Welcoming Runners to Waverly

In what has become an autumn tradition some of us have gone out to the green median strip at East 33rd Street and Ellerslie Avenue to shout WELCOME TO WAVERLY to Baltimore Marathon runners. With signs saying We put the Wave in Waverly and a banner and our cheers, it has become a festive celebration we can all share that beats complaining about trying to get our cars out of the neighborhood.

Seeing athletes from all around the world racing through our town is a special treat as is finding runners pass by us whom we actually know. It is almost impossible to get a decent photo of someone you recognize as they speed by and not appropriate to ask them to stop and smile. Many runners were wearing neon green tee-shirts proclaiming TEAM FIGHT though I couldn't ask them to take time out to explain what that was all about. Folks who had friends or family members running also show up at Mile 22 to see them go by and to give them a special personal cheer or hold up a sign, such as GO DAD GO. The Maryland Patch Editor flew by but had time to throw me a shirt he had stripped out of, which I am now obligated to get back to him. Because I knew Baltimore City Police Commissioner Frederic Bealefeld was doing the half marathon, I chalked GO COMISS GO onto the pavement for him to see. The Baltimore Area Triathalon Club set up colorful SWIM BIKE RUN sails across the street from the WELCOME TO WAVERLY banner and they played motivational music on a boom box that had many runners swaying their hips.

I always see neighbors come out for this party who I never see any other day of the year so it is also just plain fun to mingle with other onlookers. The athletes all seem to enjoy getting this kind of enthusiastic community support, too.

It quite an awesome achievement running a marathon! I'm glad the runners get to come through my neighborhood and grateful the city supports this event.

Bravo to all the men and women from city government - especially the police - for being out there to insure traffic gets detoured and that the couse is safe. There are always a few irate drivers who seem to be clueless about what is going on and the police on all those corners are commended for putting up with a few very rude outbursts.

I come home hoarse but knowing I have been part of something exraordinary.