Tri State
New running club aims high in 2010
Recent meeting reviews 2009 facts and figures
LAVALE, Md., Jan. 21 -- In its first full year of operation, the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club served 789 runners in 16 events and helped to raise nearly $10,000 new dollars for various causes in the community.
The figures were reviewed Tuesday at the club's monthly meeting in LaVale, just 16 months after the club was first organized in October 2008.
"Not bad," said Kevin Spradlin, executive director of the area's newest running club that aims to serve an eight-county area in Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. "Things didn't go perfectly all the time, but at the end of the day, almost every enjoyed the running events and different themes, locations and atmospheres the club tried to offer."
Nearly 65 percent of those 789 runners gathered on a single day last April for the inaugural Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival. The five-event day captured the attention of runners from 13 states and Washington, D.C., and helped raise more than $3,300 for the United Ways of the Potomac Highlands.
Not everything went according to plan - either with the marathon festival or a couple of other, low-key events later in the year. The club failed to break even with the first Iron Rail Days 5K run in Mount Savage in September but changes are being made for the 2010 event. And in November, a new Helmstetter's Curve Distance Run - a gritty trail run mostly on a private farm near Corriganville - highlighted the distinction between trail runners and road runners.
"People really didn't know what to expect with that race," Spradlin said. "It was advertised as a challenge, with rarely a moment for sure footing. But a mix of people seemed to have a mostly good time. Several people made a few wrong turns, but that can be fixed easily in 2010 with better course marking."
Still, Spradlin said, the event meant "new money" for the cause, in this case raising a few dollars for local farmer John Helmstetter and his efforts to rebuild his 110-year-old classic red barn after it was destroyed by a fire in July. The rather low-key event raised more than $200, which might help pay the bills that fed the Amish workers which raised the barn last fall.
A unique challenge in 2009 was helping Carpendale, W.Va., resident Brittany Armentrout raise nearly $5,000 for a change to compete in the Down Under Games in Australia.
"Mission accomplished," Spradlin said. "We helped raise the money. Brittany's family members from across the country, and local businesses and civic organizations in Maryland and West Virginia, were instrumental in raising the amount she needed to go."
Armentrout, now 18, fared well in her first taste of international competition. She placed 20th among 64 competitors in the 5K race with a time of 21 minutes and 28 seconds and was the 13th American to cross the finish line.
Looking at the rest of 2010, the nonprofit organization and member of the Road Runners Club of America aims to develop a business plan to plan for a long, healthy fiscal and operational future. Continuing to add stakeholders as members and board members is one key element to achieving that goal, Spradlin said.
"We're offering something different, that some might agree enhances the rich running community already established," Spradlin said. "Our low-key runs are different in that they don't rely on 100 or more runners to make them successes. Instead, those who do come out - just 30 or 40 people - show up, pay a $3 entry fee and have a great time running against the clock."
The next low-key event is the Hobo's Heartbreaker 10K run just north of Ellerslie on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. beginning at Cooks Mill United Methodist Church. Marathon club members enter those races for free and receive member discounts into several of the club's larger events.
The club also is working with area and regional race directors to establish a new Endurance Championship Series. As proposed, a 10-race series with events between Westminster, Md., and Fairmont, W.Va., would end with a cash prize for the top three male and female overall and masters runners.
The next marathon club meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 at 354 National Highway in LaVale. Email run@mountainMDmarathon.org, visit www.mountainMDmarathon.org or call (301) 697-6035 for more information.
Recent meeting reviews 2009 facts and figures
LAVALE, Md., Jan. 21 -- In its first full year of operation, the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club served 789 runners in 16 events and helped to raise nearly $10,000 new dollars for various causes in the community.
The figures were reviewed Tuesday at the club's monthly meeting in LaVale, just 16 months after the club was first organized in October 2008.
"Not bad," said Kevin Spradlin, executive director of the area's newest running club that aims to serve an eight-county area in Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. "Things didn't go perfectly all the time, but at the end of the day, almost every enjoyed the running events and different themes, locations and atmospheres the club tried to offer."
Nearly 65 percent of those 789 runners gathered on a single day last April for the inaugural Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival. The five-event day captured the attention of runners from 13 states and Washington, D.C., and helped raise more than $3,300 for the United Ways of the Potomac Highlands.
Not everything went according to plan - either with the marathon festival or a couple of other, low-key events later in the year. The club failed to break even with the first Iron Rail Days 5K run in Mount Savage in September but changes are being made for the 2010 event. And in November, a new Helmstetter's Curve Distance Run - a gritty trail run mostly on a private farm near Corriganville - highlighted the distinction between trail runners and road runners.
"People really didn't know what to expect with that race," Spradlin said. "It was advertised as a challenge, with rarely a moment for sure footing. But a mix of people seemed to have a mostly good time. Several people made a few wrong turns, but that can be fixed easily in 2010 with better course marking."
Still, Spradlin said, the event meant "new money" for the cause, in this case raising a few dollars for local farmer John Helmstetter and his efforts to rebuild his 110-year-old classic red barn after it was destroyed by a fire in July. The rather low-key event raised more than $200, which might help pay the bills that fed the Amish workers which raised the barn last fall.
A unique challenge in 2009 was helping Carpendale, W.Va., resident Brittany Armentrout raise nearly $5,000 for a change to compete in the Down Under Games in Australia.
"Mission accomplished," Spradlin said. "We helped raise the money. Brittany's family members from across the country, and local businesses and civic organizations in Maryland and West Virginia, were instrumental in raising the amount she needed to go."
Armentrout, now 18, fared well in her first taste of international competition. She placed 20th among 64 competitors in the 5K race with a time of 21 minutes and 28 seconds and was the 13th American to cross the finish line.
Looking at the rest of 2010, the nonprofit organization and member of the Road Runners Club of America aims to develop a business plan to plan for a long, healthy fiscal and operational future. Continuing to add stakeholders as members and board members is one key element to achieving that goal, Spradlin said.
"We're offering something different, that some might agree enhances the rich running community already established," Spradlin said. "Our low-key runs are different in that they don't rely on 100 or more runners to make them successes. Instead, those who do come out - just 30 or 40 people - show up, pay a $3 entry fee and have a great time running against the clock."
The next low-key event is the Hobo's Heartbreaker 10K run just north of Ellerslie on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. beginning at Cooks Mill United Methodist Church. Marathon club members enter those races for free and receive member discounts into several of the club's larger events.
The club also is working with area and regional race directors to establish a new Endurance Championship Series. As proposed, a 10-race series with events between Westminster, Md., and Fairmont, W.Va., would end with a cash prize for the top three male and female overall and masters runners.
The next marathon club meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 at 354 National Highway in LaVale. Email run@mountainMDmarathon.org, visit www.mountainMDmarathon.org or call (301) 697-6035 for more information.