Weird NewsPET OF THE DAY

Baltimore Running Festival route features animal encounters at…

The route for the Baltimore Running Festival passes animal exhibits at the Maryland Zoo, so runners get an unusual crowd; the animals have not commented.

On air: Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance on BBN This Morning
Published 9:27 AM ET, Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Photo: Noil Nivek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore — Photo: Noil Nivek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by WBAL News Radio: “Baltimore Running Festival route features animal encounters at Maryland Zoo”.
Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 9:27 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance.
Topics: Maryland, Baltimore.
BBN covered this story before: Baltimore's ConneXions Academy choir goes viral ahead of World… (October 12).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

WBAL News RadioBaltimore Running Festival route features animal encounters at Maryland Zoo

What BBN said about it

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorWBAL News Radio reports that the Baltimore Running Festival route takes runners past animal encounters at the Maryland Zoo, so the course comes with an audience.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd that audience is today's Pets of the Day, the whole zoo, with the title of Official Cheering Section, Unpaid!
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe title is accepted. The stat line, Chip?
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorZero miles run, thousands of runners watched, and a perfect record of not being asked to stretch. I'm tearing up a little.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorTearing up.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThey're judging our form, Gloria, and I think the penguins hold up the scores.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThen I'd like it noted that the penguins gave me a nine point five.