Philadelphia, PA – Registration for the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation’s 36th annual Blue Cross® Broad Street Run in May opened at broadstreetrun.com on Sunday, February 1. Registration will continue until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, February 13. For the 19th consecutive year, Independence Blue Cross (Independence) is the title sponsor of the race, which became the nation’s largest 10-miler five years ago. The race raises money for the American Cancer Society.
Runners will register through a lottery to accommodate the large number of registrants, and winners will be posted on broadstreetrun.com on Tuesday, February 17. The Blue Cross Broad Street Run, to be held this year on Sunday, May 3, 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 35,000 runners completed the event, including more than 12,700 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 $43.
“The lottery registration system has been very successful, and gives all runners an equal chance of acquiring a spot, no matter when they signed up,” said Race Director Jim Marino from the City of Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, which manages the annual race. “We are looking forward to an expanded world class Race Expo once again this year at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.”
Again this year, veteran 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 “veteran” runner spot by March 1, 2015. More information about the lottery and the veteran runner program can be found on the race website at www.broadstreetrun.com.
“The Blue Cross Broad Street Run brings a special excitement to our community — for runners and non-runners alike — and has become one of our city’s most anticipated spring events,” said Independence president and CEO Daniel J. Hilferty. “We’re proud to have been part of this signature event for nearly 20 years and excited about how well it supports into our goal of helping our community be healthy and fit.”
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, on April 29, 2015, Independence is sponsoring National Walk @ Lunch Day, the company’s second major health-related event, which was created by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in 2007. This 1.5 mile walk is one of hundreds that take place simultaneously across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada to demonstrate how easy it can be to fit regular exercise into even the busiest of schedules.
About the Blue Cross® Broad Street Run
The Blue Cross Broad Street Run is owned and managed by the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department with the cooperation of city agencies and more than 90 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 and supports numerous community and charity programs throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve 9.6 million people in 25 states and the District of Columbia, including 2.5 million in the region. For more than 75 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more about how we’re changing the game, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.