Howard County REACT Assists with 7k Run to Remember

HCR recently provided communications, traffic control, and first aid services for the 7k Run to Remember, an annual charitable race that benefits the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and organized by the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association. The course runs through Centennial Park, in Ellicott City with portions on surrounding public roads.

Pardeep Bhatti (Unit 621) stands guard at the entrance to the start/finish. We were asked to keep this route closed to vehicle traffic as the event runs through this part.

In years past, event organizers had issues with directing vehicle and pedestrian traffic to the right locations within the park, often causing a localized traffic jam at the park entrance. In addition, this year’s event posed its own challenges. Starting with the limited parking for participants due to the field for overflow parking being closed because soggy conditions from a heavy rain the day before.

Overlooking Centennial Lake, our Net Control setup included a GMRS mobile radio, portable battery pack, and a portable antenna mast setup to ensure quality communications throughout the event.

Thankfully, race organizers thought ahead to contact Columbia Presbyterian Church directly across the street from the park entrance about using their parking lot. With a little ingenious traffic direction, our team was easily able to get the remaining vehicles into the church parking lot with little fuss.

Pictured left to right: Pardeep Bhatti, Vice-President (Unit 621), Mark Thornton (Unit 685) & David Perry, President (Unit 687).

Given all these little hiccups, the remainder of the event went off without a hitch as our team provided race information via GMRS radios regarding first and last runners, any issues with the water station, and provided first aid to any participants that needed it, for which, thankfully, there were none.

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