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.

Run-up to the Run

It’s that time of the year again: the Broad Street Run will take place in less than three weeks, and, once again, I’m training for it. This year’s registration filled up within five days of opening, but I played it safe by registering within minutes from the beginning. Within a few days, but before the registration closed, my seventeen-year-old daughter informed me that she, too, wanted to run, so I got her in under the wire.

It’s been alternately fun and maddening to train with my daughter. Case in point: I spent all of last Saturday at a conference for my work, so I knew I’d have to do my long run on Sunday. Late Saturday afternoon, Madeleine texted me to let me know that she’d have to run at 7 a.m. because of a commitment she had at 10. I’d looked forward to having a little more time between waking up and running, but it was not to be. Psychologically, then, I wasn’t in the best shape for a long run, but I got it in.

Still, it’s been fun to do this with Madeleine. She’s faster than I am, at least on long runs, but I’ve been able to finish earlier on some of the short runs. It’s excited, though, to see her do the long runs: each week she runs a longer distance than she’d ever done before.

Coming off the injury to my ankle, I’m doing pretty well. I still have to be vigilant to do exercises to strengthen my left leg, and I won’t run without an ankle brace. Still, I’m feeling pretty good at this point, so I have no concerns about not being able to race on May 1.

And the hiatus is ... OVER!!!

Today I ran for the first time since November 21, the day of the Philadelphia Half-Marathon. My left ankle and foot seem to have healed, and I've also undergone physical therapy to build up my ankle. And, thanks to the physical therapist, I acquired this little piece of exercise equipment:

It is an inflatable balance disc, and it's good for all sorts of balance training exercises. I've been using it to strengthen my ankle by attempting to stand on one foot for 30 seconds.  And it seems to be making a difference: I at least have more control of the ankle than I've had in a while.

I hit the gym in the early afternoon today. I ran intervals: 2 minutes running, 1 minute walking. As should come as no surprise, I'm not aerobically anywhere close to where I was last fall, but these things will come back with time. For now, I'm just hoping to strengthen what needs to be stronger so I can avoid another injury-enforced hiatus!