Kenyan John Itati won’t cruise to victory this year at the 2008 Under Armour Baltimore Running Festival.
That was a goal of Clay Shaw, the marathon’s elite athlete coordinator, who wanted to make the field significantly tougher than when Itati won in 2007.
“Itati won by four minutes,” Shaw said. “I couldn’t let that happen again. I’m too competitive with what I’m doing to let that happen again.”
Shaw improved the field by increasing the total prize purse by $10,000 to $125,000, with the winner of the men’s and women’s marathons guaranteed $18,000.
This year’s 26.2-mile race will feature a record 17,500 competitors from all 50 states and 27 countries. It will be broadcast live on WBAL TV.
“What a great event this is for the community,” said Lee Corrigan, president of Corrigan Sports Enterprises, which organizes the event. “It builds great pride and gives Baltimore exposure around the country and around the world.”
The best challenger from the area is Dave Berdan, 27, of Parkville. His career-best time was 2:23:43 at the 2007 Steamtown (Pa.) Marathon. The most challenging part of the course for the former Elizabethtown (Pa) College runner will be from Miles 16-22, as the route begins to climb toward Lake Montibello.
“It’s challenging,” said Berdan, who placed sixth in the half-marathon in 2006. “I ran the half-marathon two years ago, and that’s the second-half of the course. I got an idea of that part of the course. Getting online, looking at the map and just knowing the area, I know it’s hilly. It’s going to be challenging.”
Itati — who won the marathon in 2004 (at a course-record 2:14:51) and 2007 – is a favorite, along with Australian Andrew Letherby (career-best 2:11:42 at the 2005 Berlin Marathon) and Kenyan Tekeste Kebede (career-best 2:11:48 at the ‘04 Rock & Roll Marathon in San Diego).
Whether a new record is set Saturday will hinge upon the temperature. The daytime high is forecast for the upper-70s, with a mid-50s prediction for the 8 a.m. start.
“I’m hoping that the temperature they’re calling for doesn’t happen until 2 o’clock, so it’s a little cooler in the morning,” Berdan said. “You have to make sure you’re taking you’re fluids during the race, and throwing water on yourself whenever you get a chance. You really have to pace yourself and not go out too hard.”
The Marathon file
When: Saturday, 8 a.m.
Finish line: Camden Yards, between Oriole Park and Ravens Stadium
Web site: thebaltimoremarathon.com
Races
Marathon & Team Relay
Start: Russell and Camden streets, 8 a.m.
Half Marathon
Start: Conway and Light streets, 9:45 a.m.
5K
Start: Paca and Pratt streets, 8:30 a.m.
Numbers
300,000 – cups used for water throughout the course.
82,000 – cups used for Gatorade throughout the course.
11,849 – Marylanders register for the festival, the most of any state.
8,800 – gallons of water used throughout the course and at the finish line.
4,000 – gallons of Gatorade used throughout the course and at the finish line.
70 – participants are celebrating their birthday at the festival.
26.2 – miles in the Marathon.
16 – aid stations spaced throughout the course.
