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Nov 22, 2026
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The Philadelphia Marathon is a road marathon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, held on a Sunday in late November as the last day of a three-day Marathon Weekend that also includes a half marathon and an 8K; the 2026 weekend runs from 20 to 22 November. The organisers date the current weekend to a first race in 1994, and press describes the event as having existed in some form since 1954. The marathon starts at 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, beside the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The course runs through Center City and the historic district, Fairmount Park, University City, along the Schuylkill River path and out to Manayunk, then back to finish near the steps of the Art Museum. Course checkpoints are at 5K, 10K, 15K, 20K, the half way point, 25K, 30K and 40K. The race is USATF certified, holds World Athletics Label Road Race status and is a Boston Marathon qualifier. The course records are 2:13:28 by Michael Chesire of Kenya and 2:28:34 by Leslie Sexton of Canada, both from 2021.
Typical climate for the race month — an estimate, not a forecast or a race-day record
Late November in Philadelphia is cold: average highs are about 13°C (56°F) and lows about 4°C (39°F), with rain or wet snow on around nine days of the month.
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Philadelphia
The organisers date the current Philadelphia Marathon Weekend to its first race in 1994, which began with about 1,500 participants. Press describes the event as having existed in some form since 1954. The weekend includes a half marathon and an 8K alongside the marathon.
On 21 November 2021 Michael Chesire of Kenya won the Philadelphia Marathon in 2:13:28, and Leslie Sexton of Canada won the women's race in 2:28:34. Both times are listed as the course records. The race was not held in 2020 because of the pandemic.
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02:13:28
Michael Chesire (2021)
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