Exercising to the Beat of the Street

    My first ever snow run!  Sporting the same green attire I wore from last week's run, was about the only similarity between that race and Cardinal O'Hara's High School's first ever Leprechaun Leap on March 16.  Compared to the warm, sunny skies at the Shamrock Run, this St. Patty's Day theme race featured temperatures at 38 degrees, windy conditions and snow flurries.  Visit  Leprechaun Leap to watch video of the race.      Arriving at the high school, my husband Kevin picked up our bibs and T-shirts (the long-sleeve black shirts with green tux iron-on were awesome) and lined up on the school's new track.  Proceeds from the event will be used to help complete O’Hara’s stadium complex, which includes the purchased of equipment to host track meets. Soon we were off for the first loop of the what Kevin's sister remembered from her O'Hara track team days as, "the monster."  The runners, including Kevin, seemed to be at top...

    Irish eyes were smiling down on a few hundred runners and walkers at the second annual Shamrock Shuffle on March 9 at Sacred Heart Church in Havertown. Sunny skies, and temperatures in the upper 40s, greeted the runners decked out in their finest green garb. Visit Shamrock Shuffle  to watch video of the race.      This was my first year running this race, my first race of 2013 and my first ever race running with my sister Kimmie. Arriving at the starting line with only about five minutes to spare (parking in the Manoa section of Havertown was very limited), Kimmie and I grabbed our running bibs and followed a bagpiper who led us all to Shelbourne Road. With almost everyone wearing green the mood felt festive for the run. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund upgrades to the infrastructure of Sacred Heart School.      Soon we were off, and headed down Shelborne before turning left on Lincoln, a quick left on Uplan...

I had talked about this for so long, that I think I might have started to annoy some people. An open water swim. I swim all the time; in a pool. Following that black line back and forth, in 82 degree clear water, is the only swimming I've ever done. But I felt ready for a new challenge. An open water swim in this region, the water is dark, definitely lower than 82 degrees and there's no lane ropes to keep swimmers from bumping into each other. A few years ago I had signed up for the Pageant Swim in Atlantic City, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to bad weather. They sent me a T-shirt, but I felt unworthy to wear it around. Two weeks ago a friend told me about the “September Splash” in Wildwood, N.J. Now in its 18th year, the Wildwood Crest Dolphin Swim Team organizes the 2-mile, 1-mile and ¼-mile swims in Sunset Lake. Unsure yet excited, I waited until the last day to mail in my $25 registration. After staying over a co-worker's house i...

     This was the first time I’ve ever gone running in a cemetery & it was really awesome, which might sound odd.  Picking up my fiancé Kevin, we headed over to Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill for the fourth annual Brad Schoener Memorial 5K run on May 19.  The day was beautiful, sunny and 75 degrees, & the amount of energy was amazing.  The run kicked off an all-day music festival at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.  Money raised benefited the Brad Schoener Memorial Fund, which supports the musical abilities & aspirations of instrumental music students in the Upper Darby School District.  See photos & video at  http://tinyurl.com/cqu9swd .      Right before 10 a.m., the Phillie Phanatic (who held hands & skipped with my mom) led us across Lansdowne Ave. & into the cemetery.  As we walked towards the starting line, I noticed the former Upper Darby High School teacher’s headstone...

     A week after running Broad Street, I was ready for a nice, little jog on May 12 for the Run For A Wish 5K at Aronimink Elementary School in Drexel Hill.  Two obstacles were in front of me though, it was too warm & sunny out & I had celebrated a bit too long at a wedding reception the previous night.  Organized by the en trepreneurship class at Upper Darby High School, the students' goal was to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation.  See video of the race at  http://tinyurl.com/87go6wp .  Last year, the rain kept many runners away but there was a good turnout last Saturday.       Arriving at the race, I was disappointed when I picked up my bib & realized they would not be officially timing the race.  After more than 25 5K races, this was the first one that I've ever done that I wouldn't really know my race time.  Standing behind the other runners, all the sudden the gun went off (which I later...

    The night before the Broad Street Run, I always ask myself the same three questions, why am I doing, why am I doing this and finally, why am I doing this!?!  Back up two months ago and I was just relieved that I was able to register.  Luckily my soon to be sister-in-law Kathy was able to sign me up, as she competed against the 40,000 other frustrated runners trying to get a spot in the nation's largest 10-mile race.  If you don't like crowds, this race is definitely for you.  Since then I've been working out usually five times a week, cycling, swimming and Zumba, but I hadn't increased my running mileage much.  But I always think, the route is straight and slightly downhill, no problem.      But when I woke up at 5:40 a.m. on May 6, I had that nervous, public speaking-feeling that actually seems to help me run better.  Though it was a nightmare for many to get down to the starting line, I was lucky to join the "Beau...

    The straight streets of Drexel Hill are perfect for races!  On a sunny morning with temps in the low 50s, I was ready for Hillcrest Elementary School's "Spring Forward 5K and Family Walk" on April 29.    Hosted by the Hillcrest Home and School Association, the event benefited the school.  See photos and video of the race at http://tinyurl.com/7ghf8v8 .          When I arrived at the school I was surprised there weren't more runners ready to race.  I guess that might have been due to the fact that the Twilight Run was later that night in Havertown, as well as the $24 registration fee.  The T-shirts they gave out were so cute and there were plenty of volunteers available.  Lining up at the corner of Marvine Ave. and Agnew Drive, I waved to my fiance Kevin as we headed off on first leg of the two-loop course.  I wasn't sure I'd like running a course twice, but I enjoyed it more than the up...