Just a little over two weeks ago, I completed the Rock N Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon on Sept. 21, and completed a race in my 14th state.
My mantra leading up to the race was to complete "Philly 14."
Welcome to Philadelphia, runners!
View down Arch Street, toward my hotel
I've been to Philadelphia twice before, but I must say this trip was simply wonderful. Great weather, great food, great friends, and a chance to vacation solo and with friends and family.
I arrived Thursday, Sept. 18, by myself. I spent the first two days alone, but not really.
I stayed in City Center and walked all over, stumbling upon Chinatown, which was just two blocks from my hotel, and visiting the Franklin Institute.
But first things, first.
I picked up my race number and racing gear on Friday, directly across the street from my hotel, at the Philadelphia convention center. I had a little fun there, too.
Almost also directly across the street, was Redding Terminal Market, this vast reconfiguring of the old Redding rail terminal that is now an enclosed, but vast market stall area.
I stood in line for about 45 minutes at Carmen's to get a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. It was fun chatting up the local in front of me and the tourist, like me, behind me. And the sandwich was yummy, but I was glad I ate it on Friday, two days before the race!
Then I wandered over to the Franklin Institute, around 3:30 pm, after all the schools were out. I saw lots of school kids, many in school uniforms and nearly all of them toting a backpack of some sort, as I made my way there.
Turns out, since I got there after school was out, I had the science museum very nearly to myself! I walked up to everything I wanted to see or do. No lines, no waiting. Very few people.
The museum closed at 5 pm, and that was the sorry part. Just as I got to the area of the locomotives, and then the space part, it was time to close. I kind of had to rush through those things. And I didn't get to go into the planetarium and see the exhibits and films there. I'll have to go back!
I met my friend Nancy for dinner Friday night. We went to Vedge, a vegan restaurant she wanted to try. It was really, really good.
What I find maddening was I didn't get a photo of me and Nancy together! It's been nearly six years since I've seen her and I forget to get a photo!
Nancy and I know one another because of breast cancer. We are both survivors. But I'd like to think we'd have been friends without cancer, too.
Saturday my sister Jody arrived from New York. We had lunch back over at the Redding Terminal Market, this time at a Greek restaurant stand. It was really yummy. I could have had just about every meal in that market!
We also wandered over to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you know the museum made famous by the Rocky movie. The one with all those steps! There really are a lot of steps. We got there late in the afternoon, and again, the museum closed at 5 pm, but we got to see much of the impressionists, post-impressionists and some of the modern artists.
From the top of the steps
What I didn't know, was that Alexander Calder, the sculptor who worked with big kinetic mobile sculpture, was the son of the artist who made Swan Fountain, and the grandson of the artist who sculpted the William Penn that sits atop City Hall in Philadelphia.
Jody and I had dinner in Chinatown Saturday evening. We tried to get into Maggiano's for some pasta, but it was so crowded we couldn't get in. Our choice of just picking some restaurant at random in Chinatown was better.
It was a Malaysian restaurant, and I had the pad Thai. Jody had the chicken mango, and I think hers was better, although I really enjoyed mine.
My high school friend Peggy arrived Saturday evening, and we both were up early Sunday morning to run the half marathon.
At the start
When Peggy and I first started running together about 15 years ago, I was the stronger runner. The tides have turned and she is now the stronger runner. She pushed me on this race. Pushed me beyond my comfort zone at times.
So many people think running is all physical, but I can tell you it is not. As I was being pushed physically, I had to fight mentally not to slow down, not to give in to negative thoughts that I couldn't do it.
I did injure my right arch during the race, and it's still bothering me. It had me limp the last four miles. I wasn't doing too badly on the race until then, but once the pain in my foot started, it was hard to fight against that.
Still, we finished the race in 2:52, a full eight minutes better than my Portland half marathon time!
I was very pleased.
The course itself was lovely, and flat! The morning was warmer than I expected. I wished I had brought a tank top, rather than the T-shirt I wore. But it was OK.
Peggy and I making our way to the start
In the frame
waiting to go
Getting close!
Along the river
Peggy on pace
Selfie time!
We started very near the Philadelphia Museum of Art and traveled toward City Hall on Ben Franklin Parkway. We rounded Love Plaza, with the iconic LOVE statue, twice. We ran toward Chinatown, passing the Liberty Bell, although you could not see if from the street, and eventually back down Arch Street, passing my hotel. We came back toward the museum and on along the Schuylkill River, which was lovely. We even saw some crewmen rowing that morning.
Beautiful course
In the rock tunnel
My only regret was I finished the race and had to hurry up and rush back to the airport. I made a mistake and booked a flight way too early. I couldn't have my celebratory glass of wine with Peggy after the race!
Finishers!
Finisher!
Race medal, one of my favorites
But I take away great memories from Philadelphia, a city I'd love to visit again.
