It will take place at the Fairgrounds.
Runners from all over the US and the world will be converging on Frederick for the 2016 Running Festival, which will take place on Saturday, May 7th, and Sunday, May 8th at the Fairgrounds. “Once again, we have in the neighborhood of 7,000 total participants which we’re really proud of,” says Lee Corrigan, the President of Corrigan Sports Enterprises, which is putting on the event. “This year, we are on Mother’s Day which we’ve added some fun stuff to celebrate that as well.”
Corrigan says there will be some mothers running in the Half-Marathon on Sunday. “A VIM section, which is a Very Important Mother’s section. They have opportunities to kind of have a VIP experience there at the start and finish line area, which some great food and great drinks. It should be a lot of fun for the moms and their daughters and their sons,” he says.
He says 7,000 participants in the Half-Marathon come from 30 states, and some foreign countries, including Canada, India, Uganda and Japan. “That will be music to the ears of the tourism people in the state of Maryland and Frederick County because we all know those people stay overnight, and they head off to the bars and restaurants and have a great time in Frederick,” he says.
As it has been in recent years, Corrigan says his crew receives help from the men at the Frederick Rescue Mission during the Running Festival. “They’ll be out there before the race starts, helping us set up. During the race, a lot of them will be participating. And, of course, helping us manage all the goings on during race day,” he says. In addition, the Rescue Mission will help clean up the Fairgrounds after the event is completed.
Corrigan also says part of the proceeds from the race will go to local charities. He says on average, $40,000 is collected for area non-profits.
The Half-Marathon takes place on Sunday mornings, and the runners travel through downtown Frederick near many churches which are beginning their services. But Corrigan says his crew has been working with the churches over the years to make sure the race doesn’t interfere with Sunday services. “Instead of fighting it and worrying about, we have a lot of churches that come out on the church steps and watch everybody run by for a little while, and cheer us on. We even have some choirs out there,” he says.
The Frederick Running Festival begins on Saturday at the Fairgrounds with a Health and Fitness Expo from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. There will also be a Kids Fun Run starting at 5:00 PM, and a Twilight 5K at 6:00 PM. An awards ceremony will take place at 7:00 PM.
On Sunday, the Half-Marathon will begin at 7:00 AM in front of the Fairgrounds on East Patrick Street. There will also be a shirt pick-up at the Celebration Village between 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. An awards ceremony for Overall Winner of the Half Marathon and the Team Relay will take place beginning at 10:00 AM.