It was the penguin that got me.

Flapping like crazy against the zookeeper’s hands, he was stationed by mile 3 of the Baltimore Marathon. I have seen a wide variety of spectators in my day, but an African Blackfooted penguin was completely new. It was part of the race’s “Zoo Mile” where runners cruised past ravens, marmots and even a crocodile. The themed mile was new to the 11th edition of the race and it was just one of the many treats that Charm City offered up. TRAVLETE was there for all of it and here’s our take on the Baltimore Marathon.

We had a sense going in that the pre-race stuff would be a breeze. Each week, the festival sent out reminders about aspects of the race and responded to queries in a timely fashion. From pre-race communication to the post race athlete’s village, all aspects of the race were handled cleanly and efficiently. Come race weekend, they stepped up the game even more: the packet pick-up and expo were staggeringly well organized. Within 15 minutes of entering the convention center, I had my number, t-shirt, had gotten two questions answered by helpful volunteers and made purchases at three different booths.

And on race morning, there was plenty of signage and lots of friendly faces to direct you. There was even a designated warm up area (roughly two blocks long) to get loose beforehand. Each race took off on the dot and every turn and street crossing was well marked and manned.

“Fair yet challenging” is how the race organizers described the course and it is an apt assessment. While it would be tough to get a PR on this course, its varied nature will appeal to many different types of runners. The race begins on the relatively flat terrain behind Camden Yards and then begins to climb by mile 2. From miles 2-10 the race features a series of rolling hills before heading back to the level ground by the Inner Harbor.

By mile 15, where the half marathoners join you, there is a long steady grade which tapers off at 20 by Lake Montebelo. The last 10k will challenge with a few small rollers, but the last two miles take you straight through the heart of the city with a finish just outside Ravens Stadium.

Even the post-race village was impressive. Seemingly designed by folks who know what it is like stagger around looking for food after a hard effort. The very first thing I was handed was a chocolate milk. The race results were posted in real time and ALL of the event pictures were available the next day.

All in all, a fantastic race in a fantastic place. Here’s the official breakdown:

Course: A-   From major league stadiums to quiet waterfront, this race has a little bit of everything. The runner is never at a loss for some interesting scenery (especially penguins). The neighborhoods you traverse run the gamut from the bustling Inner Harbor to the newly reborn Fells Point and out to Clifton Park. While all of the locales may not appeal to all tastes, you will certainly not be bored.

Organization: A+   If any RDs need a hand organizing their event, they would do well to consult the team at Baltimore. These guys know how it is done.

Atmosphere: A   Start to finish, this is a race with heart. Residents of the Charm City are intensely proud of their home and they make it a point to come out and cheer you on as you race through it. You will see everything, from Ravens fans in face paint and bellowing from the corners, to elderly grandmothers waving from their front porches. Even the police officers manning the corners get in on the act. Running through the city, you get the sense that you have stopped by several parties and were we welcomed warmly at each one.

Logistics: B+   Just a few hours down 95 from NYC, Baltimore is simple to get to and once there easy to navigate. Free parking near the hotels is hard to come by, so the race offers free shuttle buses to offset this. However, those arriving after 6pm (as we did) may find their transportation options a little more limited since the frequency of shuttles decreases. We elected to park in pay lot near the hotel and chose to walk to the expo instead.

Also, since the course utilizes several main streets near the start/finish, it may require extra time to leave after the event. We needed to depart an hour after finishing and had to wait to leave the parking garage and then faced gridlock to get back to 95. This is to be expected with an urban marathon, but runners who are pressed for time should be aware of it.

Overall: A   Top-flight organization, spirited atmosphere and an interesting course make this race a real winner.

-Mary

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