Lifelong Philadelphia resident, Marathoner, Photographer, Blogger, Muse.
You can contact me at midnightbluesays (at) gmail (dot) com 
2012 Broad Street Run – The Reasons Why I’m Running
Why I am running the 2012 Broad Street Run.
2012 Broad Street Run
I may have submitted this too late for inclusion into the Inquirer’s profiles of participants running the 2012 Broad Street Run, so I’m posting the reasons why I’m running this year.
2011 Broad Street Run was my first distance run. With training and support from Team Philly, the run was simply magical. A passion for running was ignited with that race, so much so I signed up to participate in longer distance runs in the fall. Training went on full speed into the summer, until I sustained an ankle and finger fracture during a mud run. In the ER, the reality that I would not be able to safely train for the races I had looked forward to running began to sink in and it gutted me.
As I healed, I planned. When medically cleared to start running again, I joined Goals Fitness Boot Camp to work on strength and cardio fitness and eased back into running, starting with small distances gradually building up the number of miles. As I progressed, there was an improvement in my running pace and running became fun again; I missed that so much. By February, I began to believe that maybe I could dramatically improve upon my Broad Street finish time. I was thinking this was my comeback story; from devastating injury to PR glory at the 2012 Broad Street Run. Then I heard about Sherry Arnold and her story inspired me to become that much stronger. Via websites and social media came the awful news of Sherry Arnold’s abduction and murder during an early morning run. This struck home, as I often run alone in places I deem ‘safe’. Three days a week I’m out the door at 5 am for Goals Fitness boot camp session and often run alone after work along Kelly Drive.
On Sunday, May 6th, I will realize my comeback from injury and will dedicate this run in honor of the memory of Sherry Arnold. Sherry was a math teacher, wife, mother, and runner. In essence, she was one of us.Her tragic end galvanized people get out and run – stomping out fear and getting stronger one mile at a time. While I can’t change the past, I can honor her memory by facing my own running challenges and finding the strength to overcome them.
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John 14:1-3
14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
I hope Sherry is enjoying her new Home. Now she has Golden Streets to run on.
Isaiah 40:31:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Congratulations on your recovery and bravo to your spirit … not that we would expect less from the girl with one of the best smiles on Earth!
Awesome post! We’ll run to support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer in memory of Leah’s brother-in-law, Michael who died of leukemia. http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/81058 We hope to see you on Broad Street!