Guilford Avenue Embraces Marathon

The 3000 block of Guilford Avenue is a colorful place, literally.

But on the day of the Under Armour Baltimore Marathon, it’s more than just the paint of the houses that shine. The marathon route comes right up the street, and the residents embrace the event.

Some residents held tailgate like gatherings on their front porches sharing Bloody Marys with their neighbors and cheering runners on. Others socialized on the sidewalk and danced to music pouring out onto the street.

John Spurrier, who lives in Charles Village, DJ’d from the deck of a friend’s house in the block. He said he has been playing music for the marathon runners for about nine years now.

Spurrier said that he plays mostly carnival music from the eastern Caribbean because it’s upbeat. He said most runners will only get to hear the music for 50 seconds to one-minute tops, and he wants to play something to help keep them moving. 

And Spurrier's had some interesting experiences come out of the event.

He said one runner really liked a song he’d been playing when he ran by. So the runner came back to the block after the marathon and was knocking on doors trying to find out what the name of the song was.

Eventually the man was able to track down Spurrier’s phone number through a neighbor and called him to ask the name of the song.

“He called and was singing [the song] over the phone,” Spurrier said.

Spurier said they eventually narrowed the tune down to the Gnarls Barkley song Crazy.

He also said that one year, a woman came back after the marathon and handed him an envelope with $50 inside.

“I couldn’t have finished the marathon without you,” Spurrier said the woman told him.

One pair tries to keep runners inspired in a very light hearted manner.

Peggy O’Leary of Hamilton and Nate Sweeney of Charles Village wore tiger costumes, stood on a car and danced to Survivor's Eye of the Tiger as runners went by.