2013 LEAD Strong
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LEAD Strong Half Marathon

About LEAD Strong

LEAD Strong is a 13.1 mile half marathon that Towson University Campus Recreation Services (CRS) hosts every spring as part of its mission to engage the Towson University community with experiential education, leadership opportunities and wellness initiatives.

LEAD Strong covers an out-and-back 6.55 mile stretch of the Northern Central Railroad (NCR) trail.  The rural scenic trail has a hill grade of less than 1% from the start/finish line at Freeland to the turnaround point just south of Parkton.

CRS strongly encourages Towson University students, faculty, staff, and alumni to participate in LEAD Strong, but the event is also open to runners not affiliated with the university.  We welcome runners of all abilities – from rookies to veterans – to participate in LEAD Strong.  Seeing how running has made such a positive impact on other people’s lives can be a big motivator for first-timers on race day.

LEAD Strong is about setting and achieving goals, and proving to yourself that you can defy limitations.  The race is named LEAD Strong because it focuses on leadership skills such as having vision, setting goals, being persistent, managing your time, honing your focus, and improving physical fitness in order to reach a specific goal.

Most importantly, LEAD Strong is also about running for a cause.  100% of the profits from LEAD Strong will be donated to Maggie's Light, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children and young adults with special needs.

Why LEAD Strong?

Unlike major running festivals, LEAD Strong is a small-scale race that is limited to 250 runners, so you can expect more individualized attention from race organizers and race day volunteers.

We’ve made the race more accessible for people who have never completed a half marathon by  recommending the 12-week Hal Higdon Beginner Half Marathon Training Program. This training program incorporates running 4x/week, gradually building up mileage and speed, and incorporating other forms of cross-training such as flexibility, core/strength, and cardio workouts a few times a week.

Your goal is to run 13.1 miles on May 4th.  Our goal is to support you in your training and provide a positive race day experience.