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Race Director Opportunity –
Cherry Pit 10-Mile Race
The 2026 edition of the Cherry Pit 10-Mile race is scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026. However, IF this event is to occur as scheduled, we need a member of our Annapolis Striders community to step up and seize the opportunity to serve as race director.
This is an entry level position – no prior race director experience is required.
The ideal candidate for this position is a runner who has run the Cherry Pit 10-miler a time or two in the past and is, therefore, familiar with the race, but who hasn’t yet had an opportunity to volunteer at the race. Although I don’t want to raise the specter of age discrimination, I think it would be great if the candidate for this position was not yet eligible for Medicare. I’m serious folks – the average age of the race directors for the other seven races in the champ series is over seventy. I would like to see a younger Annapolis Strider member take the reins of the Cherry Pit race.
This is not an especially onerous task. The race director for this race has two principal duties. First, you must recruit volunteers to staff the various functions – packet pickup; staff for the three water stops; and course monitors. This isn’t as hard as it might seem because a core of fellow Striders always seems to step up to fill most volunteer positions. Second, you must procure several cherry pies to present as awards to overall winners and age group winners (I recommend Harris Teeeter). I’ll take care of getting required permits and hauling needed equipment from the shed and back again.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact me, Tom Lyden, at toml@annapolisstriders.org.
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46th Annual RRCA CLUB CHALLENGE 10M
8:00am Sunday, February 22nd, 2026
Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland
Represent the Annapolis Striders in the RRCA Club Challenge! This is a race EXCLUSIVE to RRCA running clubs (such as the Annapolis Striders) in Maryland and Washington, D.C., and NOT open to the public. The fastest runners from our club in each event contribute to scoring. Events include overall men/women/co-ed, Under 40 men/women, Masters men/women, Grand Masters men/women, as well as overall individual awards.
If you are a current member of the Annapolis Striders, use the link below with the team code RRCA000AS. Registration is open until February 12th to club members ONLY. You must be able to run at least a 13mpm pace on a hilly course. The course gun time limit is 2 hours 10 minutes. The Annapolis Striders do not supplement the $35 registration (+$3.86 service fee) of the initial race entry, but those who register and show up on race day will be reimbursed $20 CASH. Additionally, there are a very limited number of Annapolis Striders team shirts left from last year (Women’s XS, S, M and Men’s L, XL, 2XL). If you did not receive one already and we have your size, you will also get a team shirt. Do not use form fill…we have multiple instances in the past where someone uses form fill on their emergency contact, and it changes their entry record to also be that of the emergency contact.
RRCA CLUB CHALLENGE 10M
Arrive early (6:50am – 7:40am) for bib pick up and a team photo (7:30am). The gymnasium is complete, so we are no longer in a tent! For any questions email our team captain: casey@annapolisstriders.org
Not interested in running the 10 miles? Better yet come to volunteer and cheer on your fellow Annapolis Striders. To volunteer check the race website.
RRCA Club Challenge 10M – Howard County Striders
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The Annapolis Striders Championship Series and Shorter Distance Bundle
Registration is open!
Registration closes Wednesday, February 11th at 11:59pm!
The Championship Series offers eight races from one mile all the way up to our 16.28 mile Metric Marathon. Annapolis Striders members get scored in each Champ Series race and if they finish six races, they're eligible for awards. The Championship Series is just $50 for all six races. You must be an Annapolis Striders member to get this deal!
The Annapolis Striders Shorter Distance Bundle (SDB) is a series of four races: two 5K races, a one mile race, and working up to a five mile race in November. The SDB is just $35 and Annapolis Striders membership is also required.
Sign up for the Championship Series at Champ Series RunSignup Link or for the Short Distance Bundle at SDB RunSignup Link..
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Valentine's Day 5K
Saturday, February 14th, 2026
First race of the Annapolis Striders Championship Series
Originally known as the Valentine’s Twosome Relay, this race was merged with the Washington’s Birthday 5K to become the Valentine’s 5K. It is the first race of the Annapolis Striders Championship Series for the calendar year and is typically held the second weekend of February at Kinder Farm Park.
Entry fee is $15. Annapolis Striders members will receive a club discount at checkout making the entry fee only $10.00. If you would like to become a member, please visit -- Membership. If the race is not sold out, race day registration will be $25.00 for everyone.
Open to ages 8 - 100.
For more information and registration
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AWARDS NOMINATION FOR
ANNAPOLIS STRIDERS ANNUAL AWARDS
NOMINATION WINDOW CLOSING SOON!
We are coming to the close of the nomination window for our end of year awards, and we still have a few categories with no nominees! If one of your Annapolis Striders running buddies (or you...self nominations are accepted!), had a good year of running, of improved running, of being a wonderful volunteer, or had a come back from a health condition, please take a moment to nominate them! The nomination window will close Saturday night, January 3rd, 2026 at midnight, so go nominate your friends or yourself now! You can view the criteria for all award categories by clicking here. To access the nomination form click here.
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2026 B&A Trail Marathon and Half Marathon
Registration Is Open
Registration is now open for the 2026 edition of the Annapolis Striders B&A Trail Marathon and Half Marathon. The 2026 edition of this event will be held on Sunday, March 29, 2026. The races will once again start and finish at Severna Park High School. Registration prices will increase after the close of the calendar year, so we encourage you to sign up now. For more information, go to B&A Trail Marathon and Half Marathon.
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ANNAPOLIS STRIDERS RUNNER EDUCATION AND
TRAINING
Annapolis Striders membership is required to participate in these training programs. There is no fee for the training programs but you must register.
Keep an eye on this section for announcements about training programs!
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Annapolis Striders Training/Education
Update from Bob Moseley,
VP of Training and Education
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Training and Education Input for this edition:
Current Training Programs: Annapolis Striders Winter 5k Beginning Runners Training Class. 2025-2026 Class began Sunday, November 30th, 2025; led by Laura Amin, there are 33 registered runners. Our Half Marathon training program started up this week of December 29; Training will be led by Elizabeth Neighbors and to date, there are 73 runners signed up. For those considering signing up for the training, please note that there will be a dedicated programs for both beginners and intermediate/experienced runners. Programs will be tailored to the specific needs of the runners and especially encourage those who are “half-marathon curious” to consider signing up.
Coaching Call: We are always looking for coach/mentors for our other training programs, such as the 5K, 10K, Jr. Striders and marathon groups. If you’d like to step into coaching and are interested, give me a shout. As an additional incentive for those who are interested in becoming a certified RRCA Road Running Coach, the club can reimburse you for the RRCA Level 1 Certification.
News You Can Use: How many of you eat before a run? If so, how does it affect your running performance? Personally, there was a time that I felt that even a small amount of food would cause cramps during the run and for years, I held this feeling. Eventually, however, I discovered that my hesitation to eat prior to a run may have been overly cautious and I’ve learned that some foods seem to be beneficial during a run. Here’s a link to an article that breaks things down with some additional insights: Fasted Running: Benefits, Risks and When It Actually Makes Sense https://marathonhandbook.com/fasted-running
Regards,
Bob
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Winter Half Marathon Training
Registration is open!
This program will offer 2 training plans. Our beginner plan will lead you from your first week long run of 5 miles to the start line of your half marathon feeling fit and confident. Our intermediate plan will challenge your cardiovascular and muscular system with the introduction of structured tempo and interval work. Pick the plan that's right for your goals. Training plans start on 12/29/2025 with our target race, the B&A Trail Half Marathon, being held on 3/29/2026. Race registration and payment is not included with the training and must be done separately.
Plans will be emailed and can be completed on your own, but we would love to see everyone at our one or both or our two weekly group runs on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Our two primary meeting locations will be Severna Park High School and the Jones Station Park and Ride. Make sure to sign up and check your weekly coaching emails for details.
Coaches:
Elizabeth Nabors
Bob Mosely
For more information and registration
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Annapolis Striders “ET’s Jesters” Beginners’ 5K Winter Training starts on Sunday, November 30th and ends with the Valentine’s 5K on Saturday, February 14th. There is no cost for the training, however all participants must be members of the Annapolis Striders.
5K Training Location & Time Change
In response to feedback from participants, we are moving the Thursday 5K Training back to Annapolis High's track from 6-7PM, which represents the same time and location as the Tuesday training. There will be no Thursday AM training.
Also, all Annapolis Striders members are welcome to use the Annapolis High track during the 5K training from 6-7 on Tuesdays and Thursdays through February 12th.
For more information and registration
Our group will meet 3 times per week as follows:
Sundays at Bates Middle School track 8AM with Coach Paul
Tuesdays at Annapolis High track 6PM with Coach Laura
Thursdays at Annapolis High track 6pm
We welcome new runners as well as anyone who enjoys a little camaraderie and fun. Our coaches are RCA trained and we include a dynamic warm-up, progressive walk/run approach, information about important running topics, and a cool-down during each session. Training typically lasts an hour.
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ANNAPOLIS STRIDERS BOARD MEETINGS
NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday, January 6th, 2026
6:00pm
Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library
1410 West Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
NOTE: Since the libraries are shortening our room reservation finish times, we’ve decided to start the meetings earlier to accommodate. Therefore, the meeting start time will likely change to 6pm starting in January.
Please remember that ALL Annapolis Striders members are welcome at our monthly Board Meetings, the first Tuesday of each month.
The meetings are a hybrid format.
Use the Zoom Link if you cannot attend in person.
Meeting ID: 945 9400 7107
Passcode: 075740
Stay tuned to the E-Streak for future meeting locations.
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Do you like getting together with other runners for a run or a meal, drink and camaraderie?
We are looking for volunteers for the Social committee to help arrange for the club’s monthly happy hour and/or running socials. Contact Annapolis Striders President, Darrell Mak if you are interested!
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Meet & Greet Your Fellow Annapolis Striders
at our Socials
Bring friends or potential new members!
Check here for future gatherings!
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AS A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY:
COMMUNITY RACES AND NEWS
See "For your information" above to submit a race.
Please check the provided links below for updated information about the community races, including fee structure, race details, cancellations, etc.
Once posted, community race information is
not automatically updated in the
E-Streak.
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Annapolis Striders members are now eligible for 10-20% off purchases at Running Warehouse (runningwarehouse.com). Enter code BS4U2KNQ at checkout.
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