Festival staff hand out water at the 12th mile marker during the Frederick Running Festival.
May will soon be here, ushering in the season of cookouts, sunny days—and the annual Frederick Running Festival. Organized by Corrigan Sports Enterprises, the two-day event gives athletes of all backgrounds chances for exercise and friendly competition against their fellow community members.
This year’s festival takes place on Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7, and features four races. The adult race on Saturday is the Twilight 5-K, which begins at 6 p.m. That evening also features the Kid’s Fun Run at 5:10 p.m. The adult Team Relay and the CareFirst Half-Marathon both begin at 7 a.m. the following morning.
For the truly fit—or truly unhinged—there is the “Nut Job Challenge,” which includes both the Twilight 5-K and the CareFirst Half-Marathon. Those who attempt it and succeed will receive an extra medal at the conclusion of the half-marathon.
“The event is not like any other race I have been to,” says Esther Shafer, certified clinical medical assistant, Occupational Health Services, who has been running in and helping participants register for the festival for years. “There are lots of positive vibes that encourage everyone to participate regardless if you are running or walking.”
NCI at Frederick knows all about that positivity—members of the NCI community have participated in the festival for over a decade. Over 80 staff have already signed up this year, again demonstrating the Frederick National Lab’s support for the festival and engagement with the greater Frederick community.
Participants must register online prior to the day of the festival, and they are encouraged to do so as early as possible because each event’s entry fee will increase on Monday, May 1. More information about the events can be found on the Frederick Running Festival website.