8 Miles through the crowd?

Dear Philadelphia:  I've come to expect a few things running through you in the early morning hours:

1. The lights at the Locust Street entrance to the Schuylkill River Path will never work - not at 5AM, not at 6PM and certainly do not contain actual light bulbs.  (I looked up today - completely hollowed out.);

2. City Hall at sunrise never disappoints;

3. The Fruit Vendor at 16th and JFK may, in fact, sleep on that corner because he's never not there fulfilling our fruit needs;

4. The Waterworks (specifically, its grass) is a geese-magnet, all year round, without fail; and

5. The only safe time to run down the middle of the Ben Franklin Parkway (other than in the Marathon, I presume) is at 5:30AM, during a work week. 

What I did not expect, dear city, was runner after runner that I passed between 5:30AM and 6:30AM this morning.  Groups of runners up and down the river, through the art museum area, down by Fitler Square and all over the Parkway.   Runners alone with Ipods mixed with pairs discussing the events of the day to come.  It was just after Boathouse Row, during mile 7, where runners mixed with rowers to form a crowd.  A crowd of Athletes early on a beautiful Thursday morning in March.  Well done, Philly. 

Éirinn go brách!