Broad Street Run 2012

Yesterday 40,000 people laced up to run 10 miles down Broad St, and I was one of them. It was a great day, beginning to end. Obviously if you have read my blog before you know that I run because it feels pretty awesome. I also like the t-shirts and medals, let’s not lie. Over the past couple years, doing Team in Training, and other group running organizations my mind set has completely changed. I prefer running without headphones and I like to start conversations with people. At least I make little comments if I like their shirts or it looks like they need some motivation, etc.

Here is the group I met at the subway to head to the start: Back row (L to R) Justin, Lauren, Evelyn, Maggie, Me, Matt, Lori, Jessie, Mark (front R to L) Caroline, Annukka, Julie, Dana, and Suzanne

I was in a groove yesterday, felt fantastic! I ran the first mile with Jessie and then decided to start run/walking. I was around a ten min mile for the first 3 miles, 51 mins for my 5 miles and 1:13 for my 7 miles, very very good for me!

Right after mile 8 I was grooving down the left side of Broad St, I tried to stay to the sides because I was taking walk breaks. I raised my arm (that had a neon green arm warmer on it) every time I transitioned into a walk as I was taught to do in any race. There were a couple snide comments directed my way by frustrated runners, telling me to move over to the side. With 40,000 runners it was hard to weave to the farthest lane every 2 minutes. I had to shake them off and realize some people are grumpy, and they probably didn’t like that I would run past them during my run spurts. I used to HATE when people ran/walked, because I felt like I put in way more effort than them because I was running the whole time. They should have to finish way behind me for ‘giving up’ and walking. My how the tables have turned! But I can understand people’s frustration when they look like they got hit by a truck 7 miles in and I am still smiling ear to ear as I power walk by.

 Ridiculous lines for the bathroom

As far as the eye can see---Sea of People

Me & Jessie

Ok so a little after 8 miles I saw this woman go off to the side and crouch down, grabbing her leg. She was using a car for support and I stopped to see if she was okay. I had a feeling she didn’t have a phone on her and there were no cops or medics in the near vicinity. She said she got a cramp in her calf for the first time ever. I started walking with her and she was devastated. It was her first Broad St Run, the longest race she has done. I pointed out how it could have been worse, she could have gotten this cramp at mile 4, she was so close the end now. There have been so many times when I wanted to quit, or I was alone in the race and got lost deep down in that dark mental spot that says I am no good. Something told me if I left this woman she could venture to her deep dark place and I didn’t want that to happen.

Mile 6- smiling and grooving- and waving to photographer Jay

She didn’t ask me to stay with her and has I kept running I would have gotten my best time, but I’ll run Broad St again and now maybe Patti will too. She tried to run a couple times but said it hurt too much. I got into my motivation mode and start telling her what a huge accomplishment it is to finish this race. That most people never run ten miles (oh and my fav shirt yesterday said something along the lines of “No matter how slow your pace, it’s faster than the people who never left the couch”- it def had better wording to it but I LOVED it and told the guy wearing it) and she should be proud. She said without hesitation ‘Well I didn’t run the ten miles, I’m walking!’ and like a dagger to my heart, I spouted back at her that I have walked/ran 3 marathons and still crossed the same finish line I would have had I ran the entire thing. There was a slightly awkward pause and then I smiled at her as we passed the ‘1/2 mile to the finish’ sign.

We did jog across the finish line and then Patti and I parted ways. I was really glad I got a chance to help out, because I feel like that is only a tiny bit of what other people have done for me. I was only 5 minutes slower than last year and I did have a hidden goal of under 2 hours, which I made (1 hour 52 mins). All in all it was a wonderful day!