CUMBERLAND — Cub Scout Pack 2 of Cumberland is to supply up to 20 volunteers for the second Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival scheduled for April 18 in Allegany County.
The marathon festival, which includes six different foot races, has more than 300 registered runners so far from 14 states and Washington, D.C. Karen Clark, coordinator for the volunteers from Pack 2, said her Scouts and their parents will help hand out water and sports drink to passing runners along the route, which is largely contested on the Great Allegheny Passage recreation trail.
The Scouts are volunteering as part of the Potomac Council, Boy Scouts of America’s national “Good Turn for America” service day. The call to service is to specifically address the issues of hunger, homelessness and poor health in the nation. Clark said not only will many Scouts and parents spend much of the day outdoors providing aid and refreshing nourishment to runners, some Scouts are planning to run either the 1.2-mile kids marathon or the 5K for United Way. Other events that day include the 26.2-mile Mountain Maryland Marathon, the 13.1-mile RRCA Eastern Region Half Marathon Championship and the two-person marathon relay along with the 400-meter tot trot.
Last year’s inaugural event welcomed near-perfect weather conditions, with temperatures in the mid-50s and sunny. Clark said she’s hoping for equally good weather April 18.
“If it rains, there might be a lower turnout” of younger Scouts, Clark said. “The older kids are used to camping in the rain.”
Proceeds from the marathon festival once again benefit County United Way, which serves Allegany, Garrett, Mineral and Hampshire counties. Michele Walker, County United Way office manager in downtown Cumberland, said plenty of volunteer opportunities remain on the days leading up to and on event day.
Other groups registered to volunteer include nearly two dozen students from Frostburg State University’s Recreation and Parks Management class. For the second straight year, students made the marathon festival their semester project. In addition, members of Leadership Allegany! plan to be out in full force, both providing help to runners and promoting its planned Adventure Race! Mountain Maryland in June.
“Ideally, we’ll get enough groups, from student athletic teams and orchestras and whatnot, to take charge of a certain water and aid station along the course,” said Kevin Spradlin, race director. “At the end of the day, runners will vote for the aid station they felt best manned. The top three aid stations will be recognized in post-race promotions.”
There are six, and possibly seven, water and aid stations along the course. Volunteer opportunities also include race-day registration, traffic control and delivery services, among other possibilities.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, call Walker at (301) 722-2700 or Spradlin at (301) 697-6035 or visit the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club online at www.marathonclub.org.
