Exercising to the Beat of the Street

     Running with Santas and elves was a great way to finish my 5K races for the year.  I ran in my fourth Reindeer 5K Fun Run on Dec. 3 at the Lansdowne YMCA.  Compared to the chilly weather when I ran in the first Reindeer Run in all my winter gear, it wasn't too cold this year with temperatures in the 40s with cloudy skies.  After picking Kevin up at 7:15 a.m. (on a Saturday morning!) we headed over to the Y and we're ready to race.  (See video and photos of the race at  http://tinyurl.com/cqk8xbr ).       In previous years, one side of Lansdowne Ave. would temporarily be closed and the runners would line up there.  This year, one minute we were in the parking lot and the next I heard "go" and off we raced at 8 a.m. down the sidewalk along Lansdowne Ave.  Turning left onto E. Marshall Road, we then headed up a slight hill on Lincoln Ave and towards Archbishop Prendergast High School.  The weaving course took us to Garrett Road and the trolley tracks, down to Wayne

     What a great way to get rid of the guilt of eating all that turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie!  On a warm morning two days after Thanksgiving I was ready to race away the calories at St. Bernadette's Turkey Trot 5K race in Drexel Hill on Nov. 26.  Over 200 people took part in the race, which benefitted the children of St. Bernadette Church and the school community.  (See photos and video of the race at http://tinyurl.com/6mhqc7m ).      Arriving at the church, I picked up my bib and got in lined up on Bond Avenue with the other runners, including Kevin's sister Kathy and her boyfriend Ian.  With tons of energy, we headed down towards Agnew Drive, where we turned left and passed Hillcrest Elementary School.  We then banked left onto Marvine Avenue for several blocks.  I ran in this area last May during St. Dorothy's 5K run and it's great!  The terrain is mostly flat and the tree-lined streets and stone homes are such a gem of Drexel Hill.  Compared to the hot, sunny

         A small, but dedicated group of people were ready to race at the second annual Red Cross Delco Run/Walk for Life in Brookhaven on Oct. 9.  The race/walk benefited the Red Cross' Southeastern Pa. chapter.  It was a beautiful sunny morning with the temperature at 60 degrees.  When I arrived at the Brookhaven Community Center and saw only a few people, I thought "maybe I had the wrong date."  But with two other more established 5K races in the county that morning, this race brought only about 25 runners.  To see photos and video of the race visit  http://tinyurl.com/62bwpbo.      After receiving my bib number, I learned that I would either have to walk a 1/4-mile or drive to the actually starting line.  I get a little anxious as it is before a race, a finding out that the start wasn't right there was really annoying!  Surprising me was Kevin, who helped me from spazzing out too much.      Lining up on Coebourn Boulevard in front of an elementary school, we t

     After a summer swimming in a crystal blue outdoor pool, I headed back to the pavement and started running a week after Labor Day.  After running eight races in eight weeks last spring, I was excited to try and accomplish that goal again for the fall.  I was looking forward to my fourth annual 5K Run for Merry Place Oct. 2 in Havertown.  The event benefited Merry Place, which is located in Glendale Park and includes a playground and nature area. The run also kicked off Haverford Township Day, which included a parade (that I drove my yellow VW Bug in), food, music and more.  See photos and video of the race at  http://tinyurl.com/4x4oqja .        This year the run was at a new location, the Haverford Reserve off of Darby Road.  On the grounds of the former Haverford State Hospital, the Reserve boasts carriage homes, trails, athletic fields, Freedom Playground and a dog park.  Thankfully, the forecasted rain never materialized and when I arrived at the Reserve, the sun a

     After seven weeks of races I was ready for a weekend to sleep in, but not until I ran one more.  I choose the St. Dot's 5K Challenge in Drexel Hill for my final run of the season on May 21.  It was a beautiful sunny day, about 70 degrees, when I arrived at the church to pick up my race bib.  Proceeds from the race, now in its 14th year, help the community through assistance with parish school tuition, athletic fees and other family aid and scholarships funds.  See photos and video of the race at http://tinyurl.com/43t5rax .      Lining up on Burmont Avenue with over 200 other runners, I recognized some of them from previous races.  One guy told me he had thought about running the Brad Schoener 5K down the street in Arlington at 10 a.m., but decided he probably didn't have enough time to run two races in one morning.  At the sound of the horn, we were off and heading down the hill before turning left on Alexander and then right on Dermond.  My energy level was high as I

     With the Elwyn Maximum 5K my second to last race for the spring season, I was feeling a little sentimental on May 14.  After seven weeks of races, I was excited and cautiously optimistic for my first true trail run.  There was a slight drizzle falling and the air was cool when my mom and I arrived at Elwyn in Media.  The race, which benefits Elwyn's health and fitness programs for clients and staff by supporting exercise classes and promoting active lifestyles, featured an off-road/on-road/through-the-woods course that wound across Elwyn’s historic 300-acre campus.  See photos and video of the race at http://tinyurl.com/4x6c5lm.          After being advised to use bug spray before the race, I lined up with my fellow runners.  There was a great energy as we took off from near the middle of the campus and around towards Baltimore Pike.  Being such a large plot of land, I was a little worried that the runners might get too spaced out and I would get lost, but the 25 route dir

    It was a great night for an evening run on May 7 at the third annual Twilight 5K Run in Havertown.  A week after the Blue Cross Broad Street Run, I was happy to race on another mostly flat and straight course.  Temps were in the low 70s and over 200 runners, along with many walkers, were gathered at Haverford High School.  The school's jazz band entertained the crowd before the race, which benefited the Haverford Education Foundation.  A happy surprise while picking up my race bib was seeing my friend Kathy, who had just an hour before decided to run.  It's always more fun to run with someone.  (See video & photos of the race at  http://tinyurl.com/66e4feb).      After the 1-mile Kids Run, we lined up on Mill Road in front of the school.  Just before the start, I noticed that the sky was getting darker and the wind was picking up.  Since I ran once this spring in the rain, I was ok with a little precipitation but hey, I just got new sneakers!  Gratefully the rain never

          Up at 5:15 a.m. Sunday, May 1 I was ready to race!  I met my co-worker Lisa and three of her friends and we headed down to the Blue Cross Broad Street Run.  It was a chilly start, but perfect for running and a billion times better than last year's temperature of 90 degrees.  Parking at the Wells Fargo Center, we hopped on the Broad Street Line and headed up to the Olney Station.  With the trains packed with runners, the air was full of excitement and anticipation.  It's amazing that so many people have woken up before dawn to exercise.  When the race began in 1980, there were 1,576 finishers (1,454 men and 122 women).  It grew slow but steady and since the year 2000 (7,742 finishers) it has skyrocketed to 30,000 and sold out last year and this year.      Walking over to Central High School, I checked my watch and saw it was only 6:45, plenty of time before the 8:30 start.  Since I had done the race last year, I was less nervous and knew what to expect.  Everyone sho

     Waking up and hearing rain steadily ping off my roof I thought, "today's race might really stink." But it actually turned out to be a great, adventurous run.  I ran the Cure for the Kids 5K on April 23 at Aronimink Elementary School in Drexel Hill. Sarah Mergliano, an Upper Darby High School student, organized the race (read more about it at http://tinyurl.com/43fg4u2 ).  Mergliano's parents were both on hand to help out and her dad, an avid runner, also took part in the race.  All the proceeds benefited Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.      Arriving at the school, it was about 50 degrees with light rain.  It was a small crowd due to the bad weather, but it was great to see the dozens of people who came out to show their support.  Under a tent a DJ played music and volunteers helped at the registration table.  Talking with other runners, some actually said they preferred racing the rain. I never thought I would, but it kept me cool and my face didn't

    It was a beautiful Sunday morning, about 58 degrees, sunny and breezy, and I was able to sleep in a little because of the 9:30 a.m. race start.  Downing just a cup of tea (I know I should eat something, but I'm always a little nervous before races), I headed to Ridley Creek State Park on April 17 for my third 5K in three weeks.  Arriving at the park, which hosted one of the 18 Walk MS sites held across the Delaware Valley, I was amazed by all the people who were ready to take part in the walk.  Many had formed teams and were wearing matching T-shirts.  The race and the walk helped raise funds to help local people living with Multiple Sclerosis.      With a DJ blasting music for the crowd, I saw several people wearing race bibs head to the starting line.  It was a small group, only about 50 runners for the up and back race.  Right before the start, I heard someone say that the course was downhill in the beginning.  At the sound of the horn, we were off and headed down a narrow

     Waking up at 6:20 a.m. last Saturday, April 9 I felt pumped up!  It was a cool 49 degrees and overcast, but it wasn't raining and that's all I cared about.  Kevin picked me up & we headed to Ridley High School for the 10th annual Ridley Run 5K.  The event benefited the Community YMCA's support campaign and the Ridley Educational Foundation.  See photos & videos at http://tinyurl.com/3c7geq4.         Jumping up and down to stay warm while we stood outside the high school for a bus to the Ridley YMCA, I was excited because this was my first time taking part in the Ridley race, Kevin was running with me &  it was a point-to-point run.  While waiting in line, we were joined by Kevin's sister Kathy who decided to run about six hours before the race.  Wonderful surprise!  The buses were well-organized & we made it to the YMCA with plenty of time before the 8 a.m. start.      Waiting in the Y's lobby, we were surprised to see another familiar face,

      My goal is to run a 5K race each weekend in Delaware County (and one 10-miler in Philadelphia) for the next six weeks.  They're fun, a goal I can work toward each week & they're almost all in a five-mile radius of my house.  The races are usually $20, I get a T-shirt I can brag about & the money raised always go to a good cause.  Back in 2008, my New Year's resolution was to run a 5K, and since then I've done 14 races.  That year I started with the Kevin Cain Make My Day 5K in Havertown.  (See photos & video of the race at http://tinyurl.com/6kfhcyb ).       Being in good shape, I thought I could translate my swimmer's endurance from the pool to the pavement.  It was a little bit tougher than that, and the Kevin Cain race is one of the more challenging 5K routes I've done.  After taking off from it last year, I was back to race it last Sunday, April 3.  It's a huge party, with a DJ pumping up the crowd beforehand and supporters line the ro