Blue Cross Broad Street Run - race #5

    
     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 should try this race at least once, because the sheer number of runners is just awesome.  The week before I ran a race with about 30 people, and seven days later I'm in a race with a thousand times that many!
     Around 8 a.m. we head to the corral lineup and find our color-coded groups, which are seperated due to estimated finish times.  Hearing the "Rocky" music getting louder, I know I'm almost at the starting line.  With Mayor Nutter slapping high fives with passing runners, I start down Broad Street.  Supporters line the streets waving signs and ringing cow bells.  Church goers stand outside their places of worship.  I take it all in.  There's a marker and time clock at each mile and I see I'm averaging 9:30. 
     Passing the street signs I noticed on my way up on the subway (Wyoming, Hunting Park), I feel good and am happy when I reach Temple Univeristy.  I hit mile 5 at Spring Garden Street right before City Hall and that's where most of the supporters line the sidewalks.  Bands are jamming too and hearing "Running Down a Dream" is just what I needed!  As I round City Hall a man, probably in his 50s, falls and police officers quickly come to his aid.  It shakes me up a little because I reliaze it's not all fun and games.  Hopefully he was ok.
     As I hit mile 6 at Walnut Street, who do I spot on my left?  Former Philly Mayor and Pennsylvania Govenor Ed Rendell!  That guy is everywhere.  By mile 7 at Federal Street, I can really feel the stress in my hips.  My energy level is high, but it starts to really hurt with each step.  By the time I cross Pattison Avenue, there's only one more mile left and I keep that happy thought in my as I hobble beneath I-95 and to the Navy Yard.  FYI, the finish line is a 1/4-mile inside the Navy Yard so I just grit my teeth and focus on the pretzels, Gatorade and my medal which are waiting for me at the end.
     With a time of 1:44:30, I dropped five minutes over last year's finish!  I run into my friend Jolie and learn that she bettered her time by more than 20 mintues over last year!  Way to go!  Another tip?  Discuss a a place to meet beforehand because it takes forever to find your friends and/or family.  Kevin was awesome and came out again to support me in my racing odyssey.

     Well I had planned to run six races in six weeks, but now it's eight races in eight weeks!  This Saturday is the Twilight Run in Havertown, which benefits the Haverford Education Foundation.  It looks like a fun and fast course on Darby Road.  A column I wrote last week (http://tinyurl.com/44yqudc) features all my races and why people should get involved.