According to a recent study by RESI, a research and consulting firm located at Towson University, the 2005 Under Armour Baltimore Running Festival generated $13.5 million dollars in revenue for the state of Maryland. This number is up nearly $1.75 million from a year ago due in part to record entry of nearly 11,000 participants. $2.025 million dollars was also collected in state and local taxes. In five years, the event has resulted in $55 million dollars being pumped in the state's economy.

As a result of this year's running festival $750,000 was generated for local charities. Some of the beneficiaries this year were the United Way of Central Maryland, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Walker-Whitman Clinic, Baltimore Reads, Moveable Feast, Special Olympics of Maryland, Parkinson's Foundation and Health Care for the Homeless. Since the inception of the event in 2001, more than $3 million dollars has been given to local charities.

Lastly, live coverage of the marathon on WBAL-TV was the highest- rated program in Baltimore between the hours of 6:00 AM and 11:00 AM Saturday, Oct. 15. The coverage peaked with a rating of 8 meaning that roughly 88,000 households were watching the race at one point. The rating is up from last year when the broadcast peaked at a 6.6. This marks the third-straight year that coverage of the marathon ranked #1 in its timeslot.

The sixth annual Under Armour Baltimore Running Festival will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2006 at M&T Bank Stadium. Mail-in registration is now available; call (410) 605-9381 for an entry form.

For more information visit www.thebaltimoremarathon.com.