Broad Street as the Great White Whale
It was May 20, 2010. I weighed 316 pounds and gravity confirmed every ounce. Little did I know that almost two years later, and 76 pounds lighter, the words Broad Street would go from the place where I work every day to my personal Moby Dick.
Broad Street as the Great White Whale
John Quinn
A year ago, Inquirer Sports Editor John Quinn, overweight and feeling it, would never have dreamed he would be competing in the Broad Street Run on May 6. Yet, here he is, a month away from hitting the starting line, nervous but determined. As part of our coverage of the race, John will be sharing his story on this blog leading up to and after his date with destiny.
I felt like a beached whale that fateful morning, around 7:30 a.m., when my wife dragged me off to the Rowan Rec Center in Glassboro, N.J. to sign up for a health club membership. It was May 20, 2010 and we had just dropped my son at his school bus stop. I weighed 316 pounds and gravity confirmed every ounce. Little did I know that almost two years later, and 76 pounds lighter, the words Broad Street would go from the place where I work every day to my personal Moby Dick.
After a year of treadmill-only walking at the Rec Center, I decided I would run in the inauguraI Phillies 5k last year. I no sooner crossed the finish line, practically falling into the arms of Inquirer columnist Monica Yant-Kinney, when she said … “so, you should think about running Broad Street … ”
I barely broke 40 minutes for the 5k, and the sweat that soaked my shirt and jacket made me feel even 10 pounds heavier than the 275 I hit on the scale that morning. “Yeah, sure, I’ll think about it … How far is it?”
She replied, “10 miles.”
Ten miles? I’ve never been on SEPTA for 10 miles.
OK, right. Ten miles. The thought quickly faded. A few months later, she ran Broad Street, and I was so oblivious because it was the same weekend as the Kentucky Derby and my son’s birthday that I missed it completely.
Then a few months went by and she started to prod me again … “you really should think about Broad Street …”
Only now, it started to seem real. Highly unlikely, but at least real.
I started to run on the treadmill instead of walk. I got up to two miles a day and the prospects of running another 5k seemed possible. But 10 miles? Forget it. And then I’d see Monica in the hallways … “you should think about Broad Street …”
As usual, I would smile and say, sure, I’ll think about it, only now I actually started to think about it.
I signed up for the Rothman 8k in November. Cold as hell, same as the Phillies 5k was in March. The route was nice, watching the ice form by Boathouse Row on the Schuylkill. I trudged and trudged and trudged … getting to the finish line in one hour and five minutes.
So far, two races, two grueling paybacks of penance for all my venial sins of the past 58 years.
I finished and never stopped running, which was my goal. The only downside was that the brunch line at Sabrina’s was out the door, looking like an hour wait, minimum. So no spoils of war this day.
But five miles is a lot closer to 10 miles than a 5k and I started to get my arms around it. Maybe, just maybe, Monica …
The next time she said it, it came with a caution … “Registration closes up quickly, better remind yourself, Feb. 15 …”
So, on Feb. 15, I signed up and will be a part of the Inquirer/Daily News team that will trek past our building at the halfway point on May 6. I will be wearing a Brooklyn Dodgers cap in honor of my father.
I ran the second annual Phillies 5k last Saturday in just under 36 minutes. My training has increased, but it is all new territory for this 6-foot-3 Irishman who ran track in high school and never went beyond 440 yards in any race. (Yes, yards, not meters, and it was cinders and asphalt, not the fancy poly-whatever orange stuff it is now.)
Broad Street is only a month away, and I am no fool. There is plenty of work to be done. But for now, it’s time for Ahab to go to Starbucks and get his café mocha. Venti, please.
Check out all of our coverage of the Broad Street Run.
It is encouraging to see more people exercising; this is where the positive side of my comments end. Let me state before you read on that I used to be a runner of marathons and the BSR but have now quietly retired to the 3mi/3 days/week routine. The BSR has turned into an overwhelming jostling event. There are WAY WAY WAY too many participants (I stress participants). To make it more runner-friendly and competitive, there should be a cut-off or qualifying time. For those participants who cannot run this QT, there should be a race for them as well. Call it BSR I and BSR II. Accordingly, the BSR I will be for runners who can run an 8 min/mi over 10 mi. Anyone running 9 or 10 min/mi or above, should not be running along side more dedicated runners. The current BSR scenario has become a carnival rather than a serious run.— jerseyjoe- "Anyone running 9 or 10 min/mi or above, should not be running along side more dedicated runners." First off, why would they be? That's what the corral start is for. Stick to your starting group and you won't have to deal with slower runners in front of you. Secondly, get over yourself. How pompous are you? If you don't like to run in huge events... DON'T! And finally, what makes you think that 9-min/milers and above are any less dedicated than the "more dedicated runners" who can run sub-8's? Frankly, I would argue that it takes as much dedication, if not more, for the slower runner to get out there and do it! As for your decision to "quietly retired to the 3mi/3 days/week routine", the rest of us who will enjoy the BSR thank you! — bobby
Comment removed.- So don't run it then. You'll be one of the first people enacting the change you want.— Big_Ben45
- Kudos to you!!! I started running at 51yo. My motivation was, I wanted to run the Broad Street Run. I never ran, even as a kid. So, running was all new to me. Once I got the breathing down, I was able to build endurance and distance. I ran my first BSR in 2009 and this year will be my 4th. What a sense of accomplishment you feel crossing the finish line, especially that first time. Set your goals and follow your dreams. There are always negative folks like Jersey Joe, who feel that the course should be wide open and be there just for them. A bit arrogant, but they are who they are, and you won't change them or their mindset. I will agree with him though on one point, that runners should put themselves into the right corral (based on their run times). The elite, faster runners have the opportunity to make their mark. The rest of us, we do our own thing and make our own personal marks. It's a fun run, it's for everyone, and the cheering crowds are so great, such a motivator. Enjoy the run and maybe I'll run into you at the finish line.— dmcg1956
- How do the elite, faster runners have the opportunity to make their mark? The BS Run (which obviously won't be standing for Broad Street in a couple years) fills up in 5 hours or so. Unless you are sitting on your computer constantly that morning, you stand no chance to run in the race as it will already be filled up. This guy has done 3 races in his life (2 5ks and a 8K). It seems like he is jumping the gun a little in doing this. At least one of them was an 8K. A lot of these "participants" probably have never done more than a 5K. Completing a 5K is no hoorah. And they will be the folks we see walking down Broad Street because it is much more important for them to walk down Broad Street than a semi-competitive person race there. Note- I did get into the race, I just want the race more competitive. — wolfburn
- I would say if you want to run a fast race then go in the fast corrals. BUT...last year there was confusing over corral colors( purple & pink). A lot of people that should have been in a much slower corral(pink) lined up towards the front with the more elite runners(purple). There was then a big log jam when those slower people dropped off the pace and caused blockage. But it is a great, great event & day. Nothing but positive!!— tz268
- Good for you, John! Pay no attention to these BSR Snobs who now hate the way us new runners have ruined their precious and pristine 10 miler. This will be my 3rd BSR. Two years ago it took me 2:30, but I finished. This year, I hope to be at 1:40. A ten minute mile, yes, but a huge accomplishment for me personally. See you on Broad Street!— wilcogirl
- I love how on the front page you put a big picture of that drug cheat, Martin Fagan.— wolfburn
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- This will be my fifth BSR. It's one of my favorite races because of its inclusive nature. Do I think everyone should seed themselves properly? Yes. But I also think it should continue to be open to runners/walkers of all levels. That's what makes it great. I love hearing stories like John's. Best of luck in the race!— Vive73
- Good for you John. Your story will surely inspire others. I've been running BSR for years. I'm sure you've already done it but make sure you have a physical with your doctor and let him know of your intention. See you at the finish line!— aNutter1inDgutter
- I love how there are always the elite-wanabes who constantly complain about slower runners. Maybe if you were really that good, you would be in the elite bracket instead of just whining about others who are trying their best. Always trying to look down on others when in reality, you can't keep up with the pack ahead.— Could.It.Really.Be...ColonelAngus
- Honestly, all these whining 'i live to run' olympian wannabees, if you are so mad, why are you running the BSR (a flat 10 miler).. go run a marathon!
The majority of participants are average joes and jills who are glad to be out and running. If you losers were such great athletes you'd play real sports, but you cant. You live to run!! "Not trying to be the best at exercise!"- Kenny Powers— yoyoma1 - Jersey Joe: I've got news for you... the sub-7 set doesn't want *you* there. So what happens when all of us 10-min milers improve to 8 min/mile in a few years? Just keep trying to improve your time and don't worry about what we're doing behind you...unless you're worried we'll catch up and you won't be so "elite" anymore. Such silly games we play to feel superior. Good luck to you.
for John...this is so inspiring! Congratulations on doing the hard work to see yourself improve. Keep running and you'll get faster, you'll run farther, and you'll continue to surprise yourself and inspire others. Viva la Broad Street!!!!! It's a great race!— lj1 - Couldn't agree more. I ran Broad Street (in the rain) for the first time in 2009 at age 49. It was a slow go, but I did it. That was my 3rd running event ever. I've run 5 half marathons since and am now training for the Marine Corps Marathon in October. The Broad Street Run is a great event and a highlight for me for the past 3 years. Oh, my pace? Last year I was thrilled to finish with an overall pace of 10:42! Aiming for 10:15 or better this year, but only if I can do it without injury.
— bobby - One of the best experiences of the BSR is the diversity of the runners. I will be competing in my 27th run this year, my 1st was in 1980. As the race grew, the corrals were necessary to stagger the masses of participants. This year at a young 60 years of age, I anticipate completing in 1 hour and 45 minutes. My best time was in 1986 at 1:13! I will consider stopping this annual challenge when I hit the 2 hour point. The most difficult part nowadays is the registration. I could support a 2 hour cut-off, if long time participants (10+ years) were granted early registration options. BSR is in my blood and I would like to continue competing in the "best 10 miler in world", without the threat of not getting registered because the site crashed due to demand. Today, I feel like I could do 10 or 15 more! :-)— 23Notsuoh
- 10 miles is a long ways. It's a little more than my upper limit of 8 miles. I am a fast runner and burn out quickly. I would advise you not to attempt it until the 5 mile runs become easy.— Byron
