Race Recap: Danielle Aspitz at Philly Half 2024
Background
Racing the 2024 Philly Half was an amazing experience! It was a tough race, in windy conditions, but being invited to race in the elite field I truly felt like a VIP. This was the first year the race provided a separate elite race, meaning elite athletes would start 5 minutes ahead of the open field. Because of this distinction, those who qualified for sub-elite were given the choice of racing in the open field or in the elite race.
My entire goal for 2024 was to dip below 1:20 – the elite women qualifying time. I had come so close, 1:21:55 in Staten Island 2023, 1:21:47 in the NYC Half 2024, and finally 1:21:31 in the 2024 Brooklyn Half.
I felt confident I could get it in the 2024 Staten Island half, but unfortunately progress is not always linear. Summer weddings abroad disrupted my training, and with jet lag, a lingering cold, and unexpected job loss just days before the race, I felt my chances of hitting my goal slipping. The race itself ended up being a train wreck—I started out strong but burned out and struggled through the latter miles, especially with an IT band issue that flared up the week prior. This was far from the dream race I was hoping for, and the fantasy of running with the elite field came crashing down.
About a week later I received an invitation from the race organizers, I was given the choice to race with the elites, it felt like a dove carrying an olive branch. I quickly accepted! This was an opportunity I could not turn down!
Bib Pickup
The experience started with receiving a bib with my name printed in big block letters. I was elated to see it, but little did I know the personalized cheers all along the course would prove a challenge in identifying actual friends calling my name, from those simply reading the bib.
Following the bib retrieval we had a technical meeting to cover the course, weather, and schedule. The strong winds forecasted were on everyone’s minds, but they reassured us that during the final stretch to the finish we would get a little boost from a tailwind! The below freezing temps were also intimidating, and to that they told us we’d have our own heated tent and last-minute jacket collection at the start line. What a treat!
Race Day
Pre-Race
As instructed, I arrived at the Sheraton lobby at 5:30am to walk over to the race with the elite crew. I briefly considered skipping this part but am so glad I didn’t. Walking over alongside these incredible athletes, I felt lucky and so excited. All nerves were masked by a seemingly boundless joy at how far I’ve come. I quickly made a few friends, exchanging nervous small talk and laughs.
We got through security, stretched, warmed-up together, used our bathrooms a few times, got into our race gear in the heated tent, and soon enough it was time to get out there! We were all summoned to walk over to the start line, clinging to our jackets, hearts racing -- show time.
We did a few strides, final stretches… The time to start came and went, and a few asked for another chance to use the bathroom since clearly we were being delayed. The volunteers obliged and we eagerly ran over to our tent for one last release! We were escorted back right as the national anthem began and the butterflies fluttering reached their climax. Finally it was time, we dropped our jackets with the volunteers and got in position. Women on the Right and men on the Left.
Start
The gun sounded and off we went, into the wind! Everything had been an absolute dream so far, but I had not given too much thought to what racing 13.1 miles alone might feel like. It was an inevitable fate I had accepted.
Being fully exposed to the 25 mph winds, exacerbated in part by the rolling hills, was challenging. I knew we went out quick and dropped off the pack almost immediately. There was a lead pack and a secondary pack, that was running just a hair faster than I. My first mile was 5:45, much faster than the 6-min pace race plan, but it was such a thrill to be out, and I wanted to keep this secondary pack within sight.
These seemed to be very experienced racers and they kept a tight tangent I tried to mimic as we weaved through the city. It was so hard to gauge my pace without constantly looking at my watch, but I felt good so far, and every time I passed a clock I could easily divide by 6 and it seemed I was on pace.
The crowds were immensely supportive, from the loud roar through Rittenhouse Square to a cute father and toddler on a stoop waving as I beamed back, a big smile I tried to hold on to as we began ascending a steep hill into a wall of wind. Finally we rounded a corner into a more protected street and all resistance faded away, ah, time to find the gas pedal.
A few fast men began to pass me around the 5-mile mark. Then a man in a banana costume flew by. I didn’t know if I should feel defeated or impressed by this one, a pretty random record he must be going for. As we reached a flat stretch and I began gaining on one of the elite women, ultimately passing her, I felt a sense of relief for a moment, “I’m still in this” I thought to myself, the fight was still on. I hung on to the pace, “stay in it,” I’d remind myself, “let’s gooooo!”
Finish
The middle miles were tough, specifically 8-11, the rolling hills, wind, and more sparse crowds in the park had subconsciously slowed my pace. But as I hit mile 10 a weight of doubt was lifting, and the possibility of hope lit up a second wind within me.
I tried to get some of a second gel within me, and got about half in before deciding to toss it for fear of upsetting my stomach. As we crested the final hill of the course I seized the opportunity to speed up along the descent.
Mile 12, I clocked a 5:51 and a wave of confidence washed over me.
Mile 13, 5:58, on pace.
The finishing stretch felt like it went on forever, there was no big clock encouraging a big kick, and the line itself was quite minimal relative to NYRR races. I did manage a small kick, but sadly it was not enough.
I finished in 1:20:49. Proud to have PR-ed, and placed relatively well, 16th woman, and 9th in my age group. Of course, I was a bit disappointed, and still hungry for that sub-80, but overall I was happy, this was a strong race, and far beyond what I’d ever thought I could accomplish!
Post-Race
The post-race thoughts, reflections, what-ifs linger on in my memories. The wind, the hills, running alone. Most runners slowed down in the mile 8-11 section of the course, but some managed it a bit better. Could I have found the second wind and sped-up a bit earlier? What if I had hung on to the second pack a bit longer? What if I had run in the open race?
One big takeaway is that outcome goals are useful metrics in building a training plan, but ultimately they are poor goals to hold as a driving motivation for racing. The why at the end of the day must be something more meaningful than a silly number.
For now I want to take a break from the number obsession and show up out of a genuine curiosity to find out what I can do. Additionally, I want to celebrate how lucky we are that we get to participate in this amazing sport, and get to be a part of such an amazing community! I want to lean in to the community, and the fun of being unhindered by time goals. I’ll definitely continue chasing the adrenaline rush arising from defying expectations, but I hope to center my motivation around curiosity and love, because in my experience my best races come when I least expect it!
World Athletics
During the process of applying for the sub-elite field, I discovered I had a World Athletics profile! When I looked it up, there I was, globally ranked for my Boston Marathon! Though I had fallen short of my expectations there (finishing in 2:54, 6 minutes off my goal), I realized I had done well in a tough race—75th woman overall.
I had felt I had a really good training cycle, but it was an un-seasonably warm day and I messed up my fueling a bit. Looking back, I’m proud of that race despite the challenges, and even more so after learning about my global ranking—1622 in the marathon! It was a bit of a surprise, and even more so when I saw my Philly Half time also pop up on my profile soon after.
Reflection
This year has been a challenging one, with more marginal gains than in previous years. But I feel I am still learning and growing with each race. My relationship with racing has matured—I now see that while goals are important, they should always be flexible and adjusted for race conditions.
Mental toughness is crucial; we are capable of so much more than we often realize, especially when the conditions align. The Ted Corbitt race was a powerful reminder of what 2025 might hold when I approach it with the right mindset. I entered with zero expectations and walked away with 7th place!
Moving forward, I want to continue nurturing that internal strength and reconnecting with why I love this sport.
