1. Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 women’s running shoes ($99.99) at Falls Road Running Store. 2. Live Lucid Skin 2 legging ($65) at Movement Lab. 3. Under Armour No Breaks infrared glove ($29.99) at Charm City Run. 4. The North Face Denali thermal headband ($25) at Charm City Run. 5. Nike black sports bra ($40) at Charm City Run. 6. Hydro Flask 32 ounce water bottle ($39.99) at Vita. 7. LOLE Gali hooded tunic ($90) at Vita. 8. lululemon Movement Lab tank ($45) at Movement Lab. 9. The North Face Fly-Weight tote ($40) at Vita. 10. Saucony Omni Reflex Tight leggings ($98) at Charm City Run. 11. Brooks PureFlow 5 men’s running shoes ($72) at Charm City Run. 12. Under Armour Undeniable small duffle bag ($39.99) at Princeton Sports. 13. Under Armour Storm water resistant jacket ($99.99) at Princeton Sports. 14. Under Armour Storm Trooper tee ($34.99) at Princeton Sports. 15. Flip belt ($28.99) at Charm City Run. 16. Route One Apparel Maryland beanie ($20) at Falls Road Running Store.

Clockwise from top: Under Armour tank ($30) at Princeton Sports. Welly bamboo water bottle ($35) at Charm City Run. Maaji shorts ($58) at Charm City Run. 1-pound weights ($3/each) at Princeton Sports. Nike Zoom Pegasus 35 shoes ($120) at Charm City Run. Concorde Active jump rope ($9.95) at Princeton Sports. In bag, from top: Cork yoga mat ($100) at Prosper Wellness. The North Face tank ($28) at Fleet Feet Baltimore. Nuun Hydration tablets ($7) at Charm City Run. Hoka One One Ora flip flop ($50) at Fleet Feet Baltimore. Under Armour sports bra ($39) at Princeton Sports. Patagonia gym bag ($79) at Princeton Sports.

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SHOWER WIPE
These convenient wipes are a shower on the go. Nathan Power Shower wipes ($5) at Princeton Sports.

BODY LOTION
Slather on an emollient-rich body lotion to keep skin soft. Hand in Hand body lotion ($2.99) at Target.

DRY SHAMPOO
Absorb excess oils and leave your hair feeling clean. Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo ($4.69) at Target.

RAZOR
Don’t be fooled by its size! This razor features five curve-hugging blades. Venus Snap razor ($7) at Target.

Although the last few weeks have doused Charm City with rain, we’re headed into the last full month of summer. Despite the humid temperatures, August is the perfect time to experience our city through fitness. We rounded up some of our favorite ways to get out there to enjoy the sunshine while getting fit—check out our short list of fitness classes, al fresco events, and other outdoor opportunities below:

Studio Classes

Waterfront Wellness
Waterfront Partnership has teamed up with Medifast to offer complimentary waterfront workouts this summer and they are still happening every weekend this month. On Saturdays, stretch and sweat with yoga by Brick Bodies and boot camp by XPF and Dance2Fitness. On Sundays, join for vinyasa and/or family yoga with Yogaworks as well as a beginners run with Charm City Run.

BeachFit at Pendry Pool
Take your practice poolside with BeachFit’s weekly yoga sessions at the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore pool. Right in the heart of Fells Point, the boutique hotel is the ideal spot to warrior on the water Wednesdays at 7 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m.

M. Power on Natty Boh Rooftop
While the sun is shining and Mr. Boh is watching over you, join M. Power for their signature rooftop yoga flow. They are hosting a special sunset yoga flow with Mezcal (need we say more) on August 17 at 7 p.m.

FloYo at Four Seasons
Our Four Seasons Baltimore is bringing standup paddle-board yoga to the Hotel’s outdoor infinity pool, with the city’s Inner Harbor as its picturesque backdrop! Get on the SUP boards at the special pool-edition of FloYo on August 18.

Outside of the Box

Market Yoga with the Baltimore Museum of Industry
On August 18, stretch your muscles before shopping for your greens at the BMI’s Farmers Market yoga class on their waterfront terrace.

Yoga in the Garden with The Preservation Society of Fell’s Point
Start your Sunday off with local yoga instructor Emily Fleming for yoga in the garden at The Preservation Society of Fell’s Point on August 19!

Race Pace at AVAM
Join Race Pace Bicycles for their annual Tours de Federal Hill bike ride. This free race starts on August 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Race Pace before AVAM’s Flicks on the Hill event August 30.

Marissa Walsh Yoga at Tiki Barge
Join Marissa for her summertime practice under the shadow of the Domino Sugars sign on Tuesday, August 21. All levels of yoga are welcome as there will be many options and modifications.

Run Wild

Of course, summer is also the perfect time to take your runs, walks and bike rides outside! Check out our past roundup of favorite routes in and around Baltimore here.

No matter what time of year, it’s always a great feeling to lace up your running kicks and get outside. Between waterfront walkways and treelined parks, Baltimore has its pick of beautiful running routes. We have some incredible routes for seasoned runners, casual joggers, and those just hoping to get a few steps around town. Some of our favorite Baltimore runners helped us compile a list of their go-to routes.

Fort McHenry
Not only is Fort McHenry an important historic site, it’s also a beautiful location to run and walk. Once around the Fort’s paved track is approximately one mile, so you have the opportunity to make the run as short or as long as you want. Bonus points for the Visitor’s Center being open regularly with public restrooms. There is parking at the Fort, outside of the complex in Locust Point and just a mile down the road from McHenry Row.

Herring Run Park
This urban oasis is located in Northeast Baltimore and has a paved four-mile loop trail, including two new bridges that go over Herring Run river. There are opportunities to walk, run or bike along the stream bed and “the trail is almost all shaded for summer runs,” says occasional Baltimore contributor Ryan Detter. If you’d also like to visit Lake Montebello, it is approximately 1.35 miles around—so you can add on to your run or use it as a beautiful cool down.

Waterfront Promenade
It’s easy to appreciate the stunning views around the Inner Harbor and waterfront neighborhoods. No matter how far you’d like to go, the promenade, running from Canton to Federal Hill, offers an opportunity to be close to the water at (almost) every turn. “My main running route is running along the Inner Harbor,” says Lauren Seserko. “If you hug the water, you can run all the way from Canton through Fells Point to Locust Point and even make it to Fort McHenry and run that loop.”

Jones Falls Trail
Escape the city (without ever leaving) on the paved Jones Falls Trail. Starting in Mt. Vernon, follow the trail by the Baltimore Streetcar Museum. “You can either take it all the way to Union/Woodberry or go up into Homewood campus,” says Detter. You can even take this trail all the way through Druid Hill Park (past the Maryland Zoo). Detter says this is “where you’re doing switchbacks in the woods and you won’t even feel like you’re in the city.”

Druid Hill Park
Speaking of, if you’ve visited our amazing Maryland Zoo, then you’ve seen the lovely tree-lined streets within Druid Hill Park. There are so many picturesque areas to walk/run through the park (and picnic after) and most are paved, providing an even run surface. The 1.5-mile loop around Druid Lake is a scenic, light track. If you’d like a longer, more challenging run, try out the course for the Dreaded Druid Hill 10K—this 6-mile trek will take you through and around the park with more than a few bumps in elevation. (This route is going to be affected by current park construction.)

Loch Raven Reservoir
While located just north of Towson, this area is a beautiful place to escape the city streets. With a variety of paved and off-road trails, you can easily walk or run for two miles, five miles, or even 10. “Part of it is closed to cars on the weekends,” says Seserko, “so it’s a great place to get a long training run in on paved and off-road trails.” While this area has beautiful nature views all year, early summer is ideal since all the plants are blooming.

Patterson Park
Located downtown in between Fells Point, Canton, and Highlandtown, Patterson Park is a massive, wonderful city park. A full loop is approximately two miles, with the opportunity to add more as you wind through the sidewalks inside the park. Don’t miss the beautiful Patterson Park Pagoda and ducks in the boat lake.

Stony Run
Located near Loyola University’s campus, this wooded trail is made for a soft walk/jog alongside stream valleys, lovely parks, and beautiful Baltimore neighborhoods. For nearly three miles, you’ll travel through approximately 15 residential areas—including Roland Park, Hampden, Remington, and Tuscany-Canterbury. Recently, the trail was updated with a new footbridge, connecting several miles of the trail. It’s a lovely escape from the bustle of downtown and, as Detter says, “you don’t even feel like you’re in the city.”

Charles Street
Prepping for the Chuck 12? Start and end on this race’s namesake. If you’re hoping to enjoy the street’s downhill benefits, start at the top closer to Towson University. You’ll run approximately six miles if you start at Lake Avenue and end at the Inner Harbor. Of, if you’d like an uphill challenge, you can also run up Charles Street to the JHU campus and back down St. Paul/Light Streets for approximately six miles.

Goucher College
Like many of our local universities and colleges, Goucher generously allows the public to use their grounds for running and fitness. Runners can park in their main Dorsey parking lot and use the trails around campus. BONUS: Baltimore Road Runners club meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings here throughout the year!

Looking for run buddies? Join one of these run crews to build up your endurance and support system.

Monday Charm City Run Rise & Run: Every Monday morning, CCR Fells Point hits the promenade early for a sunrise four-mile run.

Faster Bastards: Every Saturday at 8 a.m., the Faster Bastards team runs about 10 miles from Canton Waterfront Park, through the trail by Sandlot, around to Rusty Scupper and back. On Wednesdays, they also run through Druid Hill Park at 6:30 p.m.

Monthly Tuesday Shake Shack Run: Every month, the CCR crews from Locust Point and Fells Poin get together to hit the bricks then end at Shake Shack. First round of beers is on the team once you arrive.

THUNDERBIRD AMERICAN INDIAN DANCERS
11/2. Goucher College, Kraushaar Auditorium, 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd., Towson. 10:15 a.m. & 12 p.m. $9. In bright feathers and embroidered clothing, this lively group will dance and sing in the Native-American tradition.

HARVESTING THE PAST
11/12. Maryland Historical Society, 201 W. Monument St. 1 p.m. Free-$9. Bring the kids to learn about Maryland’s Native-American farming practices with hands-on activities.

THANKFUL FOR TURKEYS
11/12. Lake Roland Nature Center, 1000 Lakeside Dr. 10 a.m. Free. Drop in to the nature center to investigate turkey artifacts and make a craft. 

NATIVE AMERICANS OF MARYLAND 
11/12. Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd., Parkville. 1 p.m. Free. Try out the same tools that local Native Americans used to hunt, fish, and grow crops.

LET’S TALK TURKEY 
11/18. Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd., Parkville. 1 p.m. $2-4. Meet a live turkey and learn about the bird that became a symbol for Thanksgiving. 

THANKSGIVING CRAFTS 
11/20. Enoch Pratt Free Library, 3801 Erdman Ave. 5:30 p.m. Free. Grab a piece of paper and pair of scissors to make a classic hand turkey or other Thanksgiving-inspired craft.

TROT THE TRAIL 5K
11/19. Herring Run Park, 3800 Belair Rd. 8 a.m. $5. Prep for the big Thursday gobble with a bright-and-early run on Sunday morning.

Y TURKEY TROT CHARITY 5K
11/23. Stieff Silver Building, 810 Wyman Park Dr. 8:30 a.m. $5-42. Burn some pre-feast calories with a 5K for no-guilt slices of pumpkin pie. 

GOBBLE COBBLE TURKEY TROT
11/23. MAC Harbor East, 655 President St. 8 a.m. $35-40. Grab your sneakers and hit the city streets for this festive 5K through the Inner Harbor before the big meal.

The Lion King
Nov. 16-Dec. 10. The Hippodrome Theater, 12 N Eutaw St. Tues.-Sun. 1 p.m.-8 p.m. Prices vary. Hakuna matata. Whether you sang it as a kid or to your tots, who can forget belting out these words along with Timon and Pumbaa as scenes of Africa and its animal kingdom crossed the silver screen? The Lion King was a childhood dream, in the heyday before kids’ movies became overcomplicated by too much computer animation and 3D. Since 1997, Julie Taymor’s record-shattering stage interpretation has hauled in millions of viewers and heaps of awards to make it the third-longest running show on Broadway. It’s been 20 years since the original cast graced the stage in gigantic animal head costumes and intricate patterns of bright body paint, but the show has proved its staying power, still churning out about $2 million in sales each week and nabbing the title of highest-grossing show in history. This month, see what all the hype is about when The Lion King comes to Baltimore for some 30 performances at the Hippodrome. From November 16 to December 10, bring your young ones—in age or at heart—and let the show transport you to the savanna as you sing along to all those beloved songs. We know you remember the lyrics.

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Baltimore Voices
Nov. 1-3. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. Wed.-Fri. 10 & 11:30 a.m. Free-$6.50. 410-783-8000. From its outdoor community concerts to the BSO Pulse series, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has been upping the ante when it comes to celebrating our homegrown musical talent. This month, the symphony highlights city voices during its mid-week educational concert, featuring beatboxer Shodekeh, hip-hop collective Baltimore Boom Bap Society, and the co-founders of WYPR’s Out of the Blocks podcast. In a showcase of talented Charm City residents, high-energy remixes and local student interviews mingle with Beethoven classics.

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Trevor Noah
Nov. 4. The Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. 7 & 9:30 p.m. Prices vary. 410-837-7400. For one night only, The Daily Show host and South African comedian brings his signature stand-up—a mix of incisive political commentary with charmingly comical personal stories—to the hallowed Hippodrome stage. 

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Charm City Fringe Fest
Nov. 2-12. Locations & times vary. $27-98. 410-682-8902. At the beginning of the month, Baltimore’s indie performing arts festival returns for the sixth year, with 11 days and more than 90 performances across six stages in the Bromo Arts District. Catch eclectic, original works, from off-kilter comedy, poetry readings, and magic to a rock opera and even a haunting thriller performed on roller skates.

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Across the Bay 10K
Nov. 5. Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Stevensville. 5 a.m.-2 p.m. $60-200. For one fall Sunday, lace up your sneakers and join the more than 20,000 people in the state’s largest running event—a 10K across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Whether you’re a practiced runner or novice jogger, this 6.21-mile course should be a breeze, with stunning views of the Eastern Shore and crisp autumn air blowing over the brackish waves beneath your feet.

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Fabergé and the Russian Crafts Tradition
Nov. 12-May 27, 2018. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. Wed., Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Free. 410-547-9000. Through the lens of the famous Fabergé egg, learn about the extraordinary artistry of Russian jewelers and enamel workers during the turn of the 20th century. Explore more than 70 ornate objects, including two original Easter eggs crafted for Romanov royalty, plus a contemporary print exhibit that reimagines the delicate shells.

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Bazaart Holiday Art Market
Nov. 24-25. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. Fri. 12-6 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 410-244-1900. Escape the commercialized chaos of Black Friday sales at this Baltimore-centric art shop, equipped with hand-crafted gifts by more than 40 regional artists. From homespun jewelry and hand-pressed prints to organic beauty goods and kids’ toys, there’s something for everyone on your list, including visionary art as whimsical and wacky as AVAM itself. 

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Just a Kid from Highlandtown
To Nov. 18. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. 410-276-1651. Graffiti, skate, and club culture have deep roots in Baltimore’s Highlandtown neighborhood, thanks in large part to local success story Aaron LaCrate. With his rise to international renown in the early 2000s, the creator of streetwear brand Milkcrate Athletics put the city’s counterculture movement on the map and has since become a trendsetting staple and collaborator with everyone from JAY-Z and Kanye West to Madonna. This month, the Creative Alliance celebrates the Southeast Baltimore native’s career with an exhibit that journeys all the way back to his crate-hopping youth.

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Miracle on 34th Street
Nov. 25-Dec. 31. 700 block of W. 34th St. Times vary. Free. The holidays officially arrive in Baltimore when the 34th Street stretch of Hampden transforms into its annual winter wonderland. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and partake in this kitschy tradition. See the neighborhood houses decked in thousands of twinkling lights, including illuminated Natty Bohs and Maryland crabs and, of course, the iconic Christmas tree made entirely out of hubcaps. 

ELLICOTT CITY LABOR DAY RUNNING CLASSIC 
9/2. 12290 Folly Quarter Rd., Ellicott City. 8 a.m. $10-35. Soak up the bucolic charm of Ellicott City in this 5K and 10K race.

UNDER ARMOUR CHARLES STREET 12
9/2. 800 Kenilworth Drive, Towson, 410-321-1901. 7:30 a.m. $75-90. This 12-mile course starts up at the Shops at Kenilworth and weaves its way south by Towson University before heading downtown via Charles Street. Runners finish with a post-race celebration at Under Armour headquarters.

SPARTAN RACE
9/9-9/10. 27861 Budds Creek Rd., Mechanicsville 7:30 a.m. $79-174. Journey through jagged terrain in this endurance-testing obstacle course.

NIGHT NATION RUN
9/23. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Lutherville. 4:30 p.m. $30-60. DJs deliver electronic beats as you walk, run, or dance. 

CHARM CITY RUN 20 MILER
9/24. Northern Central Railroad Trail, Freeland. 8 a.m. $40-55. Embrace the great outdoors in this 20-mile run along the NCR Trail.

RUN WILD FOR AUTISM
9/24. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1 Safari Pl. 7 a.m. Free-$40. Charge or stroll through the zoo for a
worthy cause.

THE COLOR RUN
9/30. Camden Yards Sports Complex, 333 W. Camden St. Free-$35. Dash through splashes of color during this festive 5K.

Calling all runners, walkers, and movers and shakers: Local specialty running company Charm City Run is opening its eighth location in August. The new 1,900-square-foot store will be at the corner of Thames and Caroline streets, right between the Fells Point and Harbor East neighborhoods. 

“That area seems to be constantly growing and we are excited to be here,” says Ashley Lines, marketing director for Charm City Run. “We have our downtown Locust Point location currently, but we just felt like there was a need for the wellness community on the other side of the harbor.” 

Charm City Run hopes to attract the many runners and pedestrians that pass by the new location on their way to work. You can expect to see a consistent array of shoes, apparel, and accessories from brands the store already carries, like Saucony, Mizuno, Under Armour, and many more. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the store’s unique fitting process—they analyze and measure your feet, ensuring that you pick the best shoes for your body. 

This location will offer pub fun runs, free community yoga classes, and, of course, the store’s well-known training groups, which meet up several times a week in preparation for specific races that are happening around town. 

“We have never been in the business of just selling shoes,” says Charm City Run owner, Josh Levinson. “We want to provide a great community and access to support for runners and walkers of all abilities and experience. We want people to meet, run, and connect.”

With winter bringing shorter days and less sunshine, those who love to pound the pavement are forced to rethink their running schedules. For Towson’s Tim and Julie Polanowski, this was not an option.

After driving home one winter evening and witnessing a runner in dark clothing bobbing and weaving down the road to avoid cars, the couple decided to do something about it. Disappointed by the reflective gear already on the market, they came up with the concept for At Night Athletic. “We want to help people find their wellness on their time and their schedule,” says Julie.

The pair developed the idea for their first illuminated athletic wear in January 2015—women’s capri leggings and men’s shorts—inlaid with LED lights to provide significant visibility for evening walkers and runners. The lights are powered by a lightweight battery pack that sits in the waistband of the garment. The pack, which resembles a small belt buckle, is rechargeable and interchangeable when paired with other items from the brand.

For additional safety, it has a panic button that will change the light’s color and emit an alarm. The pack also has the ability to connect to your phone via Bluetooth and can send a preset emergency text message to your designated contact with your GPS location.

In the future, At Night Athletic is looking to develop more pieces for its well-lit collection, including styles for hikers and bikers, and it hopes to be in local boutique retailers this spring. “We will look to see where the market takes us,” says Tim. “I’m proud to have gotten this far. The fact that we have gotten something out there that we created means more to me than a lot of the other successes I’ve had in my life.”

Many people compare life to a marathon, with its highs, lows, goals, and obstacles. At Back on My Feet, the national organization that works to combat homelessness through running and community support, this metaphor rings true.

BoMF Baltimore recruits participants from residential recovery facilities like Christopher’s Place and the Helping Up Mission, and, along with dozens of volunteers, helps members restore confidence, strength, and self-esteem so they are better prepared to move onto a new and healthy lifestyle. Three days a week at 5:30 a.m., members and volunteers come together as a team to run various distances with one very important rule: No one runs alone.

“One of the best things about Back on My Feet is that you would never know at the start or finish line who has a home and who doesn’t,” says Sydney Van Horn, development and marketing coordinator for BoMF Baltimore. “Our members are the lifeblood of our organization. They are the reason we get up and do what we do. Their energy is infectious and they have personally taught me so much about life, and being physically and mentally strong in the face of hardships.”

After the first 30 days in the program, members with a 90 percent attendance rate move into the second phase, where they are offered educational support, job training, employment referrals, and housing resources. BoMF also provides running gear for its members who reach certain milestones. More than 80 percent of the participants will make it to the second phase, with some even setting larger goals and planning for races like the Baltimore Marathon on Oct. 15. For Marc Morgan, an alumni of the program and a member of Team Christopher’s Place, this will be his first half-marathon.

“I’m excited about this opportunity to run my first marathon. It means a lot to me,” he says. “[Back on My Feet] is the best thing that has happened to me in my 51 years of life, and I can say that wholeheartedly.”

Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show
Oct. 8-17. Various locations. Between our historic, national-anthem-inspiring fort and a certain highly decorated Olympian, Baltimore is no stranger to patriotism. It’s only fitting, then, that—for the first time in history—Charm City will host the Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show to celebrate the rich naval heritage of the Chesapeake Bay, as well as the state’s contribution to the defense of the United States. The seventh of its kind in the country, and a descendant of the 2012 Sailabration and 2014 Star-Spangled Spectacular, the festival will feature a full 10 days of red, white, and blue . Join hundreds of thousands of onlookers as historic ships arrive and thrive in the city’s waters, accompanied by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, plus dozens of maritime-themed events. At the Inner Harbor and in Fells and Locust points, board the decks of navy vessels and schooners, catch more than 40 boats competing in the Constellation Cup Regatta, and check out the Fleet Week Fair, with regional food and live music by local and military bands. At Martin State Airport in Middle River, there will be aircrafts on display, both on land and in midair, with flight takeoffs, landings, and pilot autographs. But back where it all began—where a star-shaped fortress protected the city from British attack by the bay—celebrations will abound at Fort McHenry, with ship salutes, sailor meet-and-greets, and living history programs. Just don’t miss the main event, as the legendary Blue Angels fly over the grounds that inspired those iconic lyrics, long ago: “O say can you see . . . ”

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Pigtown Festival
Oct. 8. 700-900 blocks of Washington Boulevard. 12-7 p.m. Free. 443-908-7038. Just west of the hustle and bustle of Federal Hill, the small neighborhood of Pigtown sits pretty with charming row homes, timeworn warehouses, and a growing brood of businesses. During this 15th annual festival, watch the streets fill with people, food, live music, and the swine of its iconic pig races.

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Open Studio Tour
Oct. 8-9. Locations vary. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 410-752-8632. Go behind the scenes of the Baltimore art scene during this weekend-long look inside local studios, presented by School 33 Art Center. For the 28th year, visitors can meet dozens of artists across the city, view their creative processes, and browse their works in fine painting, mixed media, film, sculpture, and more.

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Baltimore Running Festival
Oct. 15. Locations & times vary, starting at 7 a.m. $15-280. 410-605-9381. Runners, after months of training, it’s the day you’ve all been waiting for—the Baltimore Running Festival is finally here. Whatever your abilities, hit the pavement with everything from a 5K race to 26.2 miles through the heart of Baltimore City. Test your endurance or run for one of many great causes, including the Kennedy Krieger Institute or One Love Foundation.

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U.S. Oyster Festival
Oct. 15-16. St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds, 42455 Fairgrounds Road, Leonardtown. Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free-$7. Oysters are all the rage these days, but whether you like ’em raw, steamed, or grilled, bring your appetite to the 50th annual U.S. Oyster Festival for a weekend of live music, local food vendors, and plenty of shucks to go around. Watch the country’s fastest shuckers compete for cash prizes in the National Oyster Shucking Championship, or try your luck in the amateur contest. Thanks to the recent boom in Baltimore’s aquaculture, this year’s oyster cook-off is sure to impress (and indulge) local oyster-lovers, with categories like hors d’oeurves, soups and stews, and entrees.

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WPOC Weekend in the Country
Oct. 15-16. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 1 p.m. $55-175. 410-715-5550. Even the most serious country music haters are now putting on their cowboy hats for the boot-scooting Southern genre that’s made its way into the mainstream. Don your bandanas and cutoff jeans to hear big names like the party-starting Little Big Town (“Pontoon,” “Day Drinking”) and up-and-comers like the dynamic duo LOCASH (which is one-part Baltimore native). After 15 years, local country music radio station 93.1 FM has turned this swaggering Southern music festival into a favorite fall tradition.

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Baltimore Craft Beer Festival
Oct. 22. Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St. $35-65. 410-252-9463. Get to know Maryland’s booming craft beer scene at the edge of the Baltimore harbor. For one fall Saturday, sample the state’s very best with nearly 150 local beers, including RAR Brewing’s Nanticoke Nectar IPA and Union Craft’s barrel-aged Old Pro with blackberries, plus live music and local bites by the likes of The Smoking Swine and BricknFire Pizza Co.

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Doors Open Baltimore
Oct. 22. Various locations. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 410-625-2585. For one day, go behind the scenes at Baltimore’s historic buildings, museums, and landmarks as part of the third annual Doors Open Baltimore. In this free, citywide event, explore more than 50 locations from Mount Washington to South Baltimore, like the Peabody Library, Peabody Heights Brewery on the former site of the old Oriole Park, and the new Baltimore Immigration Museum in Locust Point. Get started at the Maryland Historic Society to map out a self-guided tour of these Charm City sites.

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Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Oct. 23. Executive Plaza, 11350 McCormick Road, Hunt Valley. 7-10 a.m. $10-50. Founded in 1993, Komen Maryland has contributed more than $37 million to breast cancer research and programs, and its volunteers, staff, and members won’t stop until they’re #OneStepCloser to finding a cure. At this 24th annual race, Komen brings survivors and supporters together for competitive and recreational 5K runs, a 5K walk, and a one-mile family fun walk, raising funding and awareness for the cause along the way. Afterward, celebrate the triumph of survivors with a recognition walk and dance party.

The new year is all about trying new things, making resolutions, and, most importantly, sticking to them. This January, challenge yourself to learn something new with one of these eight events.

Taste the City

JAN. 10: RA SUSHI LESSON
RA Sushi Bar Restaurant, 1390 Lancaster St. 2 p.m. $32-60. 410-522-3200. Learn the traditions of sushi, its cultural significance, and, of course, how to roll your own at RA.

JAN. 28: WINE & CANVAS
Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Hwy. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $40. 410-727-4808. Enjoy a glass of wine while you learn to paint a Ravens-themed masterpiece.

Get Moving

JAN. 1: NEW YEAR’S DAY RESOLUTION RUN
Patterson Park, 2638 E. Baltimore St. 2-6 p.m. $15-30. 410-308-1870. Start the year off right with a 5K through Patterson Park, finished off with a hearty chili dinner.

JAN. 5-26: GROUP TANGO CLASSES
Towson Dance Studio, 9486 Deereco Rd., Towson. Tues. 7 p.m. $65-70. 410-828-6116. Dance your January nights away with tango lessons in Towson.

See Something New

JAN. 20-MAR. 5: RAOUL MIDDLEMAN
C. Grimaldis Gallery, 523 N. Charles St. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Free. 410-539-1080. Don’t miss prints and watercolors by this prolific contemporary American painter and MICA professor whose works have been shown at the Met, National Gallery, and BMA.

JAN. 21: MAKE NIGHT: INSCRIBING THE SELF, ISLAMIC BOOKBINDING
The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. 6-9 p.m. $25-35. 410-547-9000. Learn about the history of Islamic bookbinding and try it for yourself with help from bookmaker Kelly Laughlin.

Conquer Your Fear

JAN. 23: COMEDY TONIGHT!
Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St. 10 a.m. $100. 443-615-7055. Whatever your experience level, head to the local theater and partake in this comedy acting workshop with noted playwright Michael Hollinger.

JAN. 30-31: REPTICON
Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium. Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5-12. 863-268-8573. Forgo your fear of scaly, snaky things at this up-close-and-personal exhibition featuring hundreds of reptiles, exotic animals, vendors, activities, and informational seminars.

Before you fall into a turkey-induced food coma this Thanksgiving, throw on some sneakers and take part in one of the many races happening around town. Whether you decide to stroll or sprint, here are 10 ways to burn it off before you gobble it down.

What: KILTS & CRAIC
Distance: 5K or 1 mile run/walk
Details: Nov. 9. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Timonium. 8 a.m. $45.

What: ACROSS THE BAY 10K
Distance: 10K run
Details: Nov. 9. 895 Oceanic Dr., Annapolis. 7 a.m.

What: THE COLOR RUN
Distance: 5K run/walk
Details: Nov. 15. Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 333 W. Camden St. 9 a.m. $45-55.

What: SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS DAZZLE DASH
Distance: 1.4 mile run/walk
Details: Nov. 15-16. Symphony Woods, Columbia. 5:30 p.m. $18-25.

What: LIGHTS ON THE BAY
Distance: 5K run
Details: Nov. 21. Sandy Point State Park, 1100 E. College Pkwy., Annapolis. 6:15 p.m. $14.

What: ZOO ZOOM 2014
Distance: 1 mile or 8K run/walk
Details: Nov. 23. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 8:30 a.m. & 9:30 a.m. $20-45.

What: TURKEY TUMBLE FOR AUTISUM
Distance: 5K or 10K run
Details: Nov. 23. Patterson Park, 2601 E. Baltimore St. 9 a.m. & 10 a.m. $25-45.

What: Y OF CENTRAL MARYLAND TURKEY TROT
Distance: 5K run/walk
Details: Nov. 27. Multiple YMCA locations. 8:30 a.m. $30-42.

What: GOBBLE COBBLE TURKEY TROT
Distance: 7K run
Details: Nov. 27. Maryland Athletic Club, 655 S. President St. 8:30 a.m. $30-35.

What: NCR TRAIL MARATHON, RELAY & 8K
Distance: 8K and marathon run
Details: Nov. 29. Sparks Elementary School, 601 Belfast Rd., Sparks Glencoe. 8:30 a.m. & 8:45 a.m. $25-100.

“The truth is, I really don’t like running. I just like the way I feel when I’m done.

I am 48 years old. I have been running, basically, since I met my
wife a little more than 25 years ago. She was a runner, and if I wanted
to keep up with her, I had to run.

I’ve been doing the Baltimore Running Festival every year for the
past 10 years—since it began. I was already running marathons, so I
said, ‘Here I am in Baltimore, might as well run the Baltimore marathon
as well.’

I’m supposed to run five days a week. I know what I’ve got to do and I have training regimens to do it; I just don’t do it.

I’m definitely more of a morning runner. I run on the NCR trail and I
also run around the Loch Raven Reservoir to get some hill action. To
me, the whole key to finishing 26.2 miles is you’ve got to run three
20-mile races before the marathon date. If you don’t run three 20s, then
you’re not going to be prepared.

The marathon is a fantastic tour of the city. The best way to see any
city is running through the streets: You see neighborhoods. You see
offices. You see where people shop. You see where people drink coffee.
You see parts of the city that you can’t see from driving through it.
The thing I enjoy the most is running through Fort McHenry. I would just
say that is truly inspiring.

I would not run these races if not for the citizens of Baltimore.
Baltimore’s residents have gone from ‘I hate those blasted runners for
shutting down the city streets’ to ‘This is an inconvenience’ to ‘Well,
here come those crazy runners again. . . . We might as well cheer them
on!’ Their support is great and much appreciated.

I think my best finishing time was 4:45. I follow a pacer for the
first half, and then I slack off. I try to do a reverse-split, which is
where you go faster the second half than the first, but I’ve never been
able to do that because I get tired. I always have a great half
marathon, and then at mile 13, I’m like, ‘Oh God, I’ve still got to run
another 13 miles.’

The key is to start in your appointed time. If you’re a 10-minute
mile person, don’t start with the three-hour marathoners, because what’s
going to happen is they’re going to pull away and then you’re going to
have 2,000 people trying to pass you.

I guess the craziest thing I’ve seen are lots of people going to the
bathroom in bushes. The worst thing I’ve seen is when the organizers ran
out of water a couple years ago because someone stole the water during
the race. Somebody had driven behind the delivery truck and stolen all
of the water, so the people who were running slow, when they got to the
water stop, there was no water, and that really pissed a lot of us off.

I hate going by relay stations because you’re chugging along, and
then these guys bolt out like it’s a horse race and shoot by you, and
it’s very discouraging.

The worst part is when people double back on you. So, if I’m coming
down mile nine and they’re going past [in the other direction] at mile
13, they’re four miles ahead of me. It’s like, ‘Oh, crap.’

When I’m running, I’m really just thinking about the finish, thinking
about getting it over with and done. Eye on the prize. I get the
adrenaline rush toward the end, when you come down Eutaw Street, through
Camden Yards. That’s pretty neat because you’re running along the
cobblestone, you can see the finish, everyone’s screaming and yelling
and cheering, and you’re almost done.

My first thought when I finish is, ‘Where’s the beer?’ I’ll tell you
why, because when I finish, the water’s been sitting out there for six
hours, the Gatorade’s been sitting out there for six hours, it’s a hot
day, and the only thing cold is the beer. The best beer I’ve ever had in
my life was after finishing a race.

The best feeling I’ve ever had, personally, in my life is the first
time I finished a marathon. There’s no feeling quite like that. I’ve
spent hundreds of hours preparing for this, and now I’m done. But the
flip side is that I’m exhausted. I go home and take a nap.

I get stiffer and stiffer after all the long runs. You get old, your
body starts to ache, but when you see 70- and 80-year-olds crossing the
finish line, I think, ‘Well if they can do it, I can do it.’”