by Lionel Brahim Brodie III
Is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania one of the Running Capitals of the country? I'll give you a few moments here to ponder.....
Allow me to run down 2024 thus far, as it pertains to our wonderful city:
* Note: this is going to read like a list of works cited, and for that I apologize. Also, it is not a catalog of every race in Philly, so it will more accurately read like a SHORT list of works cited *
Fireside Frostbite Five Miler – the traditional first stop on the USA Track & Field's Grand Prix circuit in the Mid–Atlantic region. The annual circuit consists of 11 races of varying popular distances using USATF–certified courses and offering USATF sanctions.
Penn Relays – the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States.
Broad Street Run – the largest 10–mile road race in the United States.
2024 BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships – The 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships announced the qualifiers with 22 BIG EAST student-athletes (12 men, 10 women) among those set to compete in Eugene, Oregon. {clears throat} THEE Villanova University leads all BIG EAST schools with six qualifying athletes.
Penn Relays Summer Showcase (1 of 3) – World Athletics Global Calendar race allowing athletes to accumulate points towards the 2024 Paris Olympic Games!
Right? And we're only halfway through 2024. Why stop now?
Images courtesy of New Balance Nationals Outdoor Track & Field Championships
New Balance is excited to announce that the 2024 New Balance Nationals Outdoor Track & Field Championships will return to Franklin Field on Thursday, June 13 through Friday, June 16. The best in high school track & field (read: future Olympic hopefuls) will be back in Philadelphia.....let me pivot here.
Imagine running at Franklin Field for your high school at Penn Relays, crushing it, then returning a few weeks later for a chance to win a national title?!?!?
Season closed.....microphone dropped!!!!!
See you out there. I'm in the building (or at the stadium) on Friday if anyone cares haha!
Postscript: If you buy some New Balance gear today you'll have something to wear for the weekend! The swagger level of Track & Field athletes is on another planet! Grab a pair of NB 860s so you look official. This shoe was released not too long ago, so it’s the proper play for an event of this magnitude. I have secured a beautiful, Wiz Khalifa–inspired colorway that's perfect for the occasion, as well as daily mileage and training obviously. Just saying.....