Spring is finally here. This means warm weather, beautiful days and impending summer fun! And for many, this also means time to start hitting the treadmill, shaping up for sunny days at the beach.
Some people, I'm sure, will be visiting the new Athletic Center, you know, that big building beyond MegaBytes and Terrace Food Court, for the first time this year. I personally enjoy daily workouts at the AC; its actually quite relaxing and provides a perfect excuse for homework procrastination.
Admittedly, workouts at the AC can become quite tedious after a while. And without a doubt, it's no fun being cooped up in a sweaty gym on a pleasant afternoon.
Luckily for us all though, getting in shape can be much more fun than spending hours sweating away at the treadmills, elliptical trainers and stationary bikes. Running marathons and charity runs, 5k runs being the most frequent, have become increasingly popular in recent years. They provide an excellent opportunity to get out, get in shape, meet new people, promote a good cause and have a great time. Plus, there's usually the added bonus of free t-shirts, goodies and after-run parties.
The great thing about these events is that they actually encourage you to bring friends. Many of the races offer extra incentives and prizes for the largest organized teams in a marathon. And of course, prizes are always granted to the first contestants to reach the finish line.
Involvement in 5k runs is fairly simple and there are plenty of runs in the Baltimore area during the month of April. Most races can easily be registered for over the phone or even through the Internet.
And if the runs listed below are not enough for you, Baltimore has a number of running clubs that are eager to gain new members. Two excellent Baltimore running web sites that give running information are http://finishedproduct.com and http://baltimorerunning.com. If you have any further questions or would like to subscribe to the Baltimore Running Newsletter e-mail the Baltimore Running Store's Jim Adams at jim@baltimorerunning.com.
At any rate, there are plenty of running opportunities in Baltimore during this month. So no excuses, just go out and have some fun.
