CUMBERLAND — The executive director of County United Way called her agency’s partnership with the Mountain Maryland Marathon festival this April “a perfect marriage.”

Mary Beth Pirolozzi’s life is fully integrated between the marathon festival and its presenting sponsor, Life Fitness Management. Pirolozzi said she is “a product” of the 10-month-old LaVale gym.

As County United Way embarks on its 10-year initiative to improving the health, education and income in Allegany, Garrett, Mineral and Hampshire counties, Pirolozzi can’t help but think back to when she didn’t participate in a regular exercise routine — and even took suitable measures to avoid it.

“Exercise and a regular kind of health regimen was never part of my growing up,” said the 55-year-old Cumberland native. “I rode bikes, played hopscotch and played kick the can. That was part of daily life.”

But “as I got to be older ... including an exercise program into daily life was not impressed upon me,” she said.

Pirolozzi said she used claims of a demanding work schedule — true, but not good enough — as “a real easy cop-out” to not join a gym. Since joining and regularly working out with Life Fitness Management trainers, however, she’s reported increased strength — from 57 percent to 100 percent depending on the muscle — improved blood pressure and a better feeling overall.

Using herself as an example, Pirolozzi and other County United Way officials will conduct a series of town hall-style meetings beginning at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Allegany County Health Department on Willowbrook Road. There’s another meeting that day beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Second Baptist Church at the intersection of Oldtown Road and Grand Avenue in South Cumberland and other meetings through the four-county area in the two weeks.

While now valuing the annual membership to a health and wellness facility, it wasn’t until her late mother was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy — which caused blindness — and later died of congestive heart failure that Pirolozzi took what appeared to be “a wake-up call” and did some “soul-searching.”

Childhood obesity is on the rise, Pirolozzi said, and it’s a local issue she hopes experts and parents alike begin to “take seriously.”

The Mountain Maryland Marathon festival starts and finishes in downtown Cumberland at Canal Place. The first-year festival consists of five separate events, each scheduled for April. Those seeking a hearty challenge can complete the 26.2-mile marathon. There also is a 13.1-mile half marathon and a 5K for United Way, unique because 100 percent of an entrant’s fee goes to County United Way. For younger participants, there are a kids marathon and the 400-meter tot trot.

The kids marathon is unique in its own right — and a vehicle, Pirolozzi said, which could be used to motivate and inspire children ages 13 and under to “get out of the house (and) off the couch ... to see and experience other things.” Kids marathoners are asked to complete 25 miles between sign-up and April 18. On April 19, participants — 35 children so far, with plenty of room for more — will complete 1.2 miles and cross the same finish line as the full marathoners.

For those who are more apt to lead a sedentary lifestyle, Pirolozzi has one request: “Try it, you might like it.”

It’s “contagious,” she said. “You feel so good by the time you’re finished.”

For more information on County United Way, visit its Web site at www.cuw.org or call (301) 722-2700. For details on the Mountain Maryland Marathon festival, go online to www.mountainMDmarathon.org.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.