St. Michaels Running Festival Brings More Than 3000 Participants From 31 States 

Event set for May 17 

Race organizers have announced that the third annual St. Michaels Running Festival will be the largest one yet.  With more than 30 percent of participants coming from more than 31 states, the event will have a tremendous economic impact on area businesses.

In addition to the business impact of the event, this has become a meaningful fundraising event for local charities.  Last year’s race raised more than $45,000 for participating charities including the St. Michaels Community Center, Lilabean Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research, Talbot Humane Society and St. Martin’s Ministries.

This year’s event will feature a kids 1k fun run for the first time, sponsored by Justine’s Ice Cream in St. Michaels. Proceeds benefit the St. Michaels Community Center and St. Michaels Youth and Law Enforcement (SMYLE).

“What a great way to get young people involved in exercise and running at an early age,” said Kathy Lash, owner of the popular St. Michaels ice cream parlor. “Grab your running shoes and join us!”

Trish Payne, executive director for the St. Michaels Community Center, said she’s excited to participate in the kids run this year. “Our kids are pumped up and more than ready to go!” Payne said.

St. Michaels Police Chief Anthony Smith said the success of SYMLE is possible because of community-oriented organizations like St. Michaels Running Festival.

“St. Michaels Running Festival is graciously donating proceeds to programs like SMYLE, the community center and other quality of life focused organizations,” Smith said.

Registration for all race distances, including the kids fun run, is open online at www.runstm.com until May 11 and available at the race expo on Friday, May 16.

Expo spaces and virtual race bag coupons for St. Michaels Running Festival are still available for interested businesses.  For more information visit the race website at www.runstm.com or contact kelley@runstm.com.

For those who missed registration for the sold out inaugural Across the Bay 10k, a race that will take 20,000 runners across the iconic Chesapeake Bay Bridge on Nov. 9, St. Michaels Running Festival sponsors will have a limited amount of race entries available at the expo on May 16 at the St. Michaels Community Center.

St. Michaels Running Festival is a Maryland-based partnership founded by Peter Paris and Sparrow Rogers, both of St. Michaels. More information is available online at www.runstm.com and on (facebook.com/stmichaelsrunningfestival).