It Was Nice and Sunny in Philadelphia

Today I ran the Philadelphia Distance Run. I gotta say that this was a great course. The first third was through Downtown Philadelphia, past City Hall and Independence Hall. The rest of the course was through Fairmount Park. There was lots of shade and hardly a hill. I set out to break 2 hours. As seen from the official results below, my time was just over 2 hours. But I stopped to pee. I am not an Olympic Athlete, so I consider this a sub 2 hours race.

I enjoyed starting a race in front of the Art Museum of Philadelphia. Not so much for the art, but at the top of the big staircase there is a bronze impression of 2 boxing shoes and the words ROCKY. I cant wait to show that movie to the kids.


Although, I did get to compete with an Olympic Athlete. Liliya Shobukhova the Silver Medalist from the Beijing Olympics won the race. I was honored to be there.

Brooklyn, NY

Age: 45 Gender: M

Distance	HALF MAR
Clock Time	2:03:16
Chip Time	2:00:15
Gender Place	3917 / 6465
Placeoall	5984
Placediv	525
Pace	9:11
Ttldiv	831
Ttlsex	6465
5 Km	27:40
10 Km	56:35
10 Mi	1:31:14

Being in this race was like going into a parallel universe to the New York Road Runner's events that I am used to. The expo was in the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia, which is think is easier to get to then the Javits Conventions Center here in NYC. Today's race was sponsored by Elite Racing so there seemed to be a lot of effort made to focus on their other national races (the Rock and Roll Marathons). The New Road Runners Club has the theme of the World Comes Here to Run (I appreciate that!)

Saturn Cars sponsored the race too! My kids got to play in one after the finish. I don't think they leave the doors open in NYC.

There was a great seance of openness to the race. At the New York City Half there was a security company dealing with the corals. and barricades lining most of the course. None of that at the Distance Run. Just volunteers, they were not to good at keeping us in the proper corrals and the spectators off the course, but neither are the NYRRC thugs, nor the NYPD for that matter.

Elite Running used a disposable chip, so we did not have to return it, but it did not elevate the wall of humanity after the finish line.


Another thing I noticed today. There were many runners and spectators wearing Obama pins and stickers. The only McCain bumper sticker was on a car. It's driver was honking because the race would not let him pass.