If you’re a runner in Philadelphia, you’re fortunate to have such a large variety of races to choose from year-round! But which ones are worth checking out? I’m so excited to share a quick guide to 5 of the ultimate races you have to run in Philly! Keep these races on your radar throughout the year!
I’m linking up with Patty, Erika, and Marcia for Tuesdays on the Run!
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5 Ultimate Races in Philly
I have been running races in the City of Brotherly Love since 2011, and over the years, I’ve been able to run quite a few in the city spanning from 5K’s to the half marathon distance. Even though I have frequently said that I’m a bit over Philly races and have been craving some new scenery, I wanted to share 5 of the ultimate Philly races that are definitely worth checking out! Philadelphia is a great city for runners with something for everyone!
Run for Clean Air 5K/10K – Early-Mid April
Run for Clean Air is the annual Earth Day 5K in Philadelphia, and it is a lot of fun! It starts right in front of the Art Museum (aka Rocky) Steps and has a straightforward out and back course. But it’s not the course that makes this race fun. There are so many people: families, pets, runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, many who are passionate about the environment! That’s a cause that means a lot to me, so it’s great to be part of an event that is a Certified Green Run – everything’s paperless and even the race bibs can be planted!
Last year the Clean Air Run added a beer garden, which I’m sure will be back! And the snacks were healthy and delicious! This year they’ve added a 10K as well. I’ll be back running with my company team, this is definitely my favorite 5K in the city! Here are some past recaps:
Consider this race if you’re eco-friendly and want to have fun with the whole family for a great price!
Broad Street Run – First Weekend in May
The Broad Street Run has to be THE ultimate Philadelphia race. Broad Street is a 10-mile race, mostly downhill, that takes you from North Philly down to the Navy Yard, with some great sights along the way! Everyone is obsessed with Broad Street. If you haven’t run it, you’re not a real Philly runner – so they say! I have completed this race twice, back in 2011 and 2012. This is one of those races that people love to run year after year. In early May, the weather can be unpredictable so that can definitely make things interesting when the big day comes.
A couple of years ago, Broad Street added a lottery system, capping to about 40,000 runners, and the lottery period just ended last week. BUT, you can still sign up for one of the charity teams below and raise money for a good cause, plus get great perks! Hurry while there are still openings!
- Fairmount Park Conservancy – raise $500 for the Belmont Plateau Restoration Project
- Students Run Philly Style – raise $500 to support mentoring students to run a half or full marathon
I’m not signed up this year, but I’ve got quite a few friends that are signed up and I look forward to cheering them on!
Consider this run if you like huge crowds and want to support Philadelphia programs.
RunFest – Early-Mid June (formerly the Oddyssey Half Marathon)
Philadelphia’s inaugural Run Fest is a celebration of your running experience with Three Races, Yoga, Live Music, and the City’s greatest post-race festival.
There is the option to start the day with yoga, a half marathon, 5K, or a charity mile! There’s really something for everyone in West Fairmount Park. And while the Oddyssey Half Marathon is no more, there is still the chance to play lawn games, enjoy live music, and wear a costume!
I’m still on the fence as to whether I’ll be signing up, but I have quite a few friends that are looking forward to it!
Consider this run if you like running, yoga, and having fun!
Philly 10K – Late August
In 2014, the inaugural Philly 10K was a HUGE hit. Unlike most races in Philly, this one isn’t at the Art Museum – the course takes you through South Philly, Center City, Old City, and down South Street. The race sold out in record time so I didn’t get to sign up, but I did get to help out as a volunteer at a water stop. It was really a great experience, and the organizers did an awesome job, especially handling the unbearable September heat!
Fortunately, I was able to run the race in 2015 and had a great time! Check out my recap of the 2015 Philly 10K!
Now the Philly 10K is going into it’s 5th year…I really hope to get to join in this year!
Consider this run if you like smaller races with local charm but don’t mind paying a little extra for the experience!
Philadelphia Marathon/Half Marathon – Late November
I’ve written about my awful experience at the Philadelphia Half Marathon, but that was due to my own mistakes, nothing against the race itself! I have had the joy of watching my friends run the half marathon and marathon distances over the years, and the Philly Marathon has an electric energy unlike any other race I’ve ever witnessed or experienced.
The course starts in front of the Art Museum on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and ventures through Old City, Center City, University, Fairmount Park, and for the marathoners goes up to Manayunk and back. It really is a beautiful course and most of the way has tons of support. This is a great race for beginners! I’m so proud that this was where I was able to run my first marathon!
Registration begins on April 1, so definitely check it out!
Consider this run if you love a supportive crowd and are going for a PR!
Have you ever run any of these ultimate Philly races or plan to run any this year? If you could only pick one, which one would you choose?
I haven’t run a Philly race and I am dying too! I live in DC and it’s not that far away so I need to get planning! Great list!
Oh I hope you can come up, these races are just the tip of the iceberg!
Broad Street Run is on my bucket list! Hope to see you soon ( at Cherry Blossom)
Yes, hopefully we can coordinate a meet up at Cherry Blossom! 🙂
I love visiting Philly, and it’s a doable drive from Pittsburgh. The Philly Half Marathon is definitely on my bucket list!
I need to check out Pittsburgh for a race too!
I am a fan of the Philly Half and hope to get back to run it again soon!
That would be great! I’ll probably be spectating again this year!
i really need to run a race in philly sometime soon!
We’d be happy to have you!!
I’ve ran both Broad Street and the Philly Half! Both were great races, but if I were to pick one, I’d pick the Philly half as my favorite of all on your list. The reason I loved it so much was because of the crowd support! The support was amazing and helped push me for another PR. 🙂
I’d definitely pick the Philly Half over Broad Street for the same reason!
It looks like Philadelphia has a plethora of great races! I’ve never run in your city before, but I just registered to run the Back on My Feet 5-Miler in late March when I’m visiting. I’m looking forward to seeing Philadelphia from a runner’s perspective.
Oh Back on My Feet should be a great race! They do great things in the city for the homeless. I hope you like Philly!
I’d love to run a race in Philly! I’ve never been, and what better way to visit a city than to run through it?!
Philly is a great place to visit with so much history, so it’s definitely worth getting a little runcation together!
Great list! I know the rock n roll in September and the one in November. But it’s nice to hear about the other ones. 21$ for a 5k can’t beat it!
Rock and Roll is fun too, but I’m not sure when it’s happening because the Pope is coming the same weekend they planned to have the race.
I have got to get to Philly! it is so close and i have never done a race there!!
Really? Ahh you’ve gotta come up! There are so many races to choose from!
The Philly marathon is my favorite! And it seems like Philly has so many great races…my coworker keeps telling me to do Broad St. I need to get back there for some different races this year!
I can’t wait to do the Philly marathon one day. The Broad Street Run is very crowded, but it’s a lot of fun.
I have heard great things about Broad St. Philly seems to have some great runs. It would be nice to get up to run some one of these days.
I’d definitely recommend it!!
I just moved from the Philly area last April and had to give up my Broad Street bib 🙁 I want to run it someday though! It sounds like an awesome race.
Aw that stinks! The good thing is that they have a transfer service so that that at least the bib won’t go to waste! Hopefully you can do it next year! Where did you move to?
Yay! I grew up outside of Philly so I LOVE coming back. I’m running Broad Street for the first time and the ODDyssey half for the first time this year and am pumpedddd. I ran the Philly half marathon a couple years ago and had a great race. I want to run the Philly Marathon some day!
Oh that’s awesome Lauren! Broad Street is just one of those special races and I hope you enjoy Oddyssey!
I am a recent transplant to Bucks County, PA. Interesting to hear about some of the “must do” races in Philly. The Odyssey one looks like a fun time! This year is predominantly a triathlon year for me, although that running “bucket list” continues to grow.
Ooh Bucks County is beautiful! I need to look more into races in your area. I admire triathletes so much, good luck on your races this year!
I have run a couple of these races and they are all great ones!
I love racing in Philly! 🙂
Oh my goodness that Odyssey race looks awesome! I love this list. I LOVE the Broad Street Run. I’m actually sad to miss it this year because that’s my marathon weekend. Running in Philly is definitely unique. I used to live in D.C. and I feel like the community in Philly is just so supportive (and usually with beers in their hands LOL). I would love to see that 10K through South Philly…again: so unique and cool.
I’ve loved running in Philly over the years…there’s some great tried and true races and every once in awhile something new and great pops up like the Philly 10K and the Love Run! And yes, Philly has great beers too1