“Lace up your running shoes; the Philadelphia Marathon weekend is just around the corner! From Friday, November 17, to Sunday, November 19, seasoned runners and first-time racers alike will hit the city streets for a series of races!
This event marks its 30th year and is recognized as one of the top 10 marathons in the country. Participants will jog through iconic locations such as Center City, Fairmount Park, University City, Manayunk, and more. Runners will also get to see the city’s most prestigious sites, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row, while spectators cheer them on.
The race also contributes to the American Association for Cancer Research, aiming to raise $600,000 this year.
Before you gear up for this massive event, here’s what you need to know about Philadelphia’s Marathon weekend:”
Events, Runs:
- Health and Fitness Expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (November 17, 18)
- The Ditz and Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon (November 18)
- Rothman Orthopaedics 8K Run (November 18)
- The Nemours Children’s Run (November 18)
- Patriot Challenge – 8K and Half Marathon (November 18)
- Independence Challenge – 8K and Full Marathon (November 18, 19)
- Liberty Bell Challenge – Half and Full Marathon (November 18, 19)
- Freedom Challenge – 8K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon (November 18, 19)
- AACR Philadelphia Marathon (November 19)
All the above runs will start on 22nd Street and Ben Franklin Parkway. For various start times, refer to the link.
Audience Guidance:
The Philadelphia Marathon Weekend is not just for runners but also a special event for loyal fans!
Every year, athletes eagerly await enthusiastic spectators who often boost their morale with colorful signs in hand.
If you want to help runners cross the finish line, visit philadelphiamarathon.com for spectator maps.
And if you know someone and want to track their progress, use the marathon’s runner tracking system! Once the race is over, you can check the results on philadelphiamarathon.com.
Road Closures, Transportation:
You can find the complete list of road closures for the entire week on the city’s website, phila.gov. Closures will start from Friday morning at 9:30 am and will be in effect multiple times throughout the week.
“No Parking” regulations will also be strictly enforced during the week. All vehicles on the race route will be relocated by city officials.
On Saturday and Sunday, entry to the Philadelphia Museum of Art will be restricted. During racing hours, spectators can reach the museum from Spring Garden Street (Spring Garden Street Bridge) to Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive.
SEPTA officials have also announced that its Regional Rail system will start operating from Saturday morning at 6 am and will continue until Sunday. Selected buses will run on various routes during The Ditz and Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon and AACR Philadelphia Marathon.
You can find route changes below or on SEPTA.org:
Routes K-12: K, R, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12
Routes 16-31: 16, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 31
Routes 32-47: 32, 33, 35, 38, 40, 42, 43, 47
Routes 47M-125: 47M, 48, 57, 61, 64, 65, 124/125, Trolley Route 15 (Bus)
In addition, bus routes 7, 32, 33, 38, 43, 48, and 49 will operate on a temporary mode between Eakins Oval and 20th Street on Ben Franklin Parkway for marathon events.
For access to each event’s start and finish lines, spectators can take regional rail to suburban or 30th Street stations.
