Today, the 32nd Annual Blue Cross Broad Street Run is 97 days, 56 training runs, 255 miles and at least one new pair of running shoes away. If you blinked, you missed the Registration for the Country's largest 10-Miler, having opened on January 16, 2011 and closed 30,000 runners strong and only 5 days later.
www.broadstreetrun.com
On a January Monday with a high of 13 degrees, last year's 98 degrees and cloudless run down Broad Street through every open fire hydrant between Sommerville and Packer Avenue(s), seems like it never happened and motivation may be lacking for the 2011 10-Miler.
Please allow me to remind you (and myself) why we train in January and February with layers on, swaddled by gloves, hats, ear guards, face masks and whatever else we've picked up at the running store that promises to take the edge off the wind, for a race in May.
This run is inherently Philadelphia. From North to South and all of the front porches, stoops, sidewalks and neighborhoods in between. You will pass entire congregations on the steps of some of the oldest churches in the city. You will hear school bands and singing groups. You will pass old men playing cards and kids with homemade, misspelled signs. Strangers will offer you everything from water to beer and a high-five. Runners passing you will hit you with the tough love our city is known for and this will kick you in the ass enough to move another mile. Finally, when you are down to just trying to put one foot in front of the other, you will hit the navy yard and see uniform upon uniform and ship after ship. I don't care who you are, there will be chills experienced here. You will cross the finish line and you will smile, not because your picture is being taken (look up!) but because you just moved with 30,000 other people in the same direction toward the same goal.
Some runners will give you tips for this race, especially if it's your first, - my advice is simple. Treat the Broad Street Run as an experience. Take a deep breath at the start, read the signs and smile back at the strangers. Never turn down a high-five, run into every fire hydrant and turn to watch the finish line after you've crossed it. Catch that look on someone else's face!
Jenny - you captured the beauty of the Broad Street Run perfectly! I was born in Hahnemann Hospital, grew up in South Philly, went to Temple University and lived in Center City after finishing college. Running down Broad Street and passing all of the landmarks that are a part of my history with the city is very nostalgic for me. Brings back many fond memories.
ReplyDeleteJohn: Here's hoping you will be one of the 30,000+ runners crossing the finish line in May! Nothing quite feels like turning the corner at City Hall, from the shadows and out into the light, music, tents and faces smiling back at you, does it? Here's to a beautiful day, cold water and enough SPF for all!
ReplyDeleteYours, Jenny
Great post, we love it, and we look forward to sharing it with our followers! Good luck with your cold-weather training, see you on Broad St. Check us out on Facebook & Twitter for updates on the run: www.facebook.com/ibxrun10 @IBXRun10.
ReplyDeletewww.ibx.com/run10