.15. Nicholas Vandall, 19, U.S.Naval Academy, Annapolis, 2:41:23. 42. 24 Scott Wood, 21, Annapolis. 42. Nathan N. Nudelman, 31, Annapolis , 2:54:16 (Navy Coach)
Females
22. Susannah Kvasnicka, 39, Great Falls. VA 2:45. 39. Judy Johnson, Syracuse, NY 2:52. 43. Gina McGee, 41, Latrobe :PA 2:54. 476. Maria” nica” Shields, 55, Davidsonville MD 3:35
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