Get Ready: The Broad Street Run Lottery Opens This Saturday
Registration for the country's largest 10-mile road race runs from February 1st through 14th.
The lottery for the epic Broad Street Run 10-Miler opens Saturday, February 1st. / Photograph courtesy of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.
We know most of you probably don’t even want to think about running right now, but it is indeed that time of year again — time to set your alarms early and lace up your running sneaks as you start training for one of Philly’s most beloved races: the Blue Cross Broad Street Run.
This year’s race takes place on May 3rd, but before you can run it, you have to make it in. Wannabe racers can’t just pay their $55 registration fees for the largest 10-mile road race in America and go on with their days. No, they’ve got to enter the lottery, which opens this Saturday, February 1st, and closes February 14th.
Know that your chances of being selected for the race, which celebrates its 41st anniversary this year, are the same if you register today or in two weeks…unless you’ve competed in 10 or more Broad Street Run 10-Miler races. Then you qualify as a tenured runner (congrats!) and are guaranteed a spot — but still have to fork over the registration fee before the lottery closes. For everyone else, we’d recommend throwing your name in before life gets in the way of your memory, especially if you’d like to enter as a three- to five-person team, for which there are limited spots. Be prepared to spend more if you’re chosen; teams pay $300 to $350 total, with corporate teams shouldering the highest rate.
Fortunately, you won’t have to wait long to find out whether you’re officially a Broad Street Run 10-Miler racer. You’ll be able to search your name through the registration confirmation search, which will be posted on the Broad Street Run website very, very soon. If your name’s not there, your credit card shouldn’t be charged.
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Before you go through the process of registering, though, note that you must be able to run a mile in less than 15 minutes to be eligible for the race. Trust us, you don’t want to get trampled by tens of thousands of people — last year, approximately 40,000 Broad Street Run 10-Miler runners crossed the finish line, and there may have been just as many spectators with signs — if you fall behind. (We recommend these training plans to keep you at the front of the pack, or at least to maintain your stride when the going gets tough.)
Secondly, if your name gets passed over, you can still run the race through one of five charities: the American Cancer Society, American Association for Cancer Research, the Fairmount Park Conservancy, Students Run Philly Style, and Back on My Feet…as long as you raise a minimum donation amount for your chosen organization. (Consult your selected charity for the required amount.) The way we see it, you’re either paying a little for a good experience — or a lot for a good cause.
No matter how you plan to participate, we hope you crush this year’s Broad Street Run. And don’t forget: it’s never too early to start training!
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