Posted: October 10, 2005

Athletics: Under Armour Baltimore Running Festival to Run Thru Historic Fort McHenry

Event becomes one of the few to race through a National Monument

BALTIMORE, Md. - (October 10, 2005) - Over 191 years after being filled with more than 1,000 U.S. troops during the Battle of Baltimore, Fort McHenry will once again be packed as thousands of runners taking part in the Under Armour Baltimore Running Festival will circle the National Monument for the first time in the five-year history of the event.

The addition of the Fort McHenry National Monument Historic Shrine to the 26.2-mile course results in the Under Armour Baltimore Marathon - slated for Saturday, October 15 - becoming one of a handful of road races to go thru or past a National Monument.

"Running thru Fort McHenry is a great opportunity for the runners to experience one of our city's beautiful spots and one of our country's great Historic Landmarks," stated Lee Corrigan, Corrigan Sports Enterprises, which organizes the Festival.

As a result, the first half of the marathon had to be reworked in order to accommodate the new addition to the course. Instead of running around Druid Lake through the park, the racers will go underneath along Druid Park Lake Dr. as it becomes 28th St. From 28th St., runners will head south on St. Paul St. and resume last year's route. Near the fort, the runners continue down Fort Ave, encircle the park and back up Fort Ave. before making a right onto Towson St. and following last year's course.

Among the other new additions to the course this year is a jaunt past the harbor along Lancaster St. and up Hillen Rd. to Shadyside Rd. and then back down to 33rd St. at miles 20 and 21.

The Under Armour Baltimore Marathon is Maryland's premier fall event with more than 40 million dollars in economic impact and more than two million donated to local charities. This year's event will take place on October 15 beginning at 8:00am at M&T Bank Stadium. Registration is up for the third year in a row and the race has seen the number out-of-town participants increase steadily since its inception in 2000.

The Under Armour Baltimore Running Festival is produced by Corrigan Sports Enterprises, a leader in sports promotions in the Baltimore/Washington, DC region. Founded in 1991, CSE owns and operates the following events: Under Armour Baltimore Marathon, The Charm City Challenge All-Star Basketball Game, The Capital Classic, the Toyota Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, the Scion Trash & Jam (Extreme Sports) and the annual BikeJam event.

For more information, visit: TheBaltimoreMarathon.com or call Gene Brtalik, (410) 605-9381 x238.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.