State #18: Pennsylvania
Overall 2711/ 12206 Bib#8327
Time: 1:59:57- Still under two hours, wasn't a personal best
Division 139/992
Gender 1121/7241
Pace: 9:05
5K: 28:11; 10K =56.22; 10 Mile = 1:31:25
18th State on the 18th day and I was in corral #8. And my mother was born on the 18th month (October not September) and this race was sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research. This was so fitting considered my mother passed away from cancer and they were so many number #18s involved.
Highlights:
1. First time I took a bus to a race. The 10:15am Friday Bolt bus took me to Philly with a stop to Newark. I plugged in because there was Wi-Fi and I enjoyed the ride. To let someone else do the driving was such a luxury.
2. The bus dropped me off at 30th Street Station and I walked to the downtown Sheraton. This started my walking and observing tour of Philly. The city blocks are a lot wider than Boston's.
3. This was the first time that I stayed with my running cousin and her California crew. Normally I travel alone, or with my Dad, or I've stayed at two of my favorites at their places (#16 and #17). It was 4 of us in a room. It was the best, crazy experience.
4. Yes, we ate Chicken Wings at Reading Terminal Market while we waited in line to get Beilers donuts. Once we had the donuts..heaven.
5. Had a Philly Cheese steak. Decided it was best to eat it on Friday so I can function and not wear depends on Sunday. We went to Jim's Steaks on South Street. Maybe I didn't do it right. I got one without the cheese whiz. I was trying to be a healthy eater. :)
6.After a cheese steak you to walk around and then get dessert. We walked to The Sweet Life Bakeshop on South Street. Amazing African-American owned Bakery. Everything homemade and fresh and yummy.
7. We called an Uber to take us from South Street back to our hotel. We looked like a clown car with the six of us piled into it. I think my ass was on the glass at one point. We became super friendly with our Uber driver. We asked him how long he has been ubering. He said after tonight, it might be his last…oh snap.
8. I completely geek-ed out. We were on South Street, also known as the 7th Ward. This is where W. E.B. DuBois lived and worked and wrote the "Philadelphia Negro". This was a book that changed me. Scholar, activist, Sociologist, I love DuBois. To actually be in the location where this classic piece of American research happened was priceless. Of course I wonder what DuBois would say now, since South Street and the 7th Ward has been so gentrified with yuppies, bars, sex toy shops, and displacement of the African American that was once there.
9. First time I was cheerer and got to observe a race. These hard core California traveling runners all got up early on Saturday to run the 5k and they (WE) were all getting up on Sunday to run the half marathon. I appreciate being with others who understand and partake in the early morning rituals and eating habits of runners.
We laughed and got saucy with each other. I told them they looked like the "witches of eastwick" because everybody had on black to run the 5k. Ha!
10. Cousin Love. We were able to be "tourist" together..Rocky Statue, Art Museum Steps, Liberty Bell, Philly Love, and visiting South street and Ward 7.
11. I saw a runner that had a personalized badge on his running shirt. Some people had "I run for cancer" or "I run for mom" etc.. This guy had a "I run for Trump" badge on his shirt. I made it my mission to cross the finish line before him.
12. As usual, and I don't know why people wanted to chat with me during the race. There was an older woman that looked at me and smiled. She said something to me but I had my headphones in and just smiled back at her. Another guy, around mile 7 kept looking back at me. I've learned to look away and not make eye contact.
13. One woman had 3 large big ass huge balloons she carried while running. They had the number 18 on them. Not sure if she was celebrating her 18th race or maybe she has been cancer free for 18 years, who knows. Those things kept getting in the way. Then the wind was blowing, so the balloons would blow backwards and block the runners that were behind that woman.
14. With 20,00 of my friends, I had some breathing room around mile 5. Mile 7 I had some wiggle and by mile 10 I had space.
15. Race started at 7:30am by 6am it was already 70 degrees and muggy. Thankful it was somewhat flat, no cursing.
16. Also to meet other Black Girl Run sister's from the Philly, Delaware, California, and Texas Chapters. I loved seeing the different, shapes, sizes, skin tones, and hair textures of women who run.
17. After the race, I showered, changed, and walked to the bus station. Going back was physically harder. Running 13.1 and being on a bus for 7 plus hours. Not the best move. Adding to the pain, and/or adventure was the fact the bus driver got lost. We had to stop at least 3 times. He didn't fully explained himself. Then he missed South Station and had us in Somerville (20-30 minutes away). Can't make that up.
All in All this was such an awesome #18. To sum up: Rocky, Liberty, Cousin Love, Running, and Food Porn. Perfect!!
Next Month, I'm going to my other Alma Mater. Virginia Tech. It will be a homecoming that I'm looking forward to. Plus, this will be the last race in the "teens".
