Ten Mile Run draws thousands of runners, supporters

Under a drizzly pre-dawn sky yesterday, Chris Cechak used a push broom to sweep water away from the pavement outside Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

The Severna Park man and other volunteers cleared a pool away from the starting line of the 30th annual Annapolis Ten Mile Run little more than an hour before the race. Mr. Cechak ran in the popular contest in 1998, and credited the quick help of volunteers for his survival from a bout of heat stroke.

"Ever since then I've been helping out, since they did such a good job," Mr. Cechak said.

One of more than 600 volunteers, Mr. Cechak helped to make the race possible for...