EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LETTER
A VERY SPECIAL YEAR
There’s no day in Charm City quite like marathon day. This
year, though, has a very special meaning for a couple reasons;
we are finally back to live races in Baltimore, and this year we
will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Baltimore Running Festival!
For the past nineteen months, the world has gone through
an unprecedented and extremely tough time in our history, and
many people have experienced hardships. The world was turned upside down as businesses were shut down, and people were
unable to do many of the things they loved. But there is hope. We are starting to feel a sense of revitalization as our old way
of life begins to open back up. Live races are resuming, and the world of running is starting its journey back to normalcy.
Once again, on October 9th, the city of Baltimore will
has he participated in
the Baltimore Running
Festival every year since the
first inaugural race, but he has completed the Full Marathon distance every year. Michael continues to run in the festival for many reasons, including the local support, the diverse
neighborhoods, the police support, and the overwhelming
feeling of “coming home” once crossing the finish line. It’s
people like Michael that make this event so special. All fiftytimers have extreme Baltimore Pride.
Another individual to highlight for the 20th Anniversary
of the Baltimore Running Festival is Houston native: Aaron
Burros. Burros is on a mission to run 50 marathons in 50 states to raise funds for St. Jude. Burros has now dedicated his life to
transform into what we are accustomed to seeing on this
running. Running has successfully saved his life twice, once for
Saturday morning. And for the 20th time, the streets will be
a weight loss challenge and after being tragically shot during
lined with eager runners, families, and volunteers cheering
a robbery. He calls himself the running servant, and we are
loudly, and a city filled with pride.
happy to host him at our event.
The 20th Anniversary brings a couple changes along with
We’d be remiss if we did not talk about all the wonderful
it. The beginning of the marathon will take runners back to a
charities associated with this powerful event and how they
of The Baltimore Orioles. The 20th Anniversary fuses old and
of crisis. The Baltimore Running Festival has raised more
familiar place by running through Camden Yards – The Home new, starting with the original finish line in 2001 and finishing at the Inner Harbor in 2021. This year will be the first year of
the 10K distance through the city. A distance for experienced
Druid Hill Park and finish with that all too familiar final turn onto Pratt Street.
Some things do not change, however. Fifty individuals have
been running with us since the conception of this event. Fifty
One of those individuals is Michael Schilling. Not only
million of economic impact over the last 20 years. While we festival impacts some lives forever.
will coincide with the marathon as runners climb toward
This is a special year for a loyal group of runners.
than $14 million for local charities and generated over $450
all celebrate on a crisp fall Saturday in October, it’s evident the
runners and casual fans alike. The first few miles of the 10K
individuals have been with us every brisk October morning.
help individuals and their families during their personal times
So, that’s who we are. This is the city we know and why we
love Baltimore. Enjoy the 20th Anniversary of the Baltimore Running Festival.
LEE CORRIGAN President, Corrigan Sports Enterprises Baltimore Running Festival Executive Director
A CORRIGAN SPORTS ENTERPRISES EVENT THE 2021 BALTIMORE RUNNING FESTIVAL
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