We're three days into the New Year.....how do our Resolutions look? I didn't make any per se haha so I'm sitting pretty right now. Ok wait – I did say I was going to run more races in 2025.
So which are the best? Well 'best' is subjective, right? But let's try to itemize some of the premier races, why they are elite, and if you can still get in (I'll provide website information where I can). Yep, it's January 3rd and it's safe to assume that EVERY RACE WILL SELL OUT! Pro Tip: Register for everything as soon as you can.
Love Run Philadelphia Half Marathon – Sunday, March 30. The premier Spring 13.1 in Philly. Perfect for crushing early yearly goals, or tapping in to that leftover fitness from Fall/Winter 2024 training. Starts and ends at the Philadelphia Museum of Art at Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins Oval, passing historic landmarks and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway before sprinting to the finish at Eakins Oval, home of the Robert "Rocky" Balboa Steps.
Love Run Philly 7K – Sunday, March 30. This used to be a 7.6K. Ya know, 1776: Declaration Of Independence, Birth of The United States Of America, Seventy–Sixers, etcetera. Now, in my first year running this race, it's a cool 4.35–mile super flat course. Following the same course as the Half Marathon, the 7K starts and ends at the Art Museum (Rocky) steps. Perfect race for beginners, sprinting, and/or the unpredictable Philadelphia Spring weather. Could be 40 degrees, or 4. That's zero exaggeration.
Penn Relays Corporate Distance Medley Relay – Friday, April 25. If you haven't heard me boast, The Penn Relays (officially The Penn Relay Carnival) is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States of America. Primarily for high school, college, masters, and professional athletes, to partake in the fun all you need to do is convince your company's President or CEO to enter a team in the Corporate Distance Medley Relay. That's, in this order, a 1200–meter, 400–meter, and 800–meter, capped by a 1600–meter.
Penn Relays Open Division 5000m – Friday, April 25. Got speed? It's a hot ticket, but if you can get yourself an entry into the Women's or Men's 5K, this race is electric! 12.5 laps around the historic track at Benjamin Franklin Field.....no better way to spend the last Friday in April.
Broad Street Run – 2025 Date TBD. Typically taking place on the first Sunday in May, Broad Street is the largest 10–mile road race in the U S of A. The slightly flat, slightly downhill course runs southbound on Pennsylvania Route 611, or Philadelphia's 14th Street. 40,000 people will run this. It will sell out. I've run it twice, said I'm retired, but might come back in 2025 haha. We'll be talking a lot about Broad Street on #MYPHILLYRUN BLOG in the upcoming weeks.
The Philly 10K – 2025 Date TBD. Typically taking place on the weekend's Sunday before Labor Day Weekend. Ok.....the 10K is race and a party and BOTH are serious business! It's the only sanctioned race that runs primarily through South Philadelphia. There's beer at the packet pickup. The post-race party is a concert. With beer. It's the People's Race.
Photo courtesy of Steve Dyer, @morbid_gourd
Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon – Sunday, September 21. The flattest half marathon in Philadelphia! It's the perfect "half marathon at race pace" in your fall marathon training build. It's the perfect half for runners who love the half distance. It's the perfect half marathon for runners who want a fall half at milder temperatures.
Philadelphia Distance Run 5K – Sunday, September 21. This is a safe space, right? It's the best 5K in Philly. Period. Sorry, I am NOT Sorry. The weather is great (usually), and as you're finishing the Half Marathon is beginning. So you're in a great race simultaneously watching a great race. If you're looking for motivation as you're finishing the 3.1–miler, look to your left as the lead pack of the 13.1 miler is flying by.....MAYBE on the way to a world record (6 have been broken here)! Can't beat that.
Philadelphia Marathon Weekend 8K – Saturday, November 22. Aka (also known as) The 8K. This 4.97–miler is my favorite race in Philly. You're running during Marathon Weekend, so there's that. It's longer than a 5K, so it feels like a distance race. But it's not quite 5 miles, so if you're Capital 'R' Racing it, the pain is short–lived. Aannndddd it starts at 1045a, so you can Friday Night a bit longer, sleep in, and if it's cold outside for the race at least the sun is out. Primo.
Philadelphia Marathon Weekend Philadelphia Half Marathon – Saturday, November 22. Aka The Half. I mean it's The Philly Half. My first half marathon was the Rock 'N 'Roll Half, which is now the aforementioned Philadelphia Distance Run. I've never run The Philly Half and it's maybe number 2 on my race bucket list. Like I absolutely LOVE the 8K, but do I want to run the half this year?
Philadelphia Marathon Weekend Philadelphia Marathon – Sunday, November 23. Aka The Full. When people say, "I'm running Philly", this is the race they're referring to. It's ranked top 10 marathon in America, United States. The Cheer Zones at Philadelphia Runner Center City and Philadelphia Runner Manayunk are electric, and the now World–Famous Cheer House Row is atomic!
Photo courtesy of Steve Dyer, @morbid_gourd
Fin.
Stay Tuned For Part 2.....Club Races (including The Philly Mayor's Cup which could be in Part 1 as well). And the other Philadelphia Runner races so y'all don't think I'm TOO biased hahahahaha.