PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — There’s no way a little rain was going to stop Valeria Coll. She is one of the 36,000 people who took control of a 10–mile stretch of Philadelphia as participants in the 43rd annual Broad Street Run.
Coll, a Drexel Hill native, said the wind and the rain that ramped up during the run were no match for what she had to get through just to get to the starting line.
“I’m coming off of pneumonia,” Coll said. This was her third Broad Street Run.
The unique views of Philadelphia are what keep Coll coming back each year, but there’s one in particular that she loves.
“I just love running past city hall. You’re just in the heart of the city,” she said.
And having a running partner helps make every mile just that much more fun.
“It’s nice. You talk, you get fun stories, and you laugh, and you just kind of get each other through.”
Gabrielle Kirkpatrick was Coll’s partner for the run. She says, for herself, Broad Street is a small part of a bigger picture
“I’m actually training for a marathon, so this is part of my training run for the week,” she said.
Runner Davida Baker said this was her 10th year running the 10 mile trek from Olney to South Philadelphia. The New Castle, Delaware, resident says there are quite a few things that keep her coming back, and she’s more than willing to put up with everything the day entails.
“The craziness, don’t you see what’s happening right here? The traffic, the walk, the train … I mean who doesn’t want to sign up for this early in the morning.”
Baker’s running partner Erica Saunders completed her ninth Broad street run on Sunday.
“I’m trying to get to legacy status, so once I get to 10, it will be an annual tradition,” Saunders said.
Every runner has their favorite part of the course. For Saunders, it’s running through Temple’s campus. She enjoys the music and cheering the Owls bring.
Baker has another part of the run, that she’s drawn to.
“I love crossing the finish line. That’s my favorite part.”
Raymond Magut and Cynthia Lima were the first male and female finishers of this year’s Broad Street Run. They finished with times of 45:13, and 50:54, respectively.
CLARIFICATION: Data for the first gender neutral runner to cross the line was not immediately available.