By Frederick Kunkle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 13, 2006; GZ02

The fourth annual Frederick Marathon will take a detour this year to avoid running through the city's Mount Olivet Cemetery, its organizer said this week.

After receiving complaints from a local activist whose son is buried at the historic burial ground, the cemetery advised marathon organizers that they would have to alter the course, race director Rachel Ridgway said Monday.

"It was all a surprise to us," Ridgway said. "But it is just a minor bump in the road."

Marathon organizers chose the route through the cemetery to reduce traffic congestion along Market Street, she said. The cemetery, which was established in 1852, is also a scenic spot popular with visitors.

"The area that we run through is more of a tourist attraction than an active cemetery," she said.

Ridgway said the nonprofit organization sponsoring the event received verbal permission to go through the cemetery last year and believed the route would also be permitted this year.

But Patricia "Trish" Cunningham, 57, of Frederick, the activist who complained, said she felt the route through the cemetery was disrespectful to the memory of those interred there, including her son, David.

Last year, when Cunningham learned of the Frederick Marathon's plans to run a mini-race along Confederate Row, she raised her objections with the city's Board of Aldermen. The governing body told her to speak to the cemetery's managers because the cemetery is private property and the marathon is organized by a private group.

"I was dead set against it, for obvious reasons," Cunningham said, although she added that she is a big supporter of the race.

To bypass the cemetery, the new route will continue on Madison Street to South Market Street. Runners will then take a right onto South Market, go about a block, and turn right onto Stadium Drive, Ridgway said.

The race, which drew 1,700 runners last year, has already registered nearly a third more this year, said Ridgway, an Urbana homemaker who will run her 24th marathon when she participates in the Boston Marathon next week. She said as many as 2,200 people could run the 26-mile course around and through Frederick.

The fast-growing event this year also will allow some disabled participants to maneuver the course on wheels.

Lawrence Herman, 39, of Frederick, assistant director of the marathon, said 15 people, most of whom are quadriplegic, will be able to cover the route, courtesy of about 75 volunteers who will push them.

Herman, a chiropractor in Pennsylvania, said he was inspired by the story of Dick and Rick Hoyt, a father-son team from Massachusetts who have participated in several marathons. The father has pushed his disabled son in wheelchairs, towed him with his bicycle and pulled him in a boat during triathlons and marathons, according to their Web site, http://www.teamhoyt.com .

"Every person I've talked to is excited," Herman said.

The District 19 Democratic Club will host a forum April 22 for district candidates seeking election to the Maryland General Assembly.

The forum is set for 2 to 5 p.m. at the Bauer Drive Community Center, 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville. David Paulson, communications director of the Maryland State Democratic Party, will serve as the moderator.

So far, the Senate candidates scheduled to participate include Michael Lenett, a lawyer, and Dels. Adrienne A. Mandel and Carol S. Petzold.

The candidates for three seats in the House of Delegates include: Melodye Berry, a bookkeeper, community health outreach worker and community activist; Del. Henry B. Heller, the only incumbent in the race; Guled Kassim, a title officer; John Mahoney, former president of the Maryland Young Democrats; and Roger P. Manno, a Silver Spring lawyer.

District 19 includes parts of Colesville, Aspen Hill and Laytonsville.