Insider’s Guide to the Komen Maryland Race for the Cure
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
The 25th Annual Komen Maryland Race for the Cure has a new location this year at Baltimore’s McHenry Row on October 15. Through events like the Race for the Cure, Komen Maryland has invested $38 million in local community breast health programsand national research.
But our work is not over. 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime and 5,250 women in Maryland will be diagnosed this year. Maryland has the 6th highest breast cancer death rate in the country.
Please join us and turn awareness into action at www.raceforthecure.org/baltimore
The Race for the Cure is much more than a 5K! It’s a morning to celebrate survivors, honor those living with breast cancer and remember those we have lost to the disease. It’s a day filled with inspiration, emotion and fun. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy the day to the fullest:
Packet Pick-Up
Komen Maryland is proud to partner with Charm City Run for this event. Picking up your t-shirt and bib ahead of time makes Race day much easier. You can pick up for your teammates, but if you are collecting for a team larger than 5 people, please call 410-938-8990 or email info@komenmd.org at least one day ahead of time so that our volunteers can pull your packets and you can avoid long wait times. You can also drop off donations and collect fundraising rewards at packet pick-up locations. Have you seen our cool fundraising rewards? Check them out here: http://bit.ly/2vMwGTi
Saturday and Sunday, October 7-8, 10 am to 4 pm
Charm City Run—Timonium:
2045 York Road
Timonium, MD 21093
Free parking.
Friday, October 12-13, 4 to 8 pm
Charm City Run – McHenry Row
1713 Whetstone Way
Baltimore, MD 21230
Free parking.
Saturday, October 14, 10 am to 4 pm
Charm City Run – McHenry Row
1713 Whetstone Way
Baltimore, MD 21230
Free parking.
Sunday, October 15 (Race Day) 7:30 am to 10 am
Registration Tent
Corner of Whetstone Way and Fort Avenue
Getting there….
Although there is no parking at McHenry Row on Race morning, (aside from those with a state-issued handicap tag), there are many alternatives to get you to the start line. Here are the broad strokes, maps and more information can be found on our website at http://bit.ly/2jbGV0K
Ride the light rail for free! It will be opening early with free rides for Race participants. You can pick up a wristband to ride free at packet pickup locations. Get off at the Convention Center stop, walk two blocks and get on the Charm City Circulator, which will take you right to the Race Village.
There are 5 parking garages in the inner harbor offering special parking rates of less than $10. Park, walk a block or two to the Pier V Water Taxi Stop and take a free boat ride to the Anthem House stop near Race Village.
In Canton, there are 2 parking lots with dedicated shuttles to Race Village.
If you are taking a ride share service, cab or just getting dropped off by a friend, use the GPS address 921 E Fort Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230. This drops you at the Wine Market, which is just a block from McHenry Row.
If you live downtown and want to bike over, there are bike racks at McHenry Row.
We are discouraging parking in the Locust Point neighborhood. Please be respectful of the residents in this beautiful community.
Pre-Race Festivities
The Race Village at McHenry Row will open at 7:30 am.
There will be music on the main stage near Harris Teeter, and the pre-Race program begins at 8 am.
A chorus from Garrison Forest School, our top team in the schools category, will sing the National Anthem.
The aerobic warm-up by MissFit Gym at 8:30 am will get your motor running, along with coffee from Zeke’s near the start line.
Portable restrooms will be located on the ball fields and behind Dunkin Donuts.
Don’t carry your stuff on the race course! Check it at the UPS bag check behind Charm City Run.
Check out the sponsor tents along Whetstone Way and the ballfields for giveaways and special offers.
Survivors can visit the Survivor Patio near the Iron Rooster and the water tower for a special breakfast and activities.
Drop off donations and pick up your fundraising rewards at the donations tent.
Bid on hand-made quilts, gift baskets and other items at the Raffle tent.
There will be lots of fun “Kids for the Cure” activities on the ballfields.
Race Time!
The Race starts at 9 am for all participants.
Line up on Fort Avenue at the Whetstone Way/Fort Avenue intersection. The Race heads east on Fort Avenue towards Fort McHenry.
Timed runners should go to the front, followed by untimed runners, then walkers, then those pushing a stroller or doing the 1-mile family fun walk.
Enjoy some music and a few remarks by Race officials and Today’s 101.9 Gina Crash as we count down to “go” time!
If you have a chip on your bib, don’t worry if you don’t cross the start line right away—the chip will assure your actual start line to finish line time is what counts.
The 5K will proceed down Fort Avenue, turn right onto Andre Street, make a u-turn back onto Fort Avenue, head down to the Fort McHenry entrance, where you will make a hard right onto the Fort McHenry seawall path, follow it around the fort and back to the start line.
The 1-mile walk will turn around at Andre Street and return to the start line.
While at Fort McHenry, please stay on the seawall path and be respectful of the grounds of this national shrine.
There will be entertainment and water stops along the course.
Finish with a smile! Woohoo, you did it! Take a selfie, use the hashtag #KomenBMore or #MoreThanPink
Keep walking, cool down and grab some snacks and water at the tables along Whetstone Way.
Post-Race Par-tay
The Main Stage Post-Race program begins at 10:15
Awards for timed runners will be presented at 10:20
The Survivor Parade of Pink begins at the Survivor Patio at 10:40 am and travels down Whetstone Way.
Bust a move at the main stage Dance Party from 10:45 to 11 am.
We wrap things up at 11 am.
Before you leave beautiful McHenry Row, have lunch at one of the many restaurants there, shop at the stores or stop in Harris Teeter and grab some groceries.
Take shuttle buses and water taxis back to where you parked or to the light rail.
Thank you for your support of Komen Maryland!!
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@komenmd.org or 410-938-8990.
About the Author: Kim Schmulowitz
Kim Schmulowitz is the Communication and Marketing Director for Susan G. Komen Maryland. This will be her 15th Race for the Cure as a member of the Komen Maryland staff. Since her last name difficult to pronounce, the local media loves to call her Komen Kim.
