I just realized that if I didn’t get around to a write-up on the Philadelphia Half Marathon it would be quickly eclipsed by Grete’s this weekend, so here goes.  First, the results:

Name	Time (chip)	PR? (comments provided by fdk)
Sean Stewart	1:18:32	Yeah, of course, about 1:30 off
Felice Kelly	1:22:13	Yep, 1:05 off last year
Naoko Ishibe	1:22:46	No, I’ve run way faster than all of you!
Wolfram Schlenker	1:24:31	Yes, but more importantly I showed Martin how negative splits are done.
Martin Hak	1:24:47	Yeah, but I’m still annoyed that Wolfram passed me in the end.
Katie Casto	1:25:43	Yes, by over a minute, but I can run lots faster!
Kimihiko Oishi	1:26:53	No, it was too humid out there, but I ate two philly cheese steaks to make up for it.
Sharon Ekstrom	1:38:56	No, I totally bonked because I forgot my gu!  I’ll get it next time.

Now the review:

Philadelphia Distance Run
food          scenery     aid stations      price
27                29                25               $60

This classic fall HM makes a “good start to fall running.”  CPTCers have been drawn for years by the course, which is “flat, fast, and beautiful around the river,” and find it overall “a lot of fun”; the great course, coupled with a “competitive” field led to many PRs.  Detractors found the weather “hot and humid,” but were won over by the post-race feast at Jim’s Steaks where everyone “deserves two Philly cheese steaks” and a “well-earned” beer.