Great Escape: Local Runs

You finished the Broad Street Run at the start of May with flying colors. You cheered and celebrated the Manayunk Bike race.

 Now what?

Don’t fret. There are plenty of road races in the city and the surrounding areas to keep you occupied until 2012. Though it might be hard to make them all, there’s always time for a good race once in a while. And with a couple of them right up the street, it’s definitely worth your time to grab some running sneakers and come out for a good cause.

1.      Run for the Hill of It – The Montgomery Child Advocacy Project, or MCAP, is an amazing organization that provides free legal services to children who are abused and neglected. This group is the race director and beneficiary of Chestnut Hill’s 24th Annual Run For The Hill Of It. This five mile race and one mile fun walk takes place on Forbidden Drive. So grab your friends and your running gear and head out to help some children in need.
Location: Forbidden Drive, Chestnut Hill
Date: Saturday, July 30
Details: http://www.runforthehillofit.org/raceinfo.php

2.      Spokes for Folk and Philly 5K – As the Mt. Airy-based Philadelphia Folksong Society gears up for the 50th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Folk Festival, runners and bikers across the area are headed out to raise money for the Spokes for Folks and Philly 5K Fundraisers. Take part in a 50k road race or the 17 mile trail ride, or if you don’t feel like riding, take to the dirt with the 5k run or walk. Whether you’ve got a Schwinn, a super-athlete machine or a trailblazing mountain bike, if you love folk music, you’ll love these races.
Location: Montgomery County Park, Green Lane
Date: July 30
Details: http://www.pfs.org/event/spokes-folk-and-philly-5k-fundraisers-07-30-2011-0000

3.      20in24 – Back On My Feet is an amazing organization that helps those in the city struggling with homelessness learn to become self-sufficient and build self-esteem through running. And 20in24 is a great fundraiser that draws thousands to cheer and participate as runners take part in one of several incredible races. Run as many miles as you can in 24 hours, grab your friends and run a relay, try your luck at a run in the dark with the Midnight Madness run, or be an early rise and check out the Pajama Run. And with an 8.4 loop per race, you will certainly get your run on.
Location: Schuylkill River Running Loop
Date: July 16
Details: www.20in24.org

4.      Rainbow Run – The Rainbow Ridge Farm Therapeutic Riding Center is hosting its first annual 5k and Fun Walk right in the Philadelphia Zoo. Never has there been a better reason to grab your family and go to the Zoo. Take part in the run or walk in the morning, and spend the afternoon with the animals as you raise money for this great nonprofit. And bring a pair of gently used sneakers to donate to Reuse Your Shoes. The downfall? Three of these races are on July 30! Choose wisely, but don’t worry – there are plenty to go around.
Location: The Philadelphia Zoo
Date: July 30
Details: http://www.rainbowridge.myevent.com/

5.      Run For Cover – But if you don’t want to wait for a race, take a trip down to South Philly. No, it’s not for a Phillies Game. Come to the Wells Fargo Center for Running For Cover, a 5k run and walk within the stadium for the Wistar Institute’s Melanoma Research Center.
Location: Wells Fargo Center
Date: June 26
Details: http://www.foundationformelanomaresearch.org.php5-19.dfw1-2.websitetestl...