Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Monday, May 03, 2010
Broad Street Run
Some day I will wake on the first Sunday in May and it will be sunny, cool, and dry but not this year. Last Sunday I did a Tri and it was wet and cold, this Sunday hot, humid, hazy.
I no longer run distances, but I do run Broad Street. (I haven't updated this blog for a long time and perhaps I will explain in a future post). I have not run ten miles since last year so I lined up with some trepidation and felt somewhat like a poser. I do Broad Street for sentimental reasons. It was my first long distances race and I still remember the excitement of running with thousands of runners. Coming up to the first water stop and hearing a crunching sound and realizing it was runners crunching plastic cups (I noted that all the cups yesterday were paper but there was one water station where you had to run carefully to avoid slipping on a carpet of cups and there was that satisfying crunch.)
Generally speaking I thought the race organizers did a great job managing such a huge crowd. I usually park in Roosevelt Park (the race use to end in Roosevelt Park - the Navy Yard makes a much better finish) close to the Subway stop but about a mile and half from the finish. I got an express subway and a seat. Even though it was an early train it was packed and when we got to Broad and Olney there were already thousands of runners. I walked to the football field and promptly used a porta potty since I knew that later the lines would be impossible. Much to my surprise it was pristine and the toilet paper was still wrapped – don’t think I ever encountered that before.
They changed the baggage checked this year. Rather then based on your bib number it was a first come first serve system; each runner received a band that id’d their bus and bag. I think the idea was that instead of waiting for all the runners to check their bag, each bus could leave as packed. I didn’t think the wait was onerous and it was very easy to retrieve my bag at the end.
I must give a shout out to volunteers – whether it is a small event like last week’s triathlon ord huge like yesterday these events wouldn’t happen without volunteers. I found the bus kids, the water givers, the food tent people full of spirit. Kudos to whoever organizes this effort. (Last week volunteers stood for hours in a cold, drizzly rain and still cheered us on when us back of pack got to them).
It took me 13 minutes to get to the start line – the longest ever but once we started running I didn’t found it too difficult to get into a rhythm and found I didn’t need to dodge or weave too much.
A little about the course: Broad Street is one of the longer straight streets (interrupted only by City Hall) in the country. It is very urban with very few residences (until South Philadelphia). You past Philly’s industrial past especially at Broad and Leigh. You past Temple Hospital and Temple University. There is the sad relic of the Divine Lorraine Hotel, the Inquier building, City Hall (one time the largest government building in the world), and then in succession the Union League, Academy of Music and the Kimel Center. By Broad and Oregon I am ready to finish but there’s still a couple of miles. It is always a shock to get to Broad and Pattison and realize there still a mile to go.
By habit I have always run the in southbound lane but I heard a runner point out the northbound lane was somewhat shaded and immediately changed over. It added some steps but was worthwhile. Contrary to my expectations I never had a problem getting water and, although it probably costs me a couple of minutes, I made sure I stopped at each station (normally I skip stations) and actually drink the water. I took one power bar gel right after City Hall and a Succeed Tablet at mile seven. No cramping and while slow I finished feeling strong.
I wish my time hadn’t slipped over 1:40 but given conditions felt satisfied. (Not for the first time I was struck by how young everyone around me seemed. Sigh!).
Usually I avoid water sprays from hydrants because I fear wet shoes means blisters but after mile five I did every hydrant and it felt good.
Note to future racers as you near the Navy Yard there is a downhill. Use it. It will be the last time you can really race for speed. Once you enter the Navy Yard the course narrows and the crowded conditions make a spurt for the finish line difficult.
The “chip” is now in the race bib so no stopping at the finish. Some crowding and a slow slog thru the refreshment area and then out into the amazingly crowded Parade Grounds.
Didn’t run into people I expected to see. Ran into people I didn’t expect to see. Did see Neil Weygandt and got to congratulate him on another Boston finish (42???? quite a record). Then the long, slow walk back to car.
Glad I did it. Unlike someI quite enjoyed the crowds. Yes it is much too crowded. Yes there is a lot of hurry up and wait. Yes there are people who really shouldn’t be running a 5K let alone ten miles. But there is a great spirit to this race and tremendous energy of human spirit. I hope I can do it again next year.
P.S. It turns out that cross training does aerobically prepare you. You won't be fast but you will finish with energy left. I was skeptical that the elliptical training was really preparing me aerobically but so far this season I have a second in my age group in a 5K (obviously being in the 60+ age group helps), a first in my tri age group (ok there were only two competitors in that age group), and a Broad Street finish that the results say I'm in the 55 percentile. And my hip doesn't hurt. Yes I am well satisfied.
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Wetsuits
This morning I swam for the first time using a wetsuit. I thought it would be a good idea to get use to the feel of the suit before I used it in the triathlon. I had read that a suit gives increased buoyancy but I was pleasantly surprised by how much easier it seemed to make swimming. My fifty yard laps were on average about 10 seconds faster. This greatly increased my confidence in taking on open water.
But that is not the point of this post. Last Sunday I watched this report on CBS’ Sunday Morning on the new swimsuits that are causing world records to crash.
Now I suppose this is analogous to when pole vaulters made the switch to fiberglass, but it seems to me that this changes the whole nature of the sport. You could get new world records by making the pool 10 centimeters shorter. Shouldn’t a line be drawn separating the records before these suits and after and not pretend that human performance changed.
Chad Brooks
This morning I swam for the first time using a wetsuit. I thought it would be a good idea to get use to the feel of the suit before I used it in the triathlon. I had read that a suit gives increased buoyancy but I was pleasantly surprised by how much easier it seemed to make swimming. My fifty yard laps were on average about 10 seconds faster. This greatly increased my confidence in taking on open water.
But that is not the point of this post. Last Sunday I watched this report on CBS’ Sunday Morning on the new swimsuits that are causing world records to crash.
Now I suppose this is analogous to when pole vaulters made the switch to fiberglass, but it seems to me that this changes the whole nature of the sport. You could get new world records by making the pool 10 centimeters shorter. Shouldn’t a line be drawn separating the records before these suits and after and not pretend that human performance changed.
Chad Brooks
Monday, May 05, 2008
Broad Street 2008
Well I dipped deep into Dr. McShane’s bank yesterday. Ten miles is the longest I have run since last year’s Broad Street. Many of you know my story but for new readers: I had a busy race season last year. After two half marathons I began to feel pain in my gut. I thought it was a muscle pull of some kind but it turned out to be arthritis in my hip due to a bone spur on my femur that had destroyed cartilage in the hip socket. (One question I have is why a hip problem manifests itself as gut pain.)
One medical opinion was that I should never run again. The analogy was to a bank account where you can make withdrawals but not deposits.
So for several months I didn’t run at all. I turned all my attention to biking, swimming and strength training. But I never stopped missing the run and when several weeks back I began running I decided to do Broad Street.
This has become a very big race. 19,112 finishers. A cool cloudy morning but the overnight rain has ended and the race will be dry. It is amazing to stand on Broad at Sommerville and see the sea of humanity stretched out before you. No wave start (although there were hints that next year they may go to that system) it is strictly an honor system. I had never started so far back and it took six minutes to get to the start.
But it was a good decision. I wasn’t tempted to go out too fast and settled into a comfortable pace. The first mile is a little bumpy as you pass runners who mis-seeded themselves. After that I had pretty clear running in a crowd going pretty much my pace. I was hitting each mile very close to nine minutes and the miles seemed to be flying by. I was minded of Big Brown’s jockey who said he held his horse back for the first part of the race so that he would be strong in the stretch. For once I had the discipline to race within my ability so that the race felt comfortable. I didn’t take water at every stop which I think helped my pacing – I did make the mistake of taking Gatorade at one point. Now I have had good luck with Endurance which is what they had on the course but this time it didn’t settle well. When we got near the Academy of Music Gov. Rendell was in his usual spot and for the very first time I went out of my way to give him a high five. What the heck if he is dedicated enough to be out here every year I may as well recognize him. Circus Soleil is in Town with a production and their bright blue and yellow circus tent attracted my attention at Broad and Carpenter. At this point (seven miles) I was quite confident I was going to finish in ninety minutes. Mile eight has always been a tough one for me. And I flagged a bit. But when I got to nine at Pattison I tried picking up the pace. For the first time in the race a lot of people were passing me but I was still passing people. Right before the entrance to the Navy Yard you get a nice downhill and I could pick it up but after entering the Navy Yard I felt pretty done in (remember this is the farthest I had run in a year). A pretty young thing ran up beside. I don’t know why she picked on me but she began to encourage me – you’re close now, let’s go, you can do it. I began to accelerate to the finish and even though by this time the Gatorade was in full rebellion I managed a strong finish. My watch said 1:30:19 (and the chip time would turn out to be 1:30:18). I wanted to thank my cheerleader but never did see her in the crush of finishers but maybe she was a figment of my imagination or a guardian angel. The sun had peeked out just as we got to mile 9 and the sun felt good as we exited the refreshment area and headed for the gear buses. As I trekked the mile and half back to my car I marveled that runners were still coming in. The walk back was pleasant as I chatted with fellow runners about the day. Had a great parking spot in FDR Park and was quickly on my way without any parking lot hassle.
“Fellow runners”. I guess that why I am addicted. There is just something about the immersion into a big race. It begins with the ritual of the Expo. Giving guidance to the newbies and seeing old friends. Like any Gnostic movement – you feel you’re in on some secret the rest of humanity doesn’t know. The feeling grows as you assemble on Broad anxious to begin the journey and continues as you survey the runners closing rituals standing on the Marine Parade Grounds. As the fans pour in for the Phillies game probably pissed off at all the traffic hassles, you have this sense of accomplishment but more a sense of community. All these strangers were engaged in doing something difficult and you were part of it. If you have never done a big race try it – I think you will find it’s worth the hassles. I’m glad I made a withdrawal.
Well I dipped deep into Dr. McShane’s bank yesterday. Ten miles is the longest I have run since last year’s Broad Street. Many of you know my story but for new readers: I had a busy race season last year. After two half marathons I began to feel pain in my gut. I thought it was a muscle pull of some kind but it turned out to be arthritis in my hip due to a bone spur on my femur that had destroyed cartilage in the hip socket. (One question I have is why a hip problem manifests itself as gut pain.)
One medical opinion was that I should never run again. The analogy was to a bank account where you can make withdrawals but not deposits.
So for several months I didn’t run at all. I turned all my attention to biking, swimming and strength training. But I never stopped missing the run and when several weeks back I began running I decided to do Broad Street.
This has become a very big race. 19,112 finishers. A cool cloudy morning but the overnight rain has ended and the race will be dry. It is amazing to stand on Broad at Sommerville and see the sea of humanity stretched out before you. No wave start (although there were hints that next year they may go to that system) it is strictly an honor system. I had never started so far back and it took six minutes to get to the start.
But it was a good decision. I wasn’t tempted to go out too fast and settled into a comfortable pace. The first mile is a little bumpy as you pass runners who mis-seeded themselves. After that I had pretty clear running in a crowd going pretty much my pace. I was hitting each mile very close to nine minutes and the miles seemed to be flying by. I was minded of Big Brown’s jockey who said he held his horse back for the first part of the race so that he would be strong in the stretch. For once I had the discipline to race within my ability so that the race felt comfortable. I didn’t take water at every stop which I think helped my pacing – I did make the mistake of taking Gatorade at one point. Now I have had good luck with Endurance which is what they had on the course but this time it didn’t settle well. When we got near the Academy of Music Gov. Rendell was in his usual spot and for the very first time I went out of my way to give him a high five. What the heck if he is dedicated enough to be out here every year I may as well recognize him. Circus Soleil is in Town with a production and their bright blue and yellow circus tent attracted my attention at Broad and Carpenter. At this point (seven miles) I was quite confident I was going to finish in ninety minutes. Mile eight has always been a tough one for me. And I flagged a bit. But when I got to nine at Pattison I tried picking up the pace. For the first time in the race a lot of people were passing me but I was still passing people. Right before the entrance to the Navy Yard you get a nice downhill and I could pick it up but after entering the Navy Yard I felt pretty done in (remember this is the farthest I had run in a year). A pretty young thing ran up beside. I don’t know why she picked on me but she began to encourage me – you’re close now, let’s go, you can do it. I began to accelerate to the finish and even though by this time the Gatorade was in full rebellion I managed a strong finish. My watch said 1:30:19 (and the chip time would turn out to be 1:30:18). I wanted to thank my cheerleader but never did see her in the crush of finishers but maybe she was a figment of my imagination or a guardian angel. The sun had peeked out just as we got to mile 9 and the sun felt good as we exited the refreshment area and headed for the gear buses. As I trekked the mile and half back to my car I marveled that runners were still coming in. The walk back was pleasant as I chatted with fellow runners about the day. Had a great parking spot in FDR Park and was quickly on my way without any parking lot hassle.
“Fellow runners”. I guess that why I am addicted. There is just something about the immersion into a big race. It begins with the ritual of the Expo. Giving guidance to the newbies and seeing old friends. Like any Gnostic movement – you feel you’re in on some secret the rest of humanity doesn’t know. The feeling grows as you assemble on Broad anxious to begin the journey and continues as you survey the runners closing rituals standing on the Marine Parade Grounds. As the fans pour in for the Phillies game probably pissed off at all the traffic hassles, you have this sense of accomplishment but more a sense of community. All these strangers were engaged in doing something difficult and you were part of it. If you have never done a big race try it – I think you will find it’s worth the hassles. I’m glad I made a withdrawal.
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