Amber Zimmerman sets sights on IBX Broad Street Run three‑peat

It's the final weeks of training for runners taking on the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run.

For most participants, just getting to the finish line of the 10-miler signifies victory.

But one Philadelphia woman has a loftier goal: winning the race for the third year in a row.

While many people are still asleep, Amber Zimmerman is already miles into her day.

"I just don't feel right if I don't run," Zimmerman said. "That's really what makes me feel like myself and feel alive. It's a habit I've built over so long, and once you have that, you can't really stop."

Day after day, it's rinse and repeat.

"I usually run everyday until my body tells me not to. Most days I run about 13 miles. I mean, 10-15 every day usually. I just run a couple of hours in the morning and call it a day," said Zimmerman.

And trust us, she has a lot to show for it, including first place in last year's Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run.

"The 10 miles for me is probably my favorite distance. And this is the best 10 miler I've run. Straight shot. It's really cool. You get to run past City Hall, and the whole Philly Broad Street line is awesome. The course is really cool. The crowd is amazing," she said.

Zimmerman plans to defend her title May 3, and she has advice for first-time runners.

"It's better to be a little undertrained and not injured going into this race," she said. "You gotta get a little but of pounding on your legs to handle the downhill start. It's easy after that."

She considers herself from all over, but she's been living in Philadelphia for five years, working as a scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. And she's taken advantage of the running scene here in the City of Brotherly Love.

"There's races like every weekend that you can jump into, so if you really enjoy that, there are 5ks, 10ks, 10 miles, and marathons. It's a good city for racing. It is close to a lot of good cities for racing. There's a ton of competitive people here. So it's a great place to actually get some good fields on the men's and women's side."

And come race day, Zimmerman will once again be chasing the top of the podium.