(9/30/2025) On Saturday, October 18th, members of Chase Brexton's #TeamLlamacorn will lace up their sneakers for the Baltimore Running Festival, raising money for patients in need. Check out what inspires team members Adam, Shawnte, and Charm City Sings below!
Chase Brexton team member, Adam Hertz (Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis) will be running the marathon at this year's Baltimore Running Festival! Hear what he has to say about the experience:
What inspires you to run? Have you participated in the Baltimore Running Festival before?
I'm most inspired by the reaction I get from family each time I pass a new milestone. I recently finished a half-marathon around the BWI airport while pushing a stroller. After getting home, my toddler started running around the house chanting "run like dada". This is my first year participating in the Baltimore Running Festival, but finishing the Baltimore Marathon has been a goal of mine for many years.
How has your training been going? What emotions are you feeling going into the race?
Early on, I struggled to fuel and take proper electrolytes over the course of my longer runs. After some trial and error, I think I have my routine figured out and am excited for race day. The only lingering emotion I have now is hope for good weather.
What draws you to participate with Chase Brexton?
I'm drawn to participate with Chase Brexton by the community! Three other members of my team are signed up this year. One of my co-workers created a team page with several puns about Microsoft Excel since we work in finance and accounting. After seeing a fun group so eager to raise funds for patients, signing myself up was irresistible.
What advice do you have for those hesitant to get into running or don't know where to start?
I think many beginners run too fast and experience shortness of breath too often. Most long-distance running is supposed to be in the "aerobic" intensity zone or lower, meaning you can hold a casual conversation and speak in full sentences during the run. A great place to start is jogging while catching up with friends on the phone. If you find yourself unable to hold the conversation, you should slow down. For many beginners, that might look like a brisk walk.
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We sat down with Baltimore Running Festival participant and Chase Brexton Board Member, Shawnte Craig, MBA, to talk about her running journey.
What is your association with Chase Brexton Health Care?
I am currently serving as a Board Member for Chase Brexton where I serve on the Financial Committee.
What inspires you to run?
I love being in nature and being a runner allows me the opportunity to connect with nature and its a great way to learn my community from a different perspective. You don't realize how much you miss by driving all the time.
How long have you participated in the Baltimore Running Festival?
This will be my 4th year.
Why Team Llamacorn?
I love unicorns and who doesn't love cute Llamas? Honestly though, its the meaning behind the name. It encourages me to show up as my authentic self and to be happy with who I am.
What draws you to participate with Chase Brexton?
Chase Brexton has a rich history of taking care of undeserved communities. Their mission really aligns with servant's heart.
What advice do you have for those hesitant to get into running or don't know where to start?
I have a saying, run YOUR race. You don't have to compete with others. I would encourage people to start with walking daily and build the confidence to add small runs to your walking routine. Even if running isn't your thing, the Baltimore Running Festival accepts walkers too!
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Dr. Greg L. Finch of Charm City Sings explains what inspires the group to participate in community events.
What is Charm City Sings?
Charm City Sings is the most crazy-fun, talented, non-audition community chorus I’ve ever experienced. Fueled with heart, energy, and creativity, the chorus is an ever-growing explosion of connection, laughter, music, and human spirit that encompasses every demographic. From its 2023 Baltimore launch with just 26 singers, it has "fireworked" into more than 175 in the main chorus, 100+ in the brand new women’s Treble Voices, and 40+ in the chamber group—with more than a hundred still on the waiting list because we’ve already outgrown our rehearsal spaces. At every rehearsal, laughter flows as freely as the music, friendships deepen, and a powerful sense of community grows. The music is astonishing, spanning a range no one expects from a community chorus, and the shared accomplishments are meaningful—both personally for each singer and collectively for Baltimore.
That spirit of growth and belonging is the same one that connects us with Chase Brexton—both of us are about creating spaces where people are welcomed, affirmed, and celebrated for who they are. Just like Chase Brexton’s mission, the chorus has a can-do spirit that celebrates the great life we lead here while setting a bold, joyful course for the future. The Charm City Sings motto says it best: you’re only a new member for about 12 seconds—after that, you’ve found your tribe.
Visit https://www.charmcitysings.org/ to discover you place in all the fun!
What inspires you and the team to run? How long have you participated in the Baltimore Running Festival?
I’ve been volunteering at Chase Brexton for the past six years since moving to Baltimore in 2016, supporting their mission to serve the community in powerful, tangible ways. This is my second year participating in the Baltimore Running Festival, and walking has become the highlight of the experience for me. What inspires me is the way the city comes alive—the cheering crowds, the sense of belonging, and the joy of seeing thousands of people moving with purpose. Last year, the team I was with tried to be at the very end of the race instead of the beginning… and somehow, despite all our plotting, we still didn’t come in last! It was chaotic, hilarious, and wonderful. Seeing people cheering, feeling the city alive, and moving together with the community keeps me coming back every year… and this year, as Charm City Sings team captain, I’m bringing friends!
Why Team Llamacorn? What draws you to participate with Chase Brexton?
Team Llamacorn is whimsical, fearless, playful, and unstoppable—a perfect mirror of the chorus’s energy. Beyond the fun, participating with Chase Brexton is about purpose and alignment. The chorus thrives on connection, inclusivity, and uplifting others, which mirrors Chase Brexton’s mission to provide compassionate, accessible healthcare to Baltimore’s diverse communities. Walking, running, volunteering, or cheering at the festival is an extension of the chorus’s mission: to show up, give back, and amplify positive impact for the city and the people who make it extraordinary. Both the chorus and Chase Brexton share a commitment to creating spaces where people feel welcomed, affirmed, and celebrated, and that alignment makes this partnership meaningful and joyful.
What advice do you have for those hesitant to get into running or don’t know where to start?
Start where you are. Walk, talk, laugh, twirl, hop, or moonwalk if you want—soak it all in! Don’t worry about speed, distance, or finishing first. Focus on showing up, connecting, and soaking up the energy around you. I’ve had two broken ankles from sports injuries just out of college, so running is off the table for me—but walking, moving, and soaking in all the sights, sounds, and excitement is a total blast. Find a good set of friends to share the journey with—the laughter, the company, and the encouragement make the walk an even bigger boost. Moving together isn’t about pace; it’s about celebrating every step, being part of something bigger, creating joyful chaos, and sharing energy, joy, and community with everyone along the way.
Join OUR TEAM! More details can be found here: BmoreRuns2025 - Campaign
