A Baltimore tradition runs into town again this weekend as the 26th edition of the Baltimore Running Festival kicks off on Saturday morning.
The event will feature its normal lineup of a 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon races. On Saturday, runners should have clear skies and cooler weather, with a high of 57 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
“It’s an awesome economic impact for the city,” said Amanda Corrigan, marketing director for Corrigan Sports, which organizes the races. “People come from all 50 states, from over 30 countries, so that’s great as far as heads in beds and visiting the restaurants and the downtown local shops.”
Race organizers are expecting a crowd similar to last year’s with over 14,500 runners. The 5K and 10K races are full, but prospective runners can still register for the half or full marathon until Friday at 6 p.m. on the festival’s website.
Race schedule
The races start at two different locations around the Inner Harbor at different times Saturday morning.
- RoyalFarms 5K starts at 7:30 a.m. from Light and Pratt streets
- The APG Federal Credit Union 10k and marathon start at 8 a.m. from Russell and Camden Streets
- The half-marathon starts at 9 a.m. from Light and Pratt Street
Race routes
The 5K route keeps runners next to the harbor as they loop from Light Street to Key Highway and back.
The 10K and marathon both kick off outside Oriole Park at Camden Yards and send runners to Druid Hill Park, where the routes diverge: Marathon runners go into the park and out past the zoo, while those running the 10K run along the park’s outer edge before heading back toward Charles Street. The marathon takes runners on a loop around the harbor, and past Patterson and Clifton parks before they finish back at the convention center.
The half-marathon takes runners on the back half of the marathon route downtown through Clifton and Patterson parks.
Road closures
If you’re planning to drive near the Inner Harbor on Saturday morning or early afternoon, you’re in for a challenge. Many downtown roads will be closed between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Baltimore’s Department of Transportation put out a full list of road closures and affected public transportation routes for the day on its website.
Some roads will close before Saturday in preparation for the race:
- Left lane closure (next to median) of southbound Light Street from Pratt to Conway Streets begins at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
- Full closure of Pratt Street from Charles to Light streets begins at 9 p.m. Friday. This portion of Pratt Street will remain closed until the event clears late Saturday afternoon.
The department also put together an interactive map featuring race routes, road closures and parking and commercial vehicle restrictions around the city.
The Charm City Circulator’s Orange, Purple and Banner routes will be closed entirely from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Charity events
If you’re not a runner, but want to join the festivities, the festival kicks off with a .05K at M8 Beer on South Sharp Street, presented by local radio station 98Rock. Participants can register for a race bib and T-shirt for $15, with net proceeds going to the Ulman Foundation, a local charity supporting young people with cancer.
The Signal 13 Foundation, which supports Baltimore City police officers experiencing financial hardships, and Athletes Serving Athletes, which supports runners with limited mobility, are also sponsoring a “charity chaser” for the regular and half marathon, respectively.
A designated runner starts in last place, and Corrigan Sports donates $2 to the chaser’s charity for every runner they pass between the start and finish lines.
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