BLOG: Maryland Half Marathon

I was honored to join more than a thousand runners for the 2nd annual Maryland Half Marathon in Timonium Sunday morning (to benefit the Greenebaum Cancer Center at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore). For the second straight year we were greeted by a morning drizzle as we headed into a challenging 13.1 mile trek through Baltimore County. The journey is a tough one, with many difficult inclines. That journey is emblematic of the very cause for which we gathered to raise funds and awareness.

Like cancer, the half marathon course can tax your body and test your soul. But like the fight for health, runners summon an inner strength- and with support of peers and those along the route, they are encouraged and uplifted to carry on. It is with that spirit and those afflicted in mind that we endeavor the challenge. Most inspiring was the present of a couple of young cancer survivors who were there to signal the race start and help with the recognition of the race winners.

Congrats to top overall finisher Matt Klashus of Street, MD. The 23-year old knocked out an impressive 1:20:11 half-marathon (and, by the way, he tells me is an avid listener of "The Mark Viviano Show" on 105.7 The Fan. The top female finisher was Courtney Brown of Harwood. Kudos to all! And many thanks to the many volunteers and the Baltimore County Police for keeping the route safe for us runners. Special congrats to the Greenebaum family and John Sevil for their hard work and dedication in making it an outstanding and growing local event. I'm proud to be part of the WJZ-TV team that got behind the effort.