Businesses embrace running community

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Stopping by to pick up their race registration packets, runners in this year’s Under Armour Baltimore Running Festival took a rare chance to slow down and check out their surroundings at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Featuring more than 85 booths and 55 venders, the Elite Sports Network sponsored the Life Health and Fitness Expo at the home of the Ravens on Thursday and Friday.

The expo helps to bring the public and the local running community together.

“This is the premiere event,” said John Adams, owner of Falls Road Running Store. “And we need to be here to support it.”

Featuring booths from national retailers to local stores, the expo provides a chance for local businesses to get their name out and meet the running community. Not only were vendors selling race essentials like dry-fit clothes, sox and gloves, they were also sharing new information on training techniques.

“It’s great,” said Matt Marion, a 21-year old from Baltimore who will be running in Saturday’s marathon. “I think there are a lot of vendors who are helping out one another and are able to help their own business also.”

For local vendors, keeping their customers healthy and active is part of their job, too.

“[The expo] gets new people signing up and is a health and fitness benefit,” said Mark Dees, a running coach with Charm City Run who trains marathon and half-marathon runners. “It creates a goal for fitness.”

The expo also was the place for runners to pick up their race packets and finish their check-in process. They received their race number, timing chip and Under Armour shirt.

Victoria Proctor, a volunteer from Catonsville, was helping to hand out the racing chips is a marathon veteran herself, — she was looking forward to Saturday just as much as the runners she was helping to check-in.

“I love running and I always have,” said Proctor. “I ran at Western High School and in college at Frostburg State. It’s always been part of my life. I’ll be running the marathon tomorrow, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

About 11,000 runners will run in the events that include a 5K (3.1 miles), marathon (26.2 miles) and half-marathon (13.1 miles).

“It gives you a sense of community,” said Laurie Amatucci, co-chair of the Baltimore Women’s 5K Classic. “I think the size of the marathon and the expo is a testament to the growth.”

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com