This past Sunday I ran in the Blue Cross Broad Street Run. The Broad Street Run is a 10 mile race down Broad Street in Philadelphia. It pretty much runs a good length of the city and passes City Hall along the way.
Matt has run the Broad Street Run twice. I was always fascinated with it because I love Philadelphia so much. Since I was never a runner, I never thought I’d do it.
In the past few years I’ve started running more and more. As I was getting ready to approach 40 I decided I would run a “big” race. The Broad Street Run works on a lottery system so not everyone gets in. While I was excited to officially enter, I was scared to death. I figured that if I got chosen, it was meant to be that I run.
The morning I received the email I was in shock. I almost couldn’t believe it. I was ridiculously thrilled and then became nervous. What if I couldn’t do it? Deep down, though, I know I could do it.
The interesting part is that the Broad Street Run was on Sunday, May 5th. It was the day after Rebecca’s 3rd birthday and the day after we got home from a week long trip to Disney World.
You might think it’s a little crazy to run a 10 mile race the day after you get home – especially since we drive all night from Florida to Pennsylvania. But for me? For me this was perfect! You see, I am my own worst enemy. I can get inside my own head like no one else and being in Disney helped keep me busy and my mind occupied. I would have spent a lot more time worrying about this race if we had been home.
We got home at 7 am on Saturday morning and I took a nap and then headed down to Philadelphia to pick up my race bib. I took a longer route because I wanted to drive down Broad Street. This was my view of City Hall (while stopped at an intersection):
I saw this shirt at the Expo and it totally cracked me up! I would have bought it but I honestly didn’t care whether or not I’d be last. I just knew I would finish. Check out Ruseen’s website to see more of their hilarious shirts.
This photo was taken at the starting line. I was in the last corral (pink) and we were just waiting our turn. I was amazed at how many people were running – 40,000.
I was surprised to see these men riding bikes through the middle of the race. I wasn’t sure what they were doing at first and then I thought they must have been policemen. (By the way, don’t you just love all the red socks?)
I got a little closer (aka they stopped to talk to each other) and I could see that they were paramedics. They ride along the course in case they need to provide someone with medical attention. Genius!
My most favorite part of the race was running through Temple University’s campus. From the moment I got near it, I could hear their band playing. Cheerleaders and the band lined one side of the street and the football team lined the other. The students were loud and supportive and fun. I honestly didn’t want to leave that area. The good thing is that students lined the street the rest of the way until I got to the end of the campus. There was more energy from the spectators in that one section of the race, than there was from all the spectators in the first 7 miles.
This photo was taken somewhere between mile 4 and 5, I think. I was so excited that I was finally able to make out City Hall because it was a little bit past the half way point.
This was the beginning of mile 5. Did you know that when City Hall was built, no other building in Philadelphia was allowed to be taller than the William Penn on the top? Thanks to Mr. DePietro for teaching that to me in the 3rd grade.
This may look like I took a picture of a random guy. And in a way, it is. But this man? He was amazing! He was so supportive and encouraging of all the people running. He was running with a friend who was struggling a bit and although he could have easily left and gone ahead, he continued to cheer everyone on.
It was at about mile 7 that I started to get really tired. I was keenly aware that I needed new sneakers and mentally I was becoming drained. I contemplated walking for a few minutes but knew it would be hard to start running again. I slowed down to a brisk walk and this man looked at me and said, “Hey lady! You didn’t just run 7 miles to start walking now, did you?” I looked at him and said, “I sure didn’t!” and started running again. Had it not been for him, I may have walked and Lord knows it would have taken me even longer to finish.
The race ended in the Philadelphia Naval Yard and I ran past these ships to get to the finish line. I took this picture after I was done. Looking at those ships never gets old for me.
My official time was 2:24:3. I was hoping to beat 2:15 but since this is the first time I’ve ever run a race that was over 4 miles, I was thrilled that I stuck to the training plan and finished the 10 mile race. I never run a race concerned with time. I run for me.
When I was done and walking back from the runner area, I was greeted by chants of, “Yay, Mommy!” from this small crew of little people. I love that they were there at the end and could see the results of all those times I went out for a run.
If you are ever planning on running a longer race, I highly recommend the Broad Street Run. It’s a straight and pretty flat course filled with people cheering you on the entire way. There’s so much excitement and enthusiasm from the community that the 10 miles goes by pretty quickly.
xoxo
–k
I'm SOOOOO proud of you!