Broad Street Race Report

It wasn't my day, I should have seen that from the start. The traffic was horrible. 22,000 people trying to park for a race will do that! The septa was crazy, we were packed in like sardines, good thing it was before the race and not after when we were all hot and sweaty. The lines for the port-a-johns at the start were ridiculous. And finally, the bus for my bag was the farthest point away from where I wanted to be.

That was the start of my race. The first two miles were great, my pace was around 9:43 but my bladder kept nagging me. Around mile 3 I gave in and ran to the port-a-john. There was a line. I stood there looking at my Garmin and watching my average pace jump from 9:43 to +12 before I even got in there. At that point, hopes of a PR diminished. That's OK, remember, no expectations. You're under-trained and just PR'd 7 days ago. This is just for fun.

In the next few miles I did between 10:30 and 11 minute miles. It was pretty humid and I just wasn't feeling it after that little break at mile 3. Mile 5 was funny. I saw the water stop ahead and then I hear someone yelling, "beer stop!". Four or five people were standing on the curb handing out paper cups of beer. I thought to myself, what the hell, I'm not racing seriously and grabbed one. It tasted great!

When I hit mile 7 my second toe on my right foot started shrieking in pain. Not pain I can run through but sharp piercing pain, like a break or sprain. I had experienced this at the end of my 3 mile run on Thursday but was hoping it was just one of those weird pains you have on a run that never comes back. Well it did and it lasted until mile 9. I ran a traffic light or two the walked a light. This went on until around mile 9. I decided that I really needed to run the last mile in so I tried to start really slow but couldn't get under 10:30 so I just went with it and tried to run strong the last 1/4 mile so if there were pictures they wouldn't show how bad a race I had. I couldn't wait for this race to be over but I still had fun running it.

Here are my horrible splits:
9:42
9:45
15:38 (that's when I was waiting in line for the potty)
10:24
10:55 (beer stop)
10:20
11:25 (toe issue begins)
12:30
11:41
11:03

Yes, it's too crowded, but I think that's part of the fun of it. You see every kind of runner out there. The people watching is great, the crowd support is great, the chaos is great. I don't think I would want that for each race I run but for Broad Street, its tradition.

Once I got my chip off I hobbled over to get my pretzel and food bag then went to the awards area and sat and stretched while I listed to the times of the fastest men and women. I went to get my bag but went to the wrong buses and had to walk all the way back to get to the right one. Then I schlepped my bag and tired legs all the way to the parking lot (note to self: long walks after a race are much more agonizing when you are by yourself). I got to the car and waited for my friends. Then we had a nice tailgate.

Back to Alexis and Andrews for a nice shower then a small walk to our traditional post Broad Street pedicure and root beer float. I was tired, full and happy.

I had come to terms with my performance during the race so I wasn't really
disappointed. I know for a fact I have better in me and I have next year's race to show it.