MICHAEL SHILLING
Q&A
36
What is your favorite or most memorable year? What made it so great?
I guess my favorite was when I wanted to reach my goal of 100 marathons by running the Baltimore Marathon as my 100th in 2017. Another memorable year was 2001 because the marathon was being held about a month after 9/11. It was a day of heavy hearts, even wondering should we be doing this with so much pain in America. What is one piece of advice you would give a first-time Baltimore Running Festival runner?
Where are you from?
My hometown is Hagerstown, MD, and most of my family still reside there - just up the road from Baltimore but lived in New Jersey for marathons 2001 - 2011 and currently reside in Durham, NC, where I have run marathons 2012 - 2020. Why do you love running/ do you run for a specific cause?
I was a sprinter at South Hagerstown High School running the 100, 200, and sprint relays, a 4-year varsity letterman in track, and a 3-year letterman in football. I had a great coach in Harrison Lanham, and a few years ago, I wrote him a letter telling him so (attached). Thirty years removed from high school, and I still remembered his guidance. I love running because it has gotten me through many challenges (primarily mental) in my life and for my sanity. It has afforded me health, weight control, and a supportive community. Although I donít run for a specific cause now, I did commit to running for the Durham Rescue Mission in 2014, donating $1 per mile run for an entire year.
On the current course, manage pace from miles 4 - 16. These can be very fast miles, but you will have 6-8 very miserable miles on the hills if you burn the pace. Luckily the first 3+ miles are uphill, so it allows a controlled start and easier pace. Upon hitting mile 4, you will feel warmed up, and the downhills will take on a life of their own, as well as all of the support back through the inner harbor through mile 14. Itís a very fair course, but know that the elevation gain is around 1200 feet, and most of that is in the later miles when youíre tired. Also, itís a festival so have fun! How is the Baltimore Running Festival different from other races you’ve run in?
The best events make it an experience, whether large or small, and that experience must include the community. Very few of us are there to win the thing or even place in an age group. We are there for the experience, and it needs to be a total package. Baltimore is the total package, great venue, historic city, great festival. Can it be better, yep! CSE listens if enough people speak honestly. How has your family played a role in your running journey? What have they done to keep you going on this path?
My wife has been my biggest supporter and crew chief. Her support is unwavering. She will not let me miss a Baltimore Marathon, not that I ever intend to, but I know if I have the slightest consideration, she will encourage me.
Why do you continue to run the Baltimore Running Festival?
Do you feel a sense of accomplishment being one of the few to complete all 20 BFFs?
Itís freaking fun! I have run 109 official marathons, with another 5 in my neighborhood. It truly is a Festival. For some marathons, there is no media coverage (except for the intrusions itís going to cause), hardly any local support, and a shotty organization. The local support for Baltimore is amazing - news pieces, tv media coverage, live race coverage, spectators throughout from all walks of life, all types of neighborhoods, the diversity, the police support, and the setting of the inner harbor.
Yes, absolutely. Running a marathon is hard and takes effort and dedication, not just the day of but the months leading up to the event. My 3rd and 6th fastest marathons are Baltimore marathons. Seriously, in those 20 years, the Baltimore Marathon has been the only constant. I have had multiple jobs, lived in two different states, have had two wives, new lives, deaths, different cars, different pets, etc. - but every October for the past 20 years, I have run the Baltimore Marathon.
THE 2021 BALTIMORE RUNNING FESTIVAL A CORRIGAN SPORTS ENTERPRISES EVENT
