Racers completing the Philadelphia Marathon along Kelly Drive, with Boathouse Row in the background, Philadelphia:
The Philadelphia Marathon (aka the Philadelphia Independence Marathon), founded in 1954, is an annual marathon sporting event hosted by he city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the third Sunday of November each year. The Philadelphia Marathon ranks among the top ten in the nations largest marathons with over 30,000 runners, 60,000 spectators and 3,000 volunteers.[1] The 30,000 runners come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and over 42 countries.[2] The marathon course is professionally certified at 26.219 mi, and is sanctioned by the USA Track & Field.
One of the most historic races in the nation, the Philadelphia Marathon covers fast and mostly flat terrain, crossing the heart of Philadelphia and some of the city’s most iconic landmarks — including Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House and the Liberty Bell Center. The 26.2-mile course winds through the city’s historic attractions and scenic outdoor spaces, passing along the charming streets of Old City on Penn’s Landing by the Delaware River and eventually arriving near the green and leafy pathways of the Fairmount Water Works, located on the Schuylkill River. The 30,000 runners taking on the marathon will begin and end their journey on the tree-lined Benjamin Franklin Parkway.