Bagel Runs

Every Saturday morning at 7:00AM, a group of Howard County Striders and friends get together in the parking lot in front of the indoor Swim Center in Wilde Lake for informal distance runs. Runners of all skills and abilities come out,and group themselves based on pace, and then go out for runs ranging from 7-20 miles. The courses are well laid out on Columbia's path system and residential streets. The individual routes by mileage are well described in the book, by lifetime Strider Warren Ohlrich, entitled "Columbia Running Routes". Striders volunteer weeks in advance to put out water at three locations. On an average week, 20-30 runners come out and there is a streak going many years (since April, 1979) with at least one person showing up for the Bagel Run regardless of the prevailing weather conditions.

At the Wilde Lake Village Center, where the morning run starts, is the Bagel Bin. The Striders congregate there after finishing to continue discussions or get bagels to take home. The runs are very informal, with the only formality being that they always start at "exactly" 7:00AM all year long. This is an especially great way to train for the marathon distance... running in the company of friends.

Directions: The Bagel Runs start in the parking lot just behind Feet First in the Wilde Lake Village Center. To the uninitiated, getting around Columbia can be challenging, but follow these directions closely and you should be fine. From Rte. 95 (North or South) exit onto Rte. 175 West towards Columbia and continue past Rte. 29 into "downtown". Right before the Columbia Mall, take a right onto Gov. Warfield Pkwy., then right onto Twin Rivers Rd., then left onto Cross Fox Lane. Follow this road around to the back of the shopping center and look for the other runners in front of the Swim Center.

For more information about the Bagel Runs contact Steve Zelenak at szelenak@comcast.net