The Early Years
2009Established in 2009, the Philadelphia Marathon is now 17 years old. From its first edition in Philadelphia, it has evolved into a race that reflects the character of its host region in United States.
Get Your Training Plan
Free, personalized for this race
Course & Elevation
The Philadelphia Marathon winds through the city's historic neighborhoods and cultural landmarks, featuring the famous Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Runners experience an iconic urban course that includes the Philadelphia Zoo, Fairmount Park, and concludes with a triumphant finish on the Ben Franklin Parkway near City Hall. The flat course is ideal for personal records and features strong community support throughout.
Surface: road Profile: Flat
Weather
Temperature 10°C
Humidity 65%
Rain Chance 35%
Cool autumn weather with typical November conditions. Expect variable conditions with occasional rain; layers are recommended. November offers ideal running temperatures for most marathoners.
The Race
Philadelphia
Race Lore
The Course Record
2022The fastest time ever recorded at the Philadelphia Marathon is 02:10:26, set by Abdi Nageeye in 2022. Every year, new contenders line up hoping to challenge that mark on the streets of Philadelphia.
The Fast Lane
Runners come to the Philadelphia Marathon for one reason: personal bests. The flat, fast course through Philadelphia has a reputation as a PB factory, with the roads seemingly designed to keep your pace honest and your splits consistent from start to finish.
Boston Qualifier
The Philadelphia Marathon is a certified Boston qualifier, and that three-letter abbreviation — BQ — transforms the race from an event into a gateway. Every year, runners come to Philadelphia not just to finish but to chase a time that unlocks the world's most exclusive marathon.
The Crowd Energy
With 22,500 finishers and spectators lining the course deep, the Philadelphia Marathon generates an atmosphere that carries runners through the hard miles. The crowd support in Philadelphia is not polite applause — it's visceral, personal, and often the difference between hitting the wall and breaking through it.
Famous Runners
KH
Kevin Hart
Comedian & actor
4:05:06 2017
🏅 Create Your Philadelphia Marathon Diploma
Finished this race? Get a free certificate with celebrity comparisons & race day weather
Course Record
02:10:26
Abdi Nageeye (2022)
Registration
Registration Opens March
Registration Closes October
Entry Cost $140-$190
Register Now
Official Website →
Fun Facts
- ▸ The Philadelphia Marathon's finish line is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, one of the most iconic thoroughfares in American cities.
- ▸ The race attracts international runners from nearly 70 countries and has grown from its inaugural 2009 running to one of America's largest marathons.
- ▸ Runners pass the Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest continuously operating zoo in the United States, established in 1874.
- ▸ November in Philadelphia typically offers some of the best marathon weather conditions on the American East Coast, with cool temperatures ideal for fast times.
Compare With Similar Races
Are you the race organizer?
Free · Get featured on our homepage · Edit your race details
Get alerts for Philadelphia Marathon
Registration openings, date changes, sell-out warnings.