Friday, May 20, 2011
This volunteer coach at Severna Park High School placed second in his age group in Boston.
At many schools, cross country coaches assign their runners a workout, watch them leave the school grounds and head onto the trails. An hour later, these coaches welcome the runners back to school grounds, say a few words and dismiss them until they meet again the next day. This is not the case at Severna Park High School (SPHS), where the coaches are also runners. Not back of the pack runners, not middle of the pack runners, but fast and fit runners. Coach Elmer McPhail, a volunteer coach during the cross country season and the sprinter’s coach during the track season, is the oldest - and the fastest- of the three coaches. But he didn’t start that way. McPhail has been running since he was in middle school where he wasn't the …
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Last weekend's marathon celebrated its 20th anniversary on Sunday.
When the B&A Trail Marathon was run for the first time 20 years ago, it was a small town race meant to attract local runners and Annapolis Striders members. Over time and thanks to the inclusion of a half marathon distance the race has grown from just a couple of handfuls of participants to a thousand. Registration for the race closes earlier and earlier every year. This year it closed in January, leaving many runners scrambling to find another spring marathon. Despite the forecast for a very wet morning, over 800 runners chose to make the trek the starting line this past Sunday morning. The race began with a live performance of the National Anthem, a few words from race director Donna Cogle and the theme song from "Rocky." Because I …
39.076479
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Severna Park Senior High School
60 Robinson Rd, Severna Park, MD
/articles/ba-trail-marathon-attracts-runners-far-and-wide
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Severn School
201 Water St, Severna Park, MD
/articles/ba-trail-marathon-attracts-runners-far-and-wide
455762
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Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Runners are the first to tell you that Donna Cogle and her cast of volunteers make running the 26.2 miles easier.
In just under two weeks, even before the marathoners and half-marathoners make their way to Severna Park High School to compete in the B&A Trail Marathon on March 6, the school will be filled with volunteers. Starting at 5 a.m. on race morning, the Annapolis Striders club members, local runners and dozens of students from both SPHS and Severn School will be preparing for hundreds of runners who will toe the line at the 20th annual running event that begins at 7:30 a.m. The marathon that started out as a race to meet a need for county runners has become a destination race for runners from across the country. Donna Cogle, Annapolis Strider’s race director and her plethora of volunteers have earned a reputation for organizing well-run …
39.068835
-76.546539
Severn School
201 Water St, Severna Park, MD
/articles/volunteers-gear-up-for-b-a-trail-marathon
455762
/locations/3462273
39.076479
-76.55705
Severna Park Senior High School
60 Robinson Rd, Severna Park, MD
/articles/volunteers-gear-up-for-b-a-trail-marathon
456052
/locations/3462274
Ronni Partridge
6:02 am on Saturday, May 21, 2011
I remember when my son was on Coach's team, I pointed Coach out to the parent of a boy on another team who was a runner himself, and the other parent said, "That guy?? That guy is amazing!" Apparently Coach McPhail's reputation had preceded him. And he was right. Coach was not just a good athlete and a great example, but also a mentor to the runners. Am so pleased to read of his accomplishment. more ›