Under Armor Marathon, USA OCTOBER 14 The battle of 2006

four-person relay teams from 24 attack. It inspired Washington countries and 49 US states. The lawyer Francis Scott Key, who start line was within walking witnessed the bombardment from a distance of the near nearby truce ship, to write the Oriole Park at Cadmen Yards, a poem “The Defense of Fort famous baseball stadium. McHenry” which would be renamed “The Star Spangled Over the first 4km runners Banner” and become America’s contended with a 66m climb, which national anthem. The Battle of warmed everybody up and brought Baltimore was commemorated by them to Druid Lake within a large the Battle Monument, which scenic park. From here the relieving appears on the city’s seal. descent started back to Inner Harbor past Federal Hill Park. Almost 5000 half marathon runners From 11km the course runs flat for were assembling at their start line the next 14.5 km, along the near the 21km point to greet the thriving and vibrant coastline of marathon pack, who passed by at Inner Harbor, from the restaurants 2:20 pace. From 25km in charming and bars of Greektown and Little Paterson Park, through Clifton Italy to the cultural mecca of Park, and up to the 32km point neighborhood, past scenic Lake Montebelo, renowned for its museums. runners battled with the 70m Baltimore Maritime Museum at elevation and the rolling hills which 23km is notable for its three-ship followed it. The lead pack thinned exhibit of the lightship Chesapeake, down to eight runners. The final the World War II submarine USS descent to the finish begins from By Sergey Porada and Yelena which makes it easy for runners to Torsk, and the USS Taney - the only here and the pace livened up to Kurdyumova get here, not only from the North ship still afloat after the bombing at around 5:30 miles (3:25/km). Yirefu American continent, but from all Pearl Harbor. Birhanu from Ethiopia, an around the world. The organizers accomplished half-marathoner Baltimore is the twelfth largest city conduct a regular runners’ survey Over the first 16km the defending running his first marathon, broke in the United States and is known as and have continuously improved champion, Ukrainian Mykola away at 37km. The 20-year old “Charm City” for its quality of life. every aspect of the Festival. Over Antonenko, and David Cheruiyot went on to wrap up the title, while One of the oldest cities in the 2500 runners participated in the from Kenya led by turns. A pack of Antonenko passed Wilson Komen country, it was founded in 1729 by survey this year, and two weeks 13 runners behind them did not 4km from the finish line and closed Lord Baltimore, the first Proprietary later race director Lee Corrigan accept their challenge, and after down to lag Birefu by 29 seconds. Governor of the Province of came up with his analysis for 16km the leaders slowed down and . The city grew swiftly as a further improvements to the 2007 allowed the baker’s dozen to join Traumas had kept Rima Dubovik food trading port due to its location edition on the marathon website. them. All together, they ran the lap from running marathons for almost on the upper Chesapeake Bay. It still of honor around Fort McHenry, a two years. The 42-year old ranks fifth among US ports, and its This year two route changes had historical landmark constructed in Ukrainian did not appear on the famous Inner Harbor, iconic landmark made the course flatter and faster; 1803 to defend Baltimore Harbor. start list until the eve of the race. of the city, provides 16km of the the Outback Steakhouse At that time the British and French Dubovik started slowly, falling marathon course. In its six-year Celebration Village hosted all day were trying to intervene in the city’s behind the leader, Peru’s Maria history the Under Armour Baltimore event coverage; and a great variety prospering foreign trade and limit Portilla, by more than a minute at Running Festival has been steadily of food and drinks were offered at America’s growing trading role on the halfway point. She then growing. This year participation the finish line and along the course. the high seas. gradually pulled back the deficit, surpassed 11000 among all events, The first 500 runners to pick up passing her compatriot Ilona and its prize purse of $100,000 is their marathon packets were treated During the war of 1812 the British Baranova at 28km and sighting among the ten largest in the country. to a free pair of Under Armor declared Baltimore “a nest of Portilla only 100m ahead. After running socks. pirates,” and attacked it from land 35km Dubovik took full control of There are five airports within 100 and sea. Thanks to the heroism of the race to win from Portilla by 39 miles of the city, Amtrak train links A cool sunny morning (3C) greeted the defenders of Fort McHenry and seconds in a new course record. and a dense freeway network, almost 3000 marathoners and 530 North Point, Baltimore repulsed the Three more women broke the

Distance Running January – March 2007 15 MEN: 1Yirefu BIRHANU ETH 2:16:26 2Mykola ANTONENKO UKR 2:16:55 3 Wilson KOMEN KEN 2:17:05 4 Jynocel BASWETI KEN 2:17:26 5Joseph MUTINDA KEN 2:17:59 6 David CHERUIYOT KEN 2:18:26

RESULT 7Joseph KAHUGU KEN 2:19:07 8 John CHEPOCHOK KEN 2:20:03 9 Demese TEFERA ETH 2:20:06 10 Christopher RAABE USA 2:20:56 WOMEN: 1 Rima DUBOVIK UKR 2:35:44 2 Maria PORTILLA PER 2:36:23 3Ilona BARVANOVA RUS 2:36:25 4 Jennifer CHESINON KEN 2:38:53 5 Margaret KARIE KEN 2:41:10 6Tatiana TITOVA RUS 2:42:22 7 Maria BYCHKOVA RUS 2:44:42 8 Phebe KO USA 2:49:22 9 Christine RAMSEY USA 3:00:26 10 Tatiana MASLOVA RUS 3:04:08 previous record of 2:40. The All events finished at Raven HALF MARATHON MEN: benefits of the course changes were Stadium, and participants and fans 1Valentine ORARE KEN 1:03:44 also evidenced by another event streamed into the Outback record, as seven men broke 2:20. 2Worku BEYI ETH 1:03:49 Steakhouse Celebration Village to 3 Nelson KIPLAGAT KEN 1:04:07 enjoy Gatorade, food, games and Spectators lined the course several WOMEN: deep at viewing points. They saw live music played by a succession of 1 Lyubov DENISOVA RUS 1:15:13 an impressive performance from bands as the back markers came in. 2Kathleen JOBES USA 1:17:35 35-year-old Russian, Lyubov After the battle had been won, 3 Shannon SAUNDERS USA 1:19:46 Denisova, who won the Half whether for prize money or for Marathon by 4.5 minutes and was personal achievement, runners and RACE CONTACT DETAILS only one second outside the 1:15:12 supporters alike could enjoy several record set last year by Ukrainian hours of entertainment from a UNDER ARMOUR BALTIMORE MARATHON, OCTOBER Natalya Berkut. In the men’s Half succession of bands and free Lee Corrigan, 201 W. Baltimore Street, 306 Baltimore, MD 21201 Marathon Valentin Orare from Tel: 1 410 605 9381 Fax: 1 410 605 9389 Kenya broke away from Ethiopian admission into museums and Email: [email protected] Inet:www.thebaltimoremarathon.com Worku Beyi to win, beating the exhibitions on Inner Harbor under course record by one second. the “Free fall Baltimore” program. Full race contact listings start on page 74

Distance Running January – March 2007 17