When we first moved back to Anne Arundel County five years ago, the first thing I noticed was how fitness conscious people are.  It is most apparent in our youth as they fill the local fields for a multitude of sports.  An age group above that and it can be seen in the rosters of NCAA schools across the country that are heavily stacked with Anne Arundel County students. 

            But, one thing I love is that the parents in this county don’t just live vicariously through their children, they are athletes in their own right.  Everyday the trails, parks and roads are teeming with runners and cyclists.  On nice weekends, you have to head out early to avoid trails that are packed to the brim with entire families on bicycles.

            The true proof for me though, is the not so nice weekends.  I started noticing on the worse days how many people were still out there.  Seventeen degrees? Yep, they are out there.  Snow and ice?  Maybe not as many but, they are there.  Ninety degrees plus humidity?  Not a problem. 

            I thought I would have them beat though this past weekend.  Twenty minutes into my long run there was a torrential downpour.  My arms stung as the rain pounded down on me.  As I turned into Kinder Park, I was running in water up to my ankles and knew there was no way I would find others out there.  This was one day I would have the trails to my self because nobody is that into fitness.  I was wrong.  I passed at least fifteen other runners, bikers and walkers on the one mile path I took through the park.  None of them were running for shelter.  They were out for the long haul. 

            That makes this an extraordinary area that I am happy to be a part of.  In the coming weeks I hope you will come and visit me again to see what makes our area so great for the fitness minded.  You will learn about more about our local trails, our running, cycling, hiking and triathlon clubs and some of our amazing adult athletes.

            In the meantime, if you have a club, trail or person I should know about, drop me a line at BrennanAnnie@verizon.net. Thanks for stopping by.