Jun/080
Broad Street Run 2008
So a few weeks ago now I did the Broad Street Run in Philly. It's a 10 mile run for cancer. I walked it. It was pretty neat. I kept forgetting to write about it.
I was a little later getting there than last year, and what a difference being early made. I had to sit in traffic on the double decker bridge (Girard Point Bridge?) for about 20 - 30 minutes. Then we got on the train and got on the local instead of the express. So every stop more and more people crammed onto the train. It was tight. You were right up on the people around you. I was beginning to get claustrophobic and anxious. I had to stare at the ceiling or close my eyes to keep from freaking out. We finally got to the start and had to forcibly push through hundreds of people who were standing around waiting for the start. I kept yelling Move! Coming through! I'm sorry! and had to squeeze through. I was starting to freak out again because I was in the middle of this mob and could barely move. I think as I am getting old I am getting more claustrophobic.
Anyway, I got through that mob and ran across this big field to pick up my race bib. You had to pick it up by 8:00, and the race started at 8:30. I think I picked up my bib at 8:35. So we got back into the mob and shuffled out to the starting line. It looked neat because as you got closer to the start line, there was a wave of bouncing heads that got closer and closer to you. It was a pretty neat effect. It was also very cool to look ahead and see nothing but bouncing heads as far as you can see.
So as I was walking the Run, I was taking picutres with my cell phone and sending them and texting my friend who was meeting me near the finish line. Some spectator on the side of the road yelled at me for texting. He said, "Hey are you trying to mack the ladies or are you in the race?" Mack the ladies? So I was like look at this guy yelling at me and he's standing on the sidewalk with a cup of coffee! A-hole. A little further down some a-hole yelled over and said "Walkin already? It's too early to be walking already!" Again, F U. At least I'm doing it! I love how people have the balls to judge me because I am walking, when they are standing around doing absolutely nothing! Further down the course I heard someone yelling "RUN! RUN!". I looked around and there was someone yelling out of a thrid story window! Are you kidding me? Apparently the Broad Street Run is a popular run because of the spectator participation. I could have gone with out it.
At about mile marker 6 I think it was, some chick was screaming support to the runners. She was saying "Come on you got this!" and she was yelling so loud and hard that all the muscles in her neck were buldging out. It was hilarious. Plus we are 4 miles from the finish. It's a long way to go to be saying that someone has "got this".
The entire walk I was tyring to keep ahead of the truck that was driving along taking down the mile markers! I would see him pull up to the sign and get out of the truck. Then as I was approaching the next mile marker again he would drive by really slow and stop. So it became my goal to beat the truck. I think I beat him to miles 8 and 9. I can't really remember.
The results? Out of the 9821 men that participated, I came in 9801. I beat 20 men! Over all, out of 19112 who did the Run, I came in 19002 or something. So I beat about 100 people! I ROCK! Seriously, I walked it so I expected to come in at the rear. Maybe I will run it next year. It really was fun and overall a really nice day. And I got a t-shirt!