Exercising to the Beat of the Street

     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