Broad Street Run is a BIG deal

So just how big is the Broad Street 10-mile run?

Sure, there's an obvious answer to answer that: look at how many people finished the race last year, 35,169. But that's not quite why I'm asking that question.

Most people - not just runners - know it's a big deal in the city, and has been in the area since the race started in 1980. Not only does the race shut down a major thoroughfare through the city, but it promoted running before it was a popular thing to do. The demand to run this race grew so fast and so quickly that for the 2013 race, a lottery was added to chose who could get to run down Broad Street on May 3 (86 percent of runners who entered the lottery got in this year).

But I don't think locals - not just runners - realize what a big deal Broad Street is, or how it's positioned on the national running scene. It's not just the largest race in the city, but one of the largest races in the country.

Running USA, which keeps statics on U.S. races, last updated their listings in 2013, so I used that information since almost all timed U.S. races report to them. I did not include races that provided estimated number of finishers to Running USA. Also, Running USA only counts timed events in their rankings, so things like the Color Run are not included.

For the race's 35th anniversary, here's just how big the race is.

Broad Street is the eighth largest race in the country. No, not just the eighth largest race in the area, or the eight largest 10-mile run in the country. It's the eighth largest race of all timed races in the U.S. at all distances.

With 32,075 finishers in 2013, Broad Street clocked in 23,775 less than the largest race in the country (Peach Tree Road Race 10k) and 18,191 less than the second largest race in the country (New York City marathon).

The ninth race on the list, the Cooper River Bridge Run 10k in Charleston, South Carolina, had 31,459 finishers, 616 less than Broad Street.

Out of U.S. 10-mile runs, Broad Street blows away the competition. The Army 10 Miler in Washington, DC clocks in second with 25,969 finishers; third place is another D.C. race - the Cherry Blossom 10 miler - with 17,532 finishers.

Within the city, it's far and away the largest race.

The Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon was 26th on the overall list of biggest races in the U.S. with 18,137 finishers. The Philadelphia Half Marathon was 51st with 12,480 finishers, and the Philadelphia Marathon number 69 with 10,909.

Regionally, it's also the standout. It's the largest race in Pennsylvania, obviously. Outside of Philadelphia, the largest race in the state is the Pittsburg Half Marathon with 14,016 finishers. New Jersey's largest race is the Spring Lake 5 Mile run with 10,231 finishers. Delaware's largest is the Run Walk for MS 5k with 1,655 finishers.

That's a lot of statistics that point to one thing: the Broad Street Run is kind of a big deal, and it happens right here. And that's something to think about when you're stuck in one of those long portapotty lines.