Effie Dawson, The Examiner
2008-06-13 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

BALTIMORE -

One week before the official start of summer, the thermometer is flirting with 100. Storms wiped out power to hundreds of thousands of homes in Maryland last week. Gas costs $4 a gallon.

I don't know about you, but I’m going for a run.

Ever since Jim Fixx introduced the masses to the joy of running in 1977, the activity has been appreciated for its physical and mental benefits. But there is no better time for it than the summer of 2008, with a cellar-dwelling economy, the phone ringing up campaign plugs and kids begging for a day trip that would swallow $100 worth of gas.

No, running on Code Red air-quality days is not recommended. But there are plenty of good reasons for making 2008 The Summer of Running. It promises flexibility at a time when families are over-scheduled. It’s a solitary pursuit for some, a friendship-building pastime for others and a goal-setting challenge for still others. It is exhausting and at the same time refreshing.

The best reason, though, is that the Baltimore area is blessed with a huge range of running opportunities, appealing to first-time youngsters, casual adult joggers and Olympic-class veterans. Area running clubs kick into high gear this time of year, when there is more leisure time and more people in search of outside activities.

The Howard County Striders, believed to be the largest running club in the state, sponsors dozens of events each year, some highly competitive races and even more loosely structured runs. “The Striders reach out to the community,” said member Greg Lepore, “because we’re addicted to running, and we want to bring in as many runners as possible.”

Lepore, 37, of Columbia, leads the Howard Striders’ weekly Bagel Runs, a moderately structured training program for those who want to put in at least eight miles.

 Bagel runners, sometimes more than 100 strong, meet Saturday mornings at the swim center at Wilde Lake and usually finish with some carbohydrates at the Bagel Bin on Twin Rivers Road. No soaring or plummeting temperatures, tropical storms or sleet have canceled these runs, which date to April 1979.

Lepore joined the Bagel Runs back in May 2003, about nine months after he decided to run to get in shape. He was running alone, five or six miles at a time, and thought he was in over his head when he first showed up. But that first day, one of the better runners ran with him to keep him on course and encourage his efforts. That night, at his 15th Glenelg High School reunion, he was physically beat and mentally thrilled. A runner had been born again. Lepore ran his first marathon five months later. After two marathons and two ultra-marathons (50-milers) behind him, now he’s among those helping less experienced runners.

There are plenty of other options for those who consider eight miles a marathon. The Howard Striders step up their youth programs in June.  For high school students interested in running cross-country or improving existing skills, the Striders run a three-day-a-week program aimed at the more serious teenage runner. There are also family-oriented fun runs in neighborhoods near Centennial High School, beginning Tuesday. The one-mile runs cost from 50 cents to $2.

The Annapolis Striders, another club that takes an interest in both elite runners and weekend warriors, has a Junior Striders summer program, which holds Wednesday night training sessions and will host the first of three summer track meets on June 29.

The Annapolis club also conducts the Aug. 24 Annapolis 10 Mile Run, a not-for-the-faint-hearted run known for heat, humidity and hills. It also is known for its scenery — charming downtown Annapolis and the breathtaking Severn River — and is listed by Runners World magazine as one of the nation’s top races.

Other races, runs and training programs offered by the Baltimore Road Runners Club, the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club, the Westminster Road Runners Club and others fill the summer calendar.

There are even a few laughers, like the recent Howard County Striders Fruit Relay, where batons were replaced with each team’s fruit of choice (and the watermelon team beat the frozen banana squad).

Make no mistake, though, Maryland runners take themselves seriously, even if they have fun along the way. And so they are excellent instructors and role models for youngsters.

There’s something for everyone who wants to get in shape, save a little money and relax. And there’s also the open trail, for anyone with a pair of running shoes.

Running, said Lepore, “is just a great way to get out there and loosen up a little.”