I've lived on campus at Temple University for two and a half years now, and for that whole time I've been running over car-window glass on the sidewalk. Sure, I'll get out to the places that all Philly runners go, like the Schuykill River Trail or the Ben Franklin Bridge, but I have to start and finish in North Philadelphia.
There's plenty to say about two and a half years of running 6 times a week. But here's my top 10 most important lessons:
1. Running on Broad Street sucks, but... Working out on Broad means you have stop wait to cross the street a lot. It also offers pretty ugly scenery further North. On the other hand, Broad Street is safer than many of the North Philadelphia side streets, and, especially if you're new to the area, it can give you some piece of mind when you're venturing out on your first solo runs. It is pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to get lost if you're on Broad Street.
The one exception to this is The Broad Street Run.
2. Running with music is fine, unless you start walking. Most people can't deal with running without music. I am one of those people. However, if you have to stop to walk anywhere close to your North Philly crib, take your headphones out, even if it is broad daylight. You want to be aware of your surroundings. (Take it from someone who almost had her iPhone stolen on 17th and Jefferson.)
3. Take $2 with you if you are running more than 8 miles. If you're running 8 miles, it may take you about an 60-90 minutes if you're running the whole time. If you can't muster up the strength to keep going halfway through, that's about 4 miles back at 15-20 minutes per walking mile... You do the math. If you have money along, you can grab public transit to recoup some of your time lost. Also, if you have cash along and you get thirsty, you can stop anywhere and get water for about $1.
4. Run South. This may sound obvious to Philadelphia natives, but I didn't understand the city at all when I first got here. The first time I went running in Philadelphia (after I worked up the guts to run outside instead of on the indoor track at Temple's gym) I started on Cecil B Moore Avenue and went North on Broad Street, up past Rising Sun. The area is sketchier than going South, and the scenery won't exactly keep you going. Unless you want to go to the Taco Bell by Toronto on Broad (legitimate reason in my book), it's not worth it.
5. Pay attention. Do not trust people to stop at red lights. They'll coast up sometimes, or just hit flat out you. Also, watch out for bicyclists. They are likely to hit you crossing the street because they don't follow traffic laws most of the time. Do not text while you run, you become a hazard to yourself and the people on the sidewalk. And you'll look like an asshole, especially after you trip over something.
6. Take your phone. It's always a good idea to have your phone with you, especially if you are running alone. This is true in any setting.
7. Wear real shoes. I guess what I mean is, do not wear these: "minimalist running shoes" or these 5 finger running shoes. To be fair, I don't like these to begin with. I know some people swear by them. But, in my opinion, if you're running in North Philly, you need something that has a better sole than that. There is glass EVERYWHERE, not to mention the occasional syringe. If you wear these shoes, you are not offered much protection at all. You'll spend your whole run worrying about where you step.
8. Broad Street and the Franklin Parkway are your best bet in the winter. I run year round. It doesn't matter if it is cold or snowing, I'm out. In icy conditions, I get off the side streets and go toward the main routes. Often, the sidewalks are salted and shoveled.
9. Do not run at dusk. This is especially true if you're like me and you run by yourself most of the time. It's just not safe. In the winter, I usually do not start a run later than about 3:30 p.m., or start one before 6:30 a.m. In the summer, I won't start a run after about 7:30 p.m., or before 5:30 a.m.
10. Get out of North Philly! Just because you start your workout here, doesn't mean you have to stick around. There are a ton of amazing places to run that you can reach from North Philadelphia. I'll go into them in my later posts!
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