There are plenty of races scheduled for Anne Arundel County runners this spring, and three local events highlight the diversity of experience for competitors who venture a little further afield.
St. Michael's Running Festival is scheduled for Saturday and will feature a half marathon, 10K run, and 5K run/walk. The race, sponsored by Charm City Running and sponsored by Brooks, follows a flat, fast course through St. Michaels, through picturesque countryside and waterfront scenery along the Miles River, before returning to the downtown finish. It will be contested.
This is a true community event, doubling in population to accommodate a total of over 2,200 finishers in 2023, and supporting local authorities, police stations, fire departments, emergency medical services and over 300 people. Volunteers will be stationed on the course to ensure the safety of all runners. And a fun event.
Although it has a small town feel, this race has all the amenities you would expect from a large city race, including pre- and post-race events, live tracking, and custom finisher awards.
Runners can learn about history ahead of time with things to do after running the rest of the day's races, including a visit to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, which houses an excellent collection of historic Bay vessels.
Event information can be found at charmcityrun.com/event/st-michaels-running-festival-presented-by-brooks/.
The Baltimore 10 Miler, scheduled for June 1st, is a great opportunity for local runners to participate in a race with a different feel than the big city. Billed by organizer Corrigan Sports as “his annual summer kickoff party,” the B-10 will be a mainstay on his calendar in late spring racing, with 2,278 runners finishing at the 2023 event. passed the line.
The challenging but fair course features a loop that starts and ends at scenic Druid Hill Park, home of the Maryland Zoo. Runners will have a generous three hours to complete the course.
Those interested in participating in the fall Baltimore Marathon can preview portions of the marathon course, as the B-10 uses many of the same roads in north Baltimore. Tour the shady areas surrounding Johns Hopkins University, listen to music and cruise around scenic Lake Montebello, then return to the Maryland Zoo, where a cool towel and watermelon await finishers as you crest the final hill.
Race information can be found at corrigansports.com/event/baltimore-10-miler/.
Rounding out the trifecta of fun spring races is the Chestertown Tea Party Distance Classic and Run for Radcliffe 10 Miler and 5K on May 25th.
Held in conjunction with the annual Chestertown Tea Party Festival, the event benefits Radcliffe School, which primarily serves students with learning differences from kindergarten through eighth grade. It's a great opportunity to visit scenic Kent County and enjoy a flat course just outside of downtown Chestertown and a fast finish at rural Wilmar Park. There, runners are treated to a post-race festival.
For runners who want to keep running, the Chestertown Tea Party Festival is the perfect event to unwind from your run, soak up the small-town atmosphere, and learn some history along the way. If you finish before 10 a.m., you can also watch the Tea Party parade during the cool-down run.
Race information can be found at racerooster.com/events/2024/85468/chestertown-tea-party-distance-classic-and-run-for-radcliffe.
No matter the distance, there are races in big cities and small towns, scratching that race itch and soaking up the local history all around us while getting out and exploring different parts of our region. provides an opportunity to see.
calendar
Saturday: St. Michael's Running Festival, St. Michael's, Information: https://www.charmcityrun.com/event/st-michaels-running-festival-presented-by-brooks/
May 25th: Chestertown 10-miler, Chestertown. Information: https://raceroster.com/events/2024/85468/chestertown-tea-party-distance-classic-and-run-for-radcliffe
June 1: Baltimore 10 Miler, Baltimore. Information: www.corrigansports.com/event/baltimore-10-miler/
June 1: The Maryland Half Marathon and 5K benefits the UMMS Greenbaum Cancer Center in Maple Lawn, Columbia. Information: https://secure.ummsfoundation.org/site/TR/RunningTeam/MarylandHalfMarathon?pg=entry&fr_id=1320
June 8th: Crofton Kiwanis Club 10K and 5K, Crofton Country Club. Information: www.croftonkiwanis.org
June 16th: Dawson Father's Day 10K, Severna Park High School. Information: www.annapolisstriders.org
July 13th: Catoctin 50K, Catoctin Mountain near Frederick. Information: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=112755