Philadelphia is known for many things – cheesesteaks, football, pretzels, the Liberty Bell – just to name a few. However, some may be surprised to find that Philly also hosts several big runs throughout the year. Some of these races include the Love Run Philly in March and the Broad Street Run in May. This fall season, Philly hosts another two big runs: the Rocky Run and the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend, which is composed of four different races.
The Rocky Run
This past Saturday, the Rocky Run, presented by Atheletifreak, took place at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The run, named after the famous movie franchise, “Rocky,” which took place in Philadelphia, had three divisions: a 5k, a 10-mile, and a half marathon. Around 30,000 runners ran in the steps of the famous fictional boxer and ended the race at the Art Museum. The run’s half marathon, coined the Italian Stallion Challenge, consisted of two races – the 5k and the half marathon, and finishers were awarded with three medals, one for each race finished. The half marathon runners were faced with a brutal hill termed Mount Drago for the fictional antagonist Ivan Drago introduced in “Rocky IV.” State-of-the-art timing mats were used to track runners’ ascent from the base of the summit. The fastest 100 male and female finishers were awarded a Mount Drago finisher medal.
Philadelphia Marathon Weekend
On Nov. 21-23, the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend will take place. The weekend not only hosts the challenging AACR Philadelphia Marathon, but also the Philadelphia Half Marathon, the Rothman Orthopaedics 8K, and the Nemours Children’s Health Philadelphia Kid’s Run.
The AACR Philadelphia Marathon is a Boston qualifier event and is consistently listed among the top ten marathons in the country due to its fast and scenic course, as well as its energetic atmosphere. The race starts on Nov. 23 at 7 am on 22nd Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The race will take runners through scenes of Fairmount Park and along the Schuylkill River. The course runs through the streets of Philadelphia’s historic district, passing famous Philly sights, and ending at the steps of the Art Museum.
Added to Philadelphia Marathon Weekend in 2006, the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon is a 13.1-mile race that starts along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the Museum District and goes through the streets of Old City and Center City, across the Schuylkill River into University City, up the trails of Fairmont Park, and finally finishes in front of the Art Museum. The race starts at 7 am on Nov. 22.
The Rothman Orthopaedics 8K, which begins at 11 am on Nov. 22nd, begins at 25th and Kelly Drive and goes along Kelly Drive and the Schuylkill River. This race encapsulates the scenic river view of the Schuylkill. Halfway through the 4.97-mile race, runners will make a U-turn on Kelly Drive, past the East Park Reservoir, and will end the race at Eakins Oval, by the Art Museum.
Nemours Children’s Health Philadelphia Kids’ Run on Nov. 23 is not just a series of short-distance races, but also includes a variety of different activities, such as giant inflatables, balloon art, caricatures, and temporary tattoos. Additionally, the Philadelphia Union will be hosting soccer clinics and sharing physical health and fitness tips directly from their coaches. Runners compete in their age group and must have a parent or guardian present to join.
Runners are encouraged to participate in a couple of challenges that incorporate combinations of these races. The Patriot Challenge is a double race that starts with the Dietz & Watson Half Marathon early Saturday morning and continues to race in the Rothman Orthopaedics 8K. The Philadelphia Marathon Weekend website notes that runners must finish the half-marathon no later than 10:45 am, just in time for the 8K to begin.
The Independence Challenge starts off with the Rothman Orthopaedics 8K Run as a slight warm-up for the AACR Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday. When you complete both events, you will earn the Independence Challenge Medal. The Liberty Bell Challenge pushes runners to compete in the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon on Saturday before coming back to compete in the AACR Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday. In these combined races, runners will race past historic Philly landmarks, including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Zoo, and, of course, the Art Museum. Finally, the demanding Freedom Challenge starts with the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon early Saturday morning and continues running in the Rothman Orthopaedics 8K later that morning. Finally, runners will finish their challenge on Sunday through the AACR Philadelphia Marathon. If all three races are completed, runners will earn the prestigious Freedom Challenge Medal.