In the Rocky movie I saw Balboa run through the Italian Market with the 55 gallon drums fired up to burn the empty crates and keep your hands warm; the 1st and 2nd runs up to the Art Museum were also moments in the film you do not forget. Rocky also talked about being left handed…southpaw, South Philly and I could relate to that as well. I’m right handed but boxed left handed; my trainer at the NYAC was Michael May an 18 – 0 promising heavyweight until he ran into a little bulldog in upstate NY. The bald bulldog was much shorter and was using his head as well as his hands so Michael, you could never call him Mike or Mickey just Michael, broke both his hands on his head for the KO. Michael’s hands where deformed with scars from many operations that never healed so he became a trainer. Michael also told me I’d never get a professional fight, because I was too pretty, unmarked, left handed and had big paws. I have big paws from wrestling in high school doing all those fingertip pushups as well as working in a butcher shop as I was going to college. You see where I’m going here? I was done with the crowded NY Marathon and Philly at 3,000 runners was my next marathon opportunity, inspired by the movie Rocky.
My first Philly was November, 1981 and the course was amazing. It was point to point racing; I caught the bus at the Liberty Bell which took the marathoners to the Valley Forge area where Temple University is located. You could relax before the race start in the auditorium and keep warm; your extra clothes went on the bus and could be picked up at the finish, the Liberty Bell. We ran by the Art Museum and thru the Italian Market as well as along the Schuylkill River where the University of Pennsylvania Crew workout. I didn’t notice the big hill half way into the race leading into Germantown; I was enjoying myself, not racing for time.
I returned in 1982 with my Brother Chris and my running partner Jim Menger, after a few miles Chris and I left Menger for a 6 minute pace; at the 11 mile mark we where still averaging 6 minute pace then the hill to Germantown and the halfway mark. I forgot how steep and long the hill and I could not keep the pace so Chris went on and Menger passed me half way up the hill. I guess I was passed by 300 or so runners but after the hill, I recovered and believe I passed almost all of those speedy hill climbers. Chris finished under 3 hours and Menger a minute behind and I clocked in at 3:17.
Over time I found a great Italian Restaurant called Jimmy’s Milan and it became the traditional dinner before the race. I would also spend the night in Philly after the race so on the ride home on Monday I could stop at a few shops and buy Xmas presents for the girls.
I loved that race and would run it 8 times in a row and only crossed it off the list because of the course change. They where forced to change the course because the street closings kept tourists away from the great sights; the race was now 2 loops and no crowd cheering Germantown. Like many things in life, that run their course, this race was special and had legs with memories you hold onto.
Jim Muehe
Hawaii Ironman 1982-83’