This seems like an interesting race for a guy who is beyond his pr years at the marathon distance. I am considering this one.
This seems like an interesting race for a guy who is beyond his pr years at the marathon distance. I am considering this one.
I always liked this race. I ran it about 15 times. Probably had around 4,000 when I first started and around 10,000 the last time I ran. I believe now it is close to 40,000 so you are going to need a plan. On the plus side it is very well organized. Another plus is I usually ran 2 to 3 minutes faster there.
Being local, I am from the philly suburbs I think it might be a tough race logistically for out of towners since it starts in North Philly and ends at Navy Yard around the stadiums. It basically run straight down Broad Street following the subway line. Downtown Philly is about halfway so if you stayed there you could take subway to start which is free and then go back on subway but be prepared to be on subway around 5:30am. I know some years I had friends not make it. We use to park at stadiums and take subway to start. They would run express trains and get you there in 30 minutes.
A lot of Philly races do not allow same day packet pickup. Might want to check that.
I've done it the last number of years. It is a fun race.
Part of the fun is that it is a fast straight / slightly downhill course, so you'll run a great time if you pace yourself right. Also it has a very friendly vibe even up near the front of the race, with people chatting / pushing eachother / working together.
I've found it tricky to pace because it is slightly downhill, and the first three miles are fast so you feel invincible but you'll pay for it if you go out too fast.
This year there was a strong headwind so I blew up and the last 4 miles were literally the hardest slog I've ever felt. Three years ago it was really hot and it was brutal.
This last year they mailed the packet directly to me before the race. Logistically it is a bit of a pain so you have to be careful in how you plan getting to the start line.
I am from out of town also and booked a hotel in downtown philly. Some great restaurants and sights to see down there, as they've really cleaned up / improved the downtown recently.
former marathon runner wrote:
This seems like an interesting race for a guy who is beyond his pr years at the marathon distance. I am considering this one.
With the 30,000 to 40,000 (whatever it is), the starting area is beyond congested (I could not get to my corral) even though I had about 25 minutes from my last pee until the race start.
There is also a lottery that does not open until February 1st or thereabouts.
The race is run almost entirely on Broad Street -- starting in North Philadelphia and ending at the Naval Yard. You pass City Hall a little past halfway but you do not see any of the Philadelphia landmarks (Independence Hall, Art Museum, Boathouse Row, South Street, Old City, University City etc...). The November Philadelphia Marathon/Half Marathon is a lot better as a running sight seeing tour
However, there is great crowd support and although you say you are past your PR years, I don't know anyone whose 10 Mile PR does not come from this race.
Thanks for everybody's input. Big crowds of spectators and participants help make a race exciting and worth traveling to but being so crowded as to not be able to get to your corral would be a drag. I had a similar experience one year in Chicago where I couldn't get to the bag drop off before the marathon. There were too many people and they set up the bag drop differently that year. They have a more wide open set up these days. I had to dump my bag of old clothes in a trash can. One of the reasons it was so crowded was that family and friends could get into Grant Park before the marathon start and this added to the number of people waiting around the starting area. In 2011 they introduced t the fenced in area surrounding Grant Park where only runners with their number can get in.