OWL-DRAGON

Broad Street 10 Miler

This race is an old friend. I think I have run every one since 1998. The race, always large, has grown from 5,000 when I started to Sunday’s 10,000 finishers.

The forecast had been for clearing skies but they were slow coming and it was lightly raining when I came up from the subway. Part of the tradition of this run is to park in the stadium area and take the Broad Street subway to the start area. The past couple of years parking has been tight because of multiple events: Phillies game, Sixers game and Circus. But I parked in FDR Park under I-95 where the various running clubs were setting up their tail gate parties. It turned out to be quite convenient and a shuttle bus whisk us to the subway stop at Broad and Pattison.

It is a well organized affair – in fact I’m surprised that Jim Marino the race director hasn’t been tapped for other responsibilities given the success of his runs. Last year runners grumbled about how far the gear buses were from the finish and this year they were just yards from the finish. That’s listening to your customers.

Last Sunday I ran the Commodore Barry Bridge which ends on a long downhill that I attack aggressively. Felt fine afterwards. Tuesday night I was at the track for some speed work. 800’s progressively faster. First two just fine. Third one felt a sharp pain in my hamstring area. I sat out one rotation and tried to go around again but it was too uncomfortable and I feared doing real damage. I iced immediately after I got home. No running Wednesday and Thursday. Friday a short three mile jog – little achy but no sharp pain.

Still I started Sunday with lower expectations. The race began exactly on time (unlike last year when a fire in the subway held up the race for a half-hour and almost forced a reroute.) The usual choke point at the start mats but once crossed you could run easily – while I passed many people I think most runners had lined up close to their proper speed.

I pretty much settled into the pace that would end up my average: 8:13. I had a 7:40 mile but also an 8:30 mile (my shoe lace came undone something that has never happen to me in a road race – and I had the new twisty laces that are suppose to prevent that.)

My leg ached from the get go but I felt no sharp pain so I figured it was safe to go on. The one time I tried to force a faster pace I felt twinges radiating out and dialed back a bit fearing a real breakdown. Ironically, the ache seemed to lessen in the later miles. But, although I felt aerobically strong, I just could not get more forward momentum.

I was conscious of the enormous crowd running since Broad Street is so straight and flat you can see the runners toiling before you. The first five miles of the race are dominated by City Hall and you judge your progress by how it grows in you field of vision. Just before and after you round City Hall runners are confined to the southbound lanes and you feel a little crowded and the water stops become more iffy (I tend to skip water after mile six). I heard a runner say he never remembered it being so crowded this late in the race, but we were in the 8 minute pace group which I suspect is the densest group. When you get to the Stadium area the course opens a bit then closes down once more as you enter the Navy Yard. Didn’t affect me but if you were planning on a dramatic sprint to the finish you might find it difficult.

Finish time 1:20:56 (chip) about a minute slower than last year. Disappointing yet I preserved and given the pain did well. I was afraid my leg would be quite sore today but it feels pretty good. Still I think I will stay off it for a few days.