1. Charles Street 12 September 3, 2016
This race is absolutely fantastic. I ran it last year and plan on running it again this year on September 3rd. It's put on by Charm City Run, and they know how to put on a good race. For doing this race you get an awesome premium (last year it was a waffle knit shirt, this year it's a half zip jacket in purple for the ladies and navy blue for the men) at packet pickup, and then a finisher's medal as you cross the finish line.
On course support is great (lots of water stops, a few groups of spectators, and some amazing cops who somehow still manage to keep traffic moving even just a little bit) and the course itself is gorgeous. Super hilly, but it starts in Towson (with a hill SUPER early on) and heads down most of Charles Street through Baltimore to finish in front of Power Plant Live where they have the the finisher's party. While running you'll run past Loyola University, Towson University, Notre Dame of Maryland University and the original Washington Monument in Mount Vernon. It's generally downhill, but don't let that elevation map fool you--it's definitely still really hilly and the flat portion in the last couple miles is a lot harder than you think it should be.
This race is actually the third race in their B3 race series, which includes their St. Patrick's Day 5k and Sole of the City 10k. If you do all three races, you get an extra gender-specific premium (last year it was a bag with the race series logo embroidered on the outside, this year it's a really nice sweatshirt) and an extra medal.
2. Across the Bay 10k November 6, 2016
This bridge seriously strikes fear in sooo many people who drive over it to get to the Delaware and Maryland beaches. It's super high and in the car sometimes you'd swear it sways a little bit. I've run this race two years in a row, (year 1, year 2) and will be making this my third year. (Full disclosure--I'm an ambassador for this race.) It starts out nice and flat for the first quarter to half mile then you have a 3% incline to the peak of the bridge. From there, it's all a gentle downhill slope. The last mile or so is pretty flat with a couple of inclines due to the ramp, but otherwise it's a pretty easy race. I definitely recommend doing it for a first 10k.
This race is definitely different from some of the others that I've done. For one thing, the race is cupless meaning you have to bring your own water container but they have huge containers available to refill your bottle. Their water setup also has some fountain attachments just in case you forget your bottle. (There are also portajohns available on the bridge itself in case you need a bathroom break!) This race is also HUGE. They have several wave starts and organizers recommend you move back in the waves if you want to run it with friends in different waves. There are also several places to park, which you do have to pay for and this year they've eliminated universal parking passes.
If you're interested in signing up, use the code AMBFRENCHH16 for $5 off registration!
3. Cinco de Miler May 2017
I've run this one two years in a row. The first year was fantastic. The second year not so much, since May seemed to be monsoon season here in the Mid-Atlantic. Even so, the race was still great. It's a smaller trail race on Kent Island and if you run the Across the Bay 10k, the corporate park where the race starts should look very familiar since it starts and finishes on the other side of the offices where the Across the Bay finishes.
The race is fast and flat and a great starter trail race. You run on a lot of different terrain that makes it interesting--sand, dirt, asphalt, gravel and wood. Both years I've run this race there have been around 200-300 runners, so it's a good small race.
4. Frederick Running Festival May 2017
This was my first year running the race, and I loved it. The expo is a little small so TBH if you only go out there on race morning (they offer packet pickup that morning) you're not really missing much.
I only ran the half marathon and I really enjoyed it. It was challenging in a good way and fairly hilly towards the end (that hill at mile 11.5 is a doozy!) but like I said, I really enjoyed it. The scenery along the course is gorgeous and the support on it is also great. The celebration festival after the race is also great. Lots of great post-race snacks and you get two free beers with tickets on your race bib!
5. Baltimore Running Festival October 15, 2016
I would be remiss if I didn't mention this race. It's basically legendary in the area. This is the 16th year for the race, and the medal is absolutely amazing for both the marathon and half marathon.
The on course support is unlike any other race in the area. Pretty much the entire course is lined with people cheering on runners and a few of them are legendary too. There are friends who dress up in tiger costume, play "Eye of the Tiger" and stand (and sometimes dance) in the bed of a pickup truck. Some people pass out candy corn in giant cookie sheets. People offer up cups of natty boh and coca cola along the course. (Not together in the same cup, but I still reject both since who knows what effect that would have on my tummy during a long race!)
The race is pretty darn hilly, but with a course cutoff of 7 hours for the marathon, 5.5 hours for the half marathon and no limit for the 5k, you have plenty of time to finish any of the races. (Some of the ladies in my running group are planning on run/walking the whole thing since essentially the half marathon has a 25:00 minute mile pace requirement!)
If you've been thinking about doing this race, just go ahead and register. You won't regret it. It's just that good. It was my first half marathon in 2013, and I can't wait to run it again this year as the final race in the King Crab race series.
What Maryland races are your favorites?
Ugh BRF is the week after Chicago Marathon so I'm only running the 5K but am SO jealous of the half marathon medal. I love the Chuck 12 race too and am running the Across the Bay 10K for the first time this year I think! Great list. I also really like the Baltimore Women's Classic 5K race and Sole of the City 10K.
ReplyDeleteSole of the City's a good one too! I haven't done the BWC yet, but it's definitely on my radar. This year it was the day after I returned from my trip to London and I knew I would be jetlagging pretty hard. Maybe next year!
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