Thousands Brave Chilly Rain To Take Part In 37th Annual Broad Street Run
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) -- On your mark. Get WET. Go!
Thousands of runners and spectators braved the cold and rain Sunday to be part of the 37th annual Broad Street Run.
The sound of the horn marked the start of the race for more than 40,000 participants who ran the ten miles from Broad and Fisher Streets in Olney to the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia.
"It was brutal. My legs were hurting from the very start," said Alex, a student at Penn State University. "I didn't really prepare properly. I have a really thin rain jacket and everything else is pretty much soaked."
But many runners did come prepared for the wet weather.
"I wore leggings, a waterproof shirt and a hat, of course, a hat," said one runner. "The hat was the best part of the outfit, I think, because it kept the water out of my eyes."
And while thousands ran through the raindrops, nearly as many waited in the wet weather to show support for loved ones.
"If she's going to run for 10 miles in the rain, the least I can do is stand in the rain," said Jeremy Erwin.
Erwin, wearing a military poncho, waited three hours to cheer on his wife Christina during her first Broad Street Run. He fought for a good vantage point.
"The toughest thing was jockeying for position with people who had umbrellas," he said.
Brandon Primeaux wore layers, including a waterproof jacket and navigated his way from the start line to the finish line to support his wife Michelle, a third-time Broad Street runner, but a first timer in the rain.
"Everybody is out here supporting the person that they're here for, so you kind of ignore the conditions and focus ont hem," Primeaux said. "She is so tough, she definitely is my hero. I couldn't do it. My hat's off to her every single day."
When it was all said and done, Abele Mekuria of New York was the winner.
Twenty-four-year-old Mekuria finished with an unofficial time of 48 minutes, 43 seconds, beating Mathew Kiplagat of White Plains, New York by only eight seconds. David Fuentes of Austin, Texas was third in 49:28.
Crystal Burnick of Skippack was the first woman to finish with an unofficial time just under 57:05, followed by Emily Giannotti of Ephrata.
Tony Nogueira of Glen Ridge, New Jersey won the wheelchair race with a time of 36:51.
Haile Mengesha of New York won last year's race in 47 minutes, 54 seconds.
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