Roundup of the Most Fun Races in Philly

Have you been looking for a fun race to try in Philly but don’t know where to begin?  I’ve got a few recommendations for you!

Living in Philadelphia over the past dozen years, it’s been great to be a part of the Philly running culture.  Training for races can be serious business, but sometimes you just want to have FUN, and these races below really do deliver!

I’m linking up with Marcia, Erika, and Patty for Tuesdays on the Run!  The theme this week is to share the best races in your area.  Definitely check out what everyone else is posting – there will be some awesome recommendations from around the U.S., Canada, and even in Europe!

[bctt tweet=”Find out which races are the most fun in Philadelphia! #run215 #runchat #totr #philly” username=”Janelle_RWNR”]

Roundup of Fun Races in Philadelphia

I’m so excited to share this roundup with you for some of the most fun races within the Philadelphia city limits!  I’ve previously written a post about great races to run in Philly, but this year’s list has some new additions PLUS tells you why you’ll have such a fun time!  Thanks to the members of the Facebook Group Run215 for their contributions to this list!!

The Philly Mayor’s Cup – 8/11/18

This is a very exciting event featuring all of the running clubs in the City of Philadelphia.  You get to represent your running club and compete in either a 5K cross country race, 5-mile road race, 10K trail race, 10-mile road race, or half marathon trail race!

Why is this race fun?   This race is all about being part of a team.  It gives me vibes of being on my high school track team.  It was exciting seeing how well we competed against the other teams, and there will definitely be some friendly rivalries going on!  I also love that this race isn’t about medals but enjoying the run and getting some bragging rights along the way!

The Philly 10K – 8/26/18

This race has become an instant classic!  It’s organized by the Philadelphia Runner store and was one of my favorite races last year!  The great thing about the Philly 10K is that you’re not running the usual route on Kelly Drive or MLK Drive but actually running through the streets of South Philly and Center City!

Why is this race fun?  You’ve got an awesome bib pickup party the days before the race, you get to pass the famous Geno’s and Pat’s Cheesesteaks establishments, and there’s Shake Shack custard at the end!  I loved the energy of this race after running it for the first time in 2015!!

This race is always in high demand, find out if you can still register or sign up as a volunteer!

Rock N Roll Half Marathon and 5K: 9/15- 9/16/18

This is a really great race and I will always love it for sentimental reasons since it was my first ever half marathon (and is still my PR).  The last time I ran it was in 2016 and it was a really great race.  For a few years, they changed the course to go down Spring Garden Street but it looks like it’s going back to its typical route, spending most of your time along the Schuylkill River.

Why is this race fun?  You’ve got live music every few miles, there are tons of spectators, and there’s a big concert at the end of the race, with beer of course!  Plus, you get some amazing medals!  RnR races are known for their awesome bling!

Want to run the half?  You can get $15 off registration with code RNRBRP2018!

Rescue Run 5K – 9/2018 (Date TBD)

How did I not know about this race??  The Rescue Run 5K promotes animal rescue and adoption and serves as a fundraiser for the Monster Milers, Philly’s shelter dog running club and rescue organization!

Why is this race fun? This is pretty self-explanatory….there are dogs!!  While they are not permitted to participate in the race, dogs are welcome at the start and finish.  You will also have the opportunity to meet dogs that are up for adoption, which is wonderful.  The Monster Milers are doing great things in the community!

Philadelphia Marathon and Half Marathon: 11/17 – 11/18/18

In 2016, the half marathon was moved from Sunday to Saturday for the first time ever, and now the Philadelphia Marathon has become a huge racing weekend, full of various challenges if you complete a combination of the Rothman 8K, Philly Half Marathon, and/or Philly Marathon!   I ran the Philly Half in 2012 and had one of the worst race experiences ever due to being undertrained, but I’m proud to have run my first full marathon here in 2016 and had a great time running the 8K in 2017!

Why is this race fun?  It’s THE ultimate Philadelphian race where you get to see many of the great neighborhoods of the city.  Even better, you have so many people out cheering you on and the energy is infectious.

Rocky 50K Fat Ass Run – 12/1/18

Note that this is technically not a race, but it’s really, really cool!  The Rocky 50K course is the actual route taken by Rocky throughout the movies, starting in South Philly and ending at the famous Art Museum steps!  While there is another race capitalizing on the Rocky name, THIS is the one you should do, and better yet, it’s free!

Why is this race fun?  You can dress up like Rocky, run with a bunch of fun-loving people, and really see the best of what Philly has to offer.  While I’ll be recovering from the Philly Marathon by the time this run takes place, I’m going to try to do a few miles in the Rocky spirit!

Which races would you try in Philly?  What did I miss from the list?