2012 Blue Cross Broad Street Run Ten Miler - My Reflections & 35+ Race Recaps

If you aren't a Seinfeld fan, you probably won't understand this meme. In this episode of Seinfeld, a marathoner retells the story of how he slept through the Olympics. It wasn't the snooze button but separate knobs for the alarm and radio volume.

At 5:30am. I expected my babysitter to arrive. As the minutes passed without her knocking on the door, I began to panic. I tried repeatedly to reach her by phone, text & email to no avail.

At 6am, I gave up and called a friend for help. She graciously offered to drive me to 30th Street Station and take care of my daughter during the race. Words cannot adequately express my gratitude for my friend's help.

At 7am, while I was on my way to the start of the race, my babysitter finally called. It wasn't a knob, but her iPhone alarm didn't go off. She was so apologetic and I immediately forgave her. 

Leah and I deemed ourselves "TWINS RUN in our family" to share our experiences running together to support Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer in memory of Leah's brother-in-law Michael who died from relapsed leukemia on March 17, 2003.

Michael and Laoghaire (2002)

Leah couldn't run with me as we planned, but she did receive a $150 donation to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation on May 6 because we're running the 2012 Chicago Marathon together with Team Lemon

Since Leah couldn't pace me, she gave me this mantra: "Each Mile's A Gift, Negative Split" I also kept in mind this quote from Joan Benoit Samuelson,"Run Your Own Race!"

Photos carried in running belt for inspiration


Waiting for the Broad Street Line in Team Sparkle

On Broad Street Line waiting for babysitter to call

I was in the Green "with envy we aren't in purple" Corral. I was lucky to see some familiar faces while I waited in the Green Corral. I talked with several co-workers before the start, which helped calm my nerves.

I was surprised when I heard someone say, "Malinda." I looked up to see it was "Coach Kristie" who recognized me from my shirt! Connecting with Kristie helped get me in the zone for a personal record (PR)!

I was ready to run in my yellow Team Sparkle skirt and my Brooks Addiction running shoes.

I finished my first Broad Street Run in 1999 when there was a "record" field of 7,300. Running with 40,000 was quite a different experience. There were so many enthusiastic spectators - I even "low five-d" Governor Ed Rendell after City Hall! 

Jay Scott, Alex's dad, was running in his lemon costume for Team Lemon, Jay was running super fast. I tried to keep up with him so I could say "Hi" but I couldn't catch up! You can see Jay (AKA "The Running Lemon") running ahead of me in the photo below.

A glimpse of the Running Lemon far ahead of me

It was so crowded during the race and I couldn't get in the zone. I decided to listen to music, even though I like to run in silence. I needed some inspiration, so I turned my MP3 player to random play. I prefer a random shuffle to a playlist and each song that came on was so appropriate! My Curse, Fountain & Fairfax, Gentleman by The Afghan Whigs were the first songs I heard. I've loved these songs since I listened to them repeatedly when I trained for my 1st marathon - the 1995 Marine Corps Marathon. Of course, I listened to these songs on a cassette Walkman back in the 90's. WOW, I'm old. Am I the only one who tried to untangle mangled cassette tapes while running?

I was at the last mile when I heard "I'll Be Fine" by Emmet Swimming. This was always one of my favorite songs but now it's bittersweet.

Emmet Swimming - Wake

This song reminds me of a girl I met when we were both seriously ill. I shared this song with her and she liked it a lot. Several months later, I learned that she died suddenly. Whenever I hear this song when I run, I start to cry because I think of her. This happened with such intensity during the race, I couldn't breathe. This experience reminded me of Dick Beardsley's experience at 1982 Boston Marathon. I was fortunate to hear him speak at Philadelphia Runner on May 3.

As I ran I thought...
- Her life was too short...
- I've come close to death but survived...
- I'm grateful to be alive...
- I'm grateful to be able to run...
So I kept running... And I finished!

Camera selfie after I crossed the Finish Line

1:29:02 (Personal Record)
Overall: 11,499 / 33,988
Gender: 4,207 / 19,018 

Division: 417 / 1,958
Pace: 08:54

Split 3 Mile: 00:27:24
Split 5 Mile: 00:45:15
Split 7 Mile: 01:03:07


Arriving home from the race


Surprise waiting for me from my daughter

As I reflect on my experiences, I realize I was:
- Anxious & remained (relatively) calm
- Humble & asked for help
- Understanding & offered forgiveness
- Appreciative & offered gratitude
- Joyful & shared humor
- Ran my own race & set a personal record!

Broad Street Run Media Coverage
6 ABC - Broad Street Run
NBC 10 - Broad Street Run
Main Line Media News - Main Line runners leave mark at Broad Street Run

Broad Street Run Race Recaps

2012 Blue Cross Broad Street Run by Coach Kristie
http://coachkristie.com/2012/05/09/2012-blue-cross-broad-street-run/

Race Report: Broad Street 10 Miler, aka the Family Duel
http://www.milestothetrials.com/

The Turnip Farmer
http://www.theturnipfarmer.com/2012/05/take-it-off-week-61-its-official.html

Mainly Running
http://mainlyrunning.com/2012/05/07/broad-street-recap/

Main Line House Wife - Cecily Tynan Beat Me Recap of the 2012 Broad Street Run
http://mainlinehousewife.com/2012/05/07/cecily-tynan-beat-me-recap-of-the-2012-broad-street-run/

Designed to Run - Rob Savarese
http://www.designedtorun.com/2012/05/07/broad-street-run-race-report-2012/

Will Run for Margaritas - Redemption Run Broad Street 10 Miler
http://willrunformargaritas.com/2012/05/redemption-run-broad-steet-10-miler.html

An unexpected turn on race day - Beth Wallace
http://www.philly.com/philly/health/150449205.html

Running the race at last - John Quinn
http://www.philly.com/philly/health/Running-the-race-at-last.html

BROAD STREET RUN 2012 RECAP (AND TRAINING NOTES)
http://navel-gazer.tumblr.com/post/22652865953/broad-street-run-2012-recap-and-training-notes

American Blondie - Broad Street Run Recap
http://american-blondie.blogspot.com/2012/05/broad-street-run-recap.html?spref=tw

Blogs by Tara - race recap: broad street run 2012
http://blogsbytara.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/race-recap-broad-street-run-2012/

Every Day Is Run Day - The Return: Broad Street Run Recap
http://www.everydayisrunday.com/2012/05/return-broad-street-run-recap.html

Dietician on the Run - Broad Street 10 Miler: Run Down & Out
http://dietitianontherun.com/2012/05/07/broad-street-10-miler-run-down-out/

40,000 runners take part in the Broad Street Run! Posted by TriState Media
http://tristatemediaonline.com/40000-runners-take-part-in-the-broad-street-run/

Philadelphia Phitness Pharmacy - Broad Street Run 10 miler 2012
http://philadelphiaphitnesspharmacy.com/2012/05/broad-street-run-10-miler-2012/

Midnight Blue Says... 2012 Broad Street Race Recap
http://midnightbluesays.com/2012/05/2012-broad-street-race-recap.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2012-broad-street-race-recap

Busy, Bold, Blessed - Broad Street Run Race Recap!
http://busyboldblessed.blogspot.com/2012/05/broad-street-run-race-recap.html

Runner's ID: Broad Street Run Race Recap!
http://www.aimeereifonline.com/2012/05/broad-street-run-race-recap.html

Broad Street Run Recap–Spectacular
http://www.thenchangeit.com/?p=2186

MegMacks - Recap: Broad Street Run 2012
http://megmacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/recap-broad-street-run-2012.html

Race Recap: Philadelphia Broad Street Run BY THECURVYROADRUNNER
http://thecurvyroadrunner.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/philly-broad-st-run/

Cucina Amanda - Race Recap: 2012 Broad Street Run
http://cucinaamanda.com/2012/05/08/race-recap-2012-broad-street-run/

Run the long road - Spontaneity aka Broad Street Run recap
http://runthelongroad.com/2012/05/

Running in the Real World - Broad Street Run 2012
http://runningintherealworld.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/broad-street-run-2012/

Are We Having Fun Yet? A Race Recap of the Broad Street Run by ELIZATHON
http://elizathon.com/are-we-having-fun-yet-a-race-recap-of-the-broad-street-run/

Beth's Journey - Race Recap - Broad Street Run
http://bethsjourney.com/race-recap-broad-street-run/

What we talk about when we talk about the Broad Street Run - BY ZACHARY WILCHA
http://rittenhoused.com/2012/05/10/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-the-broad-street-run/

Running With Cupcakes - Broad Street Run Recap
http://runningcupcakes.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/broad-street-run-recap/

One Foot Here, One Foot There My Life, Redefined. - Broad Street Run, Race Recap
http://onefootthere.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/broad-street-run-race-recap/

I JUST GOTTA DO THIS: An amateur's path to the Broad Street Run
http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/criticalmass/broadstrun.html

All the different Broad Street ‘runner types’ BY ABBY BAKER
http://rittenhoused.com/2012/04/25/all-the-different-broad-street-runner-types/

Miles Covered - Broad Street Run Registration Problems
http://milescovered.com/2012/02/15/broad-street-run-registration-problems/

A Pinch of Ginger - Broad Street Recap 2011
http://www.apinchofginger.com/2/post/2011/5/broad-street-recap-2011.html

And Her Little Dog Too - 2009 Broad Street Run Race Recap
http://www.andherlittledogtoo.com/2009/05/broad-street-run-recap.html