Naptown Runners Go the Distance 

2nd Annual Annapolis Running Festival Returns on March 9

Annapolis is a running town. From the beauty of City Dock’s cobblestones at dawn to the feeling of running over water on the Naval Academy bridge, there are few better cities to put on your sneakers and head outdoors. 

The Annapolis Running Festival takes full advantage of both the moderate winters and the beauty of our town on March 9, when three distance races kick off from Navy Stadium. 

The half marathon is the Festival’s signature event, with a course that begins at Navy Stadium and circles downtown before heading across the Severn for an out-and-back trek up the B&A Trail. There are also 5k and 10k distances. 

“It’s wonderful running through my home area,” says Sara Pula, who is running in the Festival for the second time. “You know exactly where you are, which helps you plan how to spend your energy. It’s also great to run past areas you typically drive through and have no time to really look at.” Pula notes that the race’s last leg is uphill and historically windy, so having your pacing down helps. Thankfully, race organizers prioritize pacing at the start corrals, allowing for a more organized beginning. 

If you plan to spectate the event, there are good viewing spots on the eastern side of the Naval Academy bridge and by the start of the B&A Trail. All three courses will head down Main Street and run the traffic circle there, providing another spot to catch sight of any runners you may be cheering on. 

Event organizers expect over 3,000 runners for the weekend, says Ryan Corrigan, the race organizer at Corrigan Events. With that many runners, special plans are also being made to support spectators.

“The best spectator signs motivate and make a runner laugh,” says Pula. “Laughing helps us get out of our heads and take in the beauty of the day and the race.” Pula recommends signs that say things like, “Pain Is Temporary: Internet Race Results are Forever!” “You can run slow tomorrow when no one is watching!” and “Run faster! I just farted!”

“We bring out a 60-foot inflatable slide for the kids,” Corrigan says. “We have games like football and basketball, food trucks, multiple food and beverage vendors, and even a big sock-burning pit.” Corrigan recommends that runners burn their socks after finishing their race, rather than before. 

One unique thing about the race is that there is space for families to hang out. “The entire Navy Stadium parking lot and grounds are open for families,” says Pula. “So there’s lots of room for children to run around while you’re running. Space is not a problem.” 

And while other events will hand out burritos and granola bars to finishers, the Annapolis Running Festival takes it up a notch and offers free oysters and shrimp to all finishers. 

“That’s something special that only we do,” says Corrigan. “This is a special event, and we want to make sure everyone has a fun time.”