Press Release

Blue Cross Broad Street Run Realizes Record-Breaking Turnout

Philadelphia, PA – May 8, 2006 – The 27th Annual Blue Cross Broad Street Run broke participation records as the largest 10-mile race ever held in Philadelphia.

A record number of 15,300 registered for this year's race, and about 13,550 runners—the largest number in the 27-year history of the race—crossed the finish line Sunday.

The Blue Cross Broad Street Run has evolved from a simple road race to an annual springtime tradition, complete with Mummers and the Phillie Phanatic. This year's winners were Nathan Kosgei of Kenya in the men's division with a time of 48 minutes, 18 seconds, and Olga Romanova of Russia in the women's race, who finished in 53 minutes, 21 seconds.

This year, there was a twist to the Philadelphia fixture—the addition of a sister race in Baghdad. About 100 soldiers stationed in Baghdad ran their version of the race by running six loops around a 1.67 mile stretch inside the American embassy compound.

New for this year also was the extra support IBC provided its members who were training for this year's race. About 5,000 members of IBC health plans registered for the Blue Cross Broad Street Run this year and received personalized reminders and a series of customized online newsletter that featured training and nutritional tips before the race, and thank you gifts after the race: running socks and a race training guide.

The race benefited the American Cancer Society. Every dollar raised by the participants goes to cancer research and patient care.

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For more than 65 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered quality health care products and services tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, groups and providers.

Independence Blue Cross recently received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its HMO and PPO health care plans. In addition, in 2005, Independence Blue Cross's Personal Choice was rated the No. 1 PPO in the nation and its Keystone HMO was ranked the No. 1 HMO in the region by health care consumers in a leading independent consumer magazine.