Not many people can say they ran underneath the Patapsco River, but now about 900 Special Olympians and their supporters can add that to their athletic achievements.
The occassion was Sunday's sixth annual Fort McHenry Tunnel 5K run/walk to benefit Special Olympics Maryland.
It was hot inside Fort McHenry tunnel No. 4, even though the ventilation system was on high. The lights were on and the white tiles were shimmering. A group of cadets training to be Maryland Transportation Authority Police was running in formation and shouting cadences that bounced off the tunnel walls.
As they emerged from the tunnel on Interstate 95 into the hazy morning light, the runners were greeted with honking horns of approval from the truckers and motorists from neighboring lanes. Not surprisingly, the runners said they found the race memorable.
Daniel Bisers, 28, a Baltimore engineer, was first across the finish line, completing the 3.1 miles in 17 minutes, 45 seconds. "It was a unique experience," he said. "And a good cause."
Jim Schmutz, president of Special Olympics Maryland, worked the crowd as the runners prepared for the race and again while they were refueling on more than 900 burgers and chicken sandwiches grilled up by the staff of Outback Steakhouse on Boston Street.
"Thanks for coming," he said. "Did you have a good time?"
"We are hoping to raise about $40,000 this year," he said. "But we'd like to eventually get to 1,000 runners."
There are 90,000 Marylanders with intellectual disabilities, but only about 7,000 participate in the two dozen sports offered year round, everything from Alpine skiing to boccie, said Schmutz. "We need to get the word out."
For 10 Special Olympian runners, this race was more than a fun run. It was a qualifying race for the state distance championships that will be held at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg at the end of October.
The first special athlete to finish was Mark Worley, 28, of Columbia, who finishing in under 22 minutes. "The air was hard to breath," he said. "I just pushed through."
Worley raced with his identical twin, Bruce, but pulled away to finish ahead of him. The brothers run daily, but are very competitive and rarely train together. "It's a twin thing," explained Bruce, who, along with the other dozen Howard County Special Olympian runners is trained by his father, John.
It was Madrice Guy's first tunnel run — and his first race of any kind. The 34-year-old software engineer wanted to support the cause and thought running through a tunnel would be a cool first experience.
"It was hot in there," he said. "I have to say it was a breath of fresh air when we saw the light at the end of the tunnel." Sweat dripping, he laughed when he realized the string of cliches he'd just uttered.
Rebecca Hemler, 34, was the first woman to finish, crossing in 21:19. She works for the therapeutic recreation program in the Baltimore Recreation and Parks Department, heard about the race at the office.
The runners entered the tunnel and ran about a mile and a half before turning and coming back through, and the stragglers cheered the leaders as they did.
"It was warm but really exciting," said Hemler as she waited for her dad, Bob Hemler, to finish. "The crowd coming the other way was shouting for us and I loved it. It was so energizing. And the novelty is nice."
It was the first race ever for Janet Payton, 51, from Severn. Her husband signed them both up and she wasn't thrilled. But she finished in 40 minutes and was motivated by the chanting of the police cadets, who also raised more than $5,000 in pledges.
"This was a different way to start [running races], but the spirit was exciting."
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Top finishers
5K Male
Male Overall Winners
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Daniel Bisers Baltimore MD 47 28 1 17:47.2
2 Chris Vesely Baltimore MD 565 20 2 18:49.0
3 Greg Jubb Baltimore MD 646 24 3 19:00.9
Male 15 and Under
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 RUSSELL SCHWARTZ Ellicott City MD 743 14 10 21:07.7
2 GEORGE DUNCAN Annapolis MD 727 15 28 23:23.2
3 JARED LEATH Severn MD 754 13 37 24:17.4
Male 16 to 19
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 CODY ORDAK Baltimore MD 711 18 32 23:48.1
2 Trip Logue Columbia MD 314 18 39 24:32.8
3 Matthew Weingram Owings mills MD 587 18 42 24:49.6
Male 20 to 29
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Aaron Long Baltimore MD 315 23 4 19:07.4
2 Paul Jerry Clinton MD 248 24 5 19:11.6
3 Joe Roy-Mayhew Baltimore MD 456 28 6 19:47.7
Male 30 to 39
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Michael Potts Laurel MD 429 30 7 20:37.0
2 Phillip Pawlukovic forest hill MD 410 35 8 21:00.4
3 William Aleshire Gambrills MD 17 38 9 21:02.9
Male 40 to 49
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 David Lang Olney MD 289 44 12 21:21.2
2 Tim Brown Baltimore MD 69 44 13 21:37.4
3 Hunter Spotts Baltimore MD 507 45 15 21:58.7
Male 50 to 59*
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 DUANE CHRISTY Havre de Grace MD 708 51 23 22:50.6
2 Steve Phillips Crofton MD 425 53 30 23:30.3
3 Elliott Weinstein Baltimore MD 588 53 31 23:34.4
Male 60 to 69
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Pim Brouwers Silver Spring MD 64 66 63 26:37.7
2 Charles Kuning Baltimore MD 687 62 105 29:49.5
3 Larry Stake Hanover MD 510 66 197 35:21.7
Male 70 and over
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 David Graham New Windsor MD 205 72 311 49:05.2
2 Newell Devilbiss Abingdon MD 147 71 345 1:00:39.3
5K Female
Female Overall Winners
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Rebecca Hemler Nottingham MD 224 34 1 21:19.4
2 Paige Boehmcke Baltimore MD 50 23 2 22:41.4
3 Ana Lesho Ellicott City MD 304 13 3 23:48.9
Female 15 and Under
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Emily Coard Abingdon MD 113 13 70 32:23.9
2 CAROLINE BOYD DAVIDSONVILLE MD 785 14 86 34:00.4
3 grace frazier ijamsville MD 183 12 93 34:12.0
Female 16 to 19
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Jordan Levush ABingdon MD 650 16 20 28:26.4
2 Emma Sullivan Abingdon MD 528 16 31 29:43.2
3 Alivia Ruggiero Elkridge MD 662 16 88 34:02.5
Female 20 to 29
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 MARIA SAMBUTO Owings Mills MD 722 22 5 24:47.5
2 Mary Olson Baltimore MD 394 23 6 25:06.2
3 Ashley Canter Baltimore MD 84 24 8 25:35.8
Female 30 to 39
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Kristin Cunningham Baltimore MD 675 30 4 24:20.7
2 Amanda Kingsland Catonsville MD 266 33 7 25:21.1
3 Jennifer Coletta Columbia MD 116 32 11 26:21.3
Female 40 to 49
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Kim Novak Laurel MD 389 44 23 28:39.1
2 Adrienne Stith Laurel MD 669 46 26 29:00.5
3 Amy Dorman Hampstead MD 156 47 30 29:40.4
Female 50 to 59
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Terry Merritt Baltimore MD 353 53 10 26:16.8
2 Laurie Kimbel Baltimore MD 262 50 15 27:29.1
3 Brenda Placke Hanover PA 660 57 19 28:20.8
Female 60 to 69
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Joan Koch Allentown PA 270 60 24 28:44.1
2 Linda Tice Timonium MD 548 69 34 29:44.8
3 Marina Stewart Baltimore MD 516 68 116 35:25.6
Female 70 and over
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time
1 Karen Ohlrich New Market MD 392 72 180 39:10.9
2 Jeanette A Novak Damascus MD 388 70 234 44:45.8
3 DEBORA LARRY Lutherville MD 759 72 259