Roam Beautiful Trails and Finish in Downtown Bethesda
Photo: Joshua Seidman of Silver Spring (right) joined Brookline, MA runner Kit Wells at the finish line of the 2002 Marathon in the Parks.

The 4th annual Marathon in the Parks is scheduled for Sunday, November 9, starting at 7:00 am. The course begins on local roads near the Shady Grove Metro station, then moves on to park trails for approximately 20 miles, and ends with a great finish in downtown Bethesda.

Runners can park their cars at the Shady Grove Metro station, run the race, and then take Metro back to their autos. MITP is pleased to offer farecards for runners who do this. The Bethesda Metro station is just a few blocks from the MITP finish line.

But, no one would want to leave to return to their car until after they have received their commemorative medal, luxuriated with a massage, and enjoyed the wide variety of wonderful postrace food that will be available.

The Marathon in the Parks is a joint venture of the Montgomery County Road Runners Club and the Montgomery Parks Foundation and is laid out to showcase one of the most extensive metropolitan parks systems in the country. The Marathon in the Parks is more than a 26.2 mile foot race; it is a simultaneous celebration of running, nature, and community in a place where all three come together every day. And it is a marathon put on by runners for runners.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top five men and women, the top male and female masters finishers, and the top two male and female finishers in 12 age brackets. Gift certificates will be awarded to the third place male and female in each of the age groups, as well as in various other categories, just to keep things interesting.

All runners will need to pick up their race numbers and packets the day before the race at the expo, which runs from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday, November 8, at the Leland Recreation Center, in Bethesda. The expo is followed by a great pasta dinner which runs from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm adjacent to the expo.

For more information on Marathon in the Parks, or to register online, go to the race Web site www.marathonintheparks.com. If you need additional information, please call the race office at (301) 767- 0002.