Taking pride in Broad St. Run

Leo Dignam

is deputy commissioner for programs for Philadelphia's Parks and Recreation Department

Next weekend, tens of thousands of runners will descend on Philadelphia for the Blue Cross Broad Street Run. The unique, straight-line 10-mile course takes runners through an array of neighborhoods from North Philadelphia, around City Hall, all the way to the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia. It perennially lists among the top 10 races in the country.

All Philadelphians, whether they are runners or not, can take great pride in what has become an event that draws thousands of runners and road race fans from across the country and around the world.

The first Broad Street Run, which took place in 1980, saw 1,454 men and 122 women finishing the race, with a victory lap around the old JFK Stadium. That stadium is gone, but the race continues to grow. Of the 40,000 runners signed up for this year, the majority are women.

There are many reasons for this increase in popularity. One is the dramatic growth in the sport of road running. Since 1990, the number of U.S. race finishers has increased nearly 300 percent, with female representation increasing from 25 percent to an all-time high of 57 percent in 2013 (the most recent year available). According to Running USA, females in 2013 accounted for a record 10.8 million finishers nationwide.

Another is the timing of the event. In recent years, the Broad Street Run has attracted a growing number of internationally known runners who also compete in the Boston Marathon. That race takes place about two weeks earlier. (In between, you can often catch a glimpse of some celebrity runners as they train in Valley Forge National Historical Park or along the Schuylkill.)

A third big reason is the tremendous spirit and interest provided by our local business community, including sponsors such as Independence Blue Cross, NBC 10/Telemundo, The Inquirer/Daily News/Philly.com, Acme, PNC, CBS Radio, Einstein Health, and many, more. Their support helps raise thousands of dollars for local charity and community efforts.

Behind this effort is the city's Parks and Recreation Department, which for 36 years has been the primary producer of the run. For the last 18 years, race director Jim Marino and administrative director Peggy Jastrzemski have helped shape what started as a labor of love in 1980 into the largest city-sponsored race in the United States.

Coordination involves myriad details. More than 150 school buses and every available SEPTA subway train will help ferry runners and spectators to the starting line. Nearly 600 portable toilets and 900 tables will be used. In addition, 80,000 half-liter bottles of water and 38,000 bags of food will be distributed at the finish line to weary runners. An additional 30,000 gallons of water will be made available along the course. Then there are police, security, traffic, and many other considerations.

It all might seem daunting, but remember that Parks and Recreation oversees 150 playgrounds and recreation centers, 70 outdoor swimming pools, the city's entire tree canopy, more than 9,000 acres of parkland and open spaces, the Mummers Parade, as well as most special events on the Parkway and the Dell Music Center. It takes a lot of hard work to make a big job look easy, and we've had a lot of practice.

The Broad Street Run puts Philadelphia on the map nationally. But most important is what it accomplishes locally. Among the beneficiaries are the American Cancer Society, Back on My Feet, Students Run Philly Style, and the Fairmount Park Conservancy. The conservancy hopes to raise enough money to refurbish the Belmont Plateau cross-country course, with the ultimate goal of attracting NCAA-caliber and other regional competitions among high schools and Catholic Youth Organizations.

So the run is more than a race. It's also a step into the future. And it's something we can all take pride in. We urge everyone in the region to show their spirit by coming out next Sunday to cheer on the runners and the support team that has helped make the Broad Street Run a Philadelphia milestone.