2008 Philly Marathon: Kicking Ass, Asphalt

The700Level.com's resident running expert Kristin, who has previously written about the ING Distant Run and also ran in the '07 Philly Marathon, spent last Sunday running through scenic Philadelphia for the 2008 version of the Philly Marathon. With apologies for my tardiness, these are her thoughts after last Sunday.

One upside of running a marathon in sub-freezing temperatures is that the cold tends to take your mind off of the serious cardiorespitory and neuromuscular exertion – not to mention cramping, chafing and general misery - of putting one foot in front of the other for 26.2 miles. Yet the Philadelphia Marathon marked its 15^th Anniversary with a sold-out crowd on Sunday, as more than 18,000 runners competed on a flat, scenic, Boston qualifying-friendly course.

Whipping past the tutus and Team Vegan t-shirts , a pair of 27 year-old Kenyans Ukrainians nabbed the top spots: Andrey Toptun finished in 2:19 and Vera Ovcharuk finished in 2:44. Unlike the high-fiving, Vaseline-sharing, tuba-playing crowds at New York City marathon earlier this month, Philly spectators were relatively staid and uncharacteristically sober, save for a rowdy stretch along Main Street in Manayunk (beer at miles 19 and 21!). Some of the better signs along the course involved sports references: "Chasing 26 in the Philadelphia Phucking Marathon," "Run faster –  football starts at 1" and this gem from one of Philly's finest sports bloggers, "Quitting is not an option, unless you play for the Mets."

Oh, and another upside of running the Philadelphia Marathon? Being too exhausted to give a shit about the Eagles get romped by the Ravens. On second thought, that's probably not exclusive to runners.

Comments

[jess]

I watched some from Manayunk near the beer people. They're nuts. It was so cold this year i dont know how anyone runs 26.2 miles in that weather.

[ron Cornwall]

what do you think you're better than me?