Philadelphia Distance Run, Many Challenges and Victories
Given the rising obesity rates, especially among children, it is inspiring to see their participation in the Children’s Run event of the 30th Annual Philadelphia Distance Run; children ran 1/4 to 1 mile, depending upon their age group.
More than 14,000 adults of all ages and fitness levels, were also participants of the Philadelphia Distance Run, a half-marathon distance, 13.1 miles.
Yesterday’s runners came from nearly every state and 14 countries. (Only about 2,000 participants live within the city’s zip codes.)
And this year, as usual, the winners were world-class athletes, mostly from Kenya. At 7:45 a.m., while the masses were still waiting in long lines for a pre-run potty break, the pros were off and then, instantly, gone.
One hour later, that cluster of gazelles approached the finish line, having maintained a pulse-battering pace that most mortals achieve only when being pursued by a swarm of bees, oncoming trains, or something equally fast and lethal.
At that point, most of the rest of the 14,000 were barely halfway through the course.
“On this figure eight, you see them running to the end when you’re only halfway,” said Mike Greenberg, an information technology director from Kendall Park, N.J.
Demoralizing?
On the contrary, Greenberg said. “It’s inspiring.”
He finished the race yesterday in a respectable 2 hours and 21 minutes. “I’m not fast,” he said. “My goal is to finish, to have fun, and to not get hurt.”
