Lottery for the race opens on February 1
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation’s annual Blue Cross® Broad Street Run, the city and title sponsor Independence Blue Cross (Independence) today unveiled a new race logo and enhanced website. The improvements simplify and streamline race information and make the site mobile-friendly and easier to navigate.
Registration for this year’s race, which will be held on Sunday, May 5, opens on February 1 and continues until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, February 15, 2019. Independence has sponsored the 10-mile run, the nation’s sixth largest road race, for the past 23 consecutive years. The race raises money for the American Cancer Society (ACS) through runners’ donations and pledges. Since 1982, more than $5 million has been raised for the ACS.
Runners will register through a lottery to accommodate the large number of registrants, and winners will be posted on broadstreetrun.com on Tuesday, February 19, 2019.
“On this milestone anniversary, we are celebrating not only this iconic world-class race, but also the city of Philadelphia itself, which is a huge part of the overall Run experience, beginning with the Expo and leading up to actual race day,” said Leo Dignan, assistant managing director for the City of Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation. “We’ve enjoyed a long and successful partnership with Independence Blue Cross, and we’ve also been fortunate for the support we’ve had throughout the city, from all our sponsors, to the volunteers, to all the enthusiastic spectators who make the race that much more special for runners.”
“Congratulations to the City of Philadelphia and to all of the runners and spectators who have participated in the Blue Cross Broad Street Run over the past forty years,” said Daniel J. Hilferty, CEO of Independence Blue Cross. “Independence is proud to have sponsored this amazing race for almost a quarter of a century as part of our commitment to keeping the community healthy. Whether you run, walk, bike, or skate — find your own fearless fit and stick with it for good health.”
The Blue Cross Broad Street Run began in 1980 with 1,500 runners racing the 10 miles from Broad Street and Somerville Avenue to the old JFK Stadium. Last year, more than 36,000 runners completed the event, including more than 12,000 Independence members. The Department of Parks and Recreation anticipates another sellout of 40,000 registered runners from across the country this year. The race registration fee is $55. This year, registered runners will receive a high-quality race-branded Tech T-shirt.
A number of additional race bibs are available for a $500 donation through five race charities — the American Cancer Society, the official race charity; the Fairmount Park Conservancy; Students Run Philly Style; Back on My Feet Philadelphia chapter; and the American Association for Cancer Research — for runners who want to avoid the lottery or are not accepted.
Runners who have completed at least 10 Blue Cross Broad Street Run races and who enter the lottery but aren’t selected will be guaranteed a spot if they apply for a “tenured” runner spot by March 1, 2019. More information about the lottery and the tenured runner program can be found on the race website at www.broadstreetrun.com.
The race will be broadcast live in its entirety from 8 to 10:30 a.m. by NBC-10 and Telemundo TV.
Independence Blue Cross hosts a very active Blue Cross Broad Street Run Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ibxrun10 and a popular Twitter account at @IBXRun10. Race updates are posted regularly and runners can connect with one another, exchange training tips, and share stories.
In addition to the Blue Cross Broad Street Run, Independence #Fearlessfit aims to motivate members and the community to pursue an active lifestyle through a variety of sponsorship events, including the Blue Cross® RiverRink ice skating and roller skating and Indego bike share program.
About the Blue Cross® Broad Street Run
The Blue Cross Broad Street Run is operated and managed by the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department with the cooperation of city agencies and more than 125 volunteer groups. The race is always held the first Sunday in May, and the course includes a variety of Philadelphia neighborhoods along Broad Street. The race raises funds for the American Cancer Society through runner pledges and donations and supports numerous community and charity programs throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.
Media contacts:
Ruth Stoolman
215-241-4801 (office)
215-667-9537 (cell)
Ruth.stoolman@ibx.com