Broad Street Run 2011--Part II

Although only 32 years old, the Broad Street Run has become one of Philadelphia's great civic rituals. Its place on the city's liturgical calendar is fixed to the first Sunday in May, a point near the midpoint of spring by which time it has become clear that winter has lost its grip and summer has made a few tentative attempts to be noticed.

Nor is it possible to notice the race itself. From under 8000 participants in it's first running, in 1980, the number of runners has grown to 30,000, a figure at which its sponsor has capped registrations and which has been reached the last two years.

Coming on the year after the hottest race day and two after one of the coolest, this year's race occurred in near perfect spring weather. The temperature when we arrived at the starting corrals (around 7:15 a.m.) was probably in the high 50s, nor did it rise to an uncomfortable level in the course of the race. Indeed, as I ran, I passed a number of other participants who commented on how much nicer it was this year.

Broad Street Run 2011--Part I

Yesterday I ran my second Broad Street Run. It was a great experience, as was last year's, although I was disappointed that not more friends were able to run it. Registration filled up quickly, faster than many had anticipated. I got a place by registering as soon as it had opened--which is not to brag; rather, it's more of an indication of the running geek that I seem to be becoming. It is, in short, an indication of a near-pathological condition.

First the big picture: I ran the race in 1:42 and change. My goal was to run in under 1:45, so I was pleased with the outcome. The specifics, however--well I'll deal with them in a subsequent post. My daughter Madeleine also ran and finished. She and I were both happy about her having done so, although she's not sure if she'll run a race like this again. Still, it's exciting for me to see her take on something like this and to stick with it through a sometimes arduous training regimen.