Broad Street: Sitting This Year Out

"...lottery for the Blue Cross Broad Street Run lottery ends Friday night at 11:59PM. We see 

that you were a past registrant for the Blue Cross Broad Street Run, but we don't seem to see your registration for the 2015 race."

This email funneled through my email last Wednesday. My finger was THIS close to registering, but I'm sorry to inform you Broad Street Run, I'm sitting this year out.

Insert runners guilt here.

I've had a GREAT four year run with the Broad Street Run, last year being my absolute favorite by LUCK, but for now I think I'm going to put this race on the back burner for a little while.

There is lots to love about the Broad Street Run: the course is amazing, running through YOUR city is a bit magical, the crowds are encouraging from start to finish, the bling is awesome, there are plenty of water stations, there are plenty of photo opps, the expo is always a fun time, and you usually ALWAYS run into a fellow runner you know!

But there is also lots I DON'T love, which is why I'm sitting out this year: The race is a little too big. With nearly 40,000 runners it's tight, from start to finish. There is some spacing after mile 3, but the final kick is tight and it's hard to pass anyone. Maybe last year because I was a bit faster, I thought the whole course was congested. With that many runners there is also a back up on the subway to get to the start and don't get me started about the line for the porta potties. It doesn't really matter where you start on race day, but for the last two years I haven't been able to start in my proper corral because I've been stuck in a bathroom line or I was barely getting off the subway in time even though I gave myself ample time to get to the start line (I'm very anal about getting to races with PLENTY of time.)

In my Fifteen in 2015 challenge I have for myself, I'm encouraging myself to try out new races and states - so sitting this one out is okay with me. The way I look at it is that I am giving someone else the opportunity to run one of Philadelphia's greatest and fastest races.

Broad Street, you were good to me, damn good to me. I can't wait to come back in the future - I hope you'll have me back. Good luck to all 2015 participants who get selected in this year's lottery. I know you will all do amazing!!! 

May Challenge: B is for Broad Street

 "If you run a personal best, whether it’s by 1 second, 

10 seconds, 2 minutes, you better celebrate, 

because they don’t come very often.” 

- Meb Keflezighi, 2014 Boston Marathon Winner

Today marked my fourth Broad Street Run. You'd think as a veteran Broad Streeter today would have been an easy journey -- a 10-mile cruise down the heart of Philadelphia I've done since 2011, a route I know by heart, a challenging course in MY hometown.

This year's Broad Street experience was far from easy and quite an emotional one for me. But I can tell you one thing, today was without a doubt the best running experience of my life.

Back in April, myself and thousands of other runners across the country entered the 2014 Broad Street Run lottery - crossing our fingers we would be one of the lucky 40,000 to be selected for this year's race.

I waited and waited until the selection email was sent. "Dear Amanda Piccirilli: Thank you for your interest in the 2014 Broad Street Run. Unfortunately, your entry in the lottery was not selected. Your credit card has not been charged."

Best Cheerleader! 

Sigh.

When I entered the lottery for Broad Street this year, I went in saying to myself "Well I have two options:
1. If I do get in that's awesome! Broad Street is actually the weekend of my 10-mile training run for the Wildwood Half Marathon on May 18. Sweet, my signature race and perfect training run, WINNING!! OR
2. If I don't get in, maybe it is a sign that other people should have the chance to experience why I love this race so much each and every year."

So, I didn't get in. Despite being upset and pissing & moaning on Facebook about it, I pressed on with my training for the Wildwood Half -- plugging away long runs at Valley Forge National Park, Peace Valley, throughout Lansdale, anywhere there was pavement I was out! I'm determined to do well this race reason as I have dropped over 30+ pounds and have been pushing my body to new physical challenges because it feels great.

On April 3, Danielle Esposito (who I played high school soccer with) sent me a message on Facebook saying she needed to sell her bib and remembered my bitching on Facebook about not getting in and offered her bib to me! Whattt?!?! Oh my gosh, yes yes yes! 

So there I was, a month away from Broad Street and mentally prepared to kick its ass. My training runs have been solid -- my times are times I have NEVER in my life had. I physically felt good after a rough few weeks with knee pain. I was ready to make this run my biotch. I was ready to prove to myself that I could and I WOULD finally go to Broad Street prepared, dedicated and eager to do well. Not just show up and run like I did the three years prior.

All this week I was a mess...my stomach was in knots, the pressure I was putting on myself was making me physically ill. "Amanda, just go out and run like any other run. That is all it is." But it's not. This race was to prove to myself that I am a healthier, happier and better runner than I ever have been before in my life.

And today I did just that. I proved that my training has paid off and my dedication is working. All of the weekend's of not drinking and early morning workouts are showing they were worth it. Today, I crushed Broad Street. (Everyone has there own crush, this was definitely mine!) I soaked in the atmosphere -- let my legs do the running and my heart was smiling as thousands of spectators cheered us on.

I finished the 2014 Broad Street Run and set a new PR for myself with a time of 1:32:46, 20 minutes  FASTER than my previous PR, which was last year's run with a time of 1:52:12. I crossed this year's finish line crying because I did it - I did this for myself. I've NEVER been more proud of myself.

Thank you to my family, my boyfriend and friends for having my back each and every day. This year must have been meant to be...4th BSR and 4th of May. As they say "May the 4th be with you!"






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