For Planning Purposes
For media inquiries only: [email protected]
For general inquiries: [email protected]
Advisory: Philadelphia Marathon Weekend Kicks Off Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon Training Season with a Group Run
What: Training run event kicks off the official start of the training season for the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon. Anyone preparing to run the 13.1 mile race should have started training by this day.
Runners of all Philadelphia Marathon Weekend races (The AACR Philadelphia Marathon, Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon, Rothman Orthopaedics 8K) are welcome to attend the training run. The event is free and open to everyone including runners not registered for the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend races.
When: Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 7 a.m.
- 7 a.m. – Warm up at the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps
- 7:30 a.m. – Run begins
- 8-10 a.m. – Runners finish at Lloyd Hall. Hot dogs and giveaways are available from sponsors and partners.
Where:
- Start: Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130.
- Finish: Lloyd Hall, 1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Who:
- Kathleen Titus, Race Director, Philadelphia Marathon Weekend
- Dietz & Watson
- American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
- Rothman Orthopaedics
- iHeart Radio – Q102
- Philadelphia Runner
- ASICS
Notes to Media:
- Great photo/footage for weekend news programs. Media can park their vehicles close to 1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130, or along Sedgley Drive, across from Lloyd Hall, or outside the Art Museum Steps, if available.
Details: Runners will start together along Kelly Drive before splitting into groups based on distance, pace, and race goals. Half-marathoners can choose routes of 3, 6, or 8 miles, while full marathoners will take on longer distances of 10 or 14 miles.
The finish will be on Kelly Drive at Lloyd Hall, where Dietz & Watson, title sponsor for the Philadelphia Half Marathon, will be grilling hot dogs. Runners will have the opportunity to meet with some of Philadelphia Marathon Weekend’s title sponsors and partners until approximately 11 a.m.
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About the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend
The Philadelphia Marathon Weekend, now in its 32nd year, has grown tremendously since the first race in 1994. What started as a small local event of just 1,500 participants has become one of the top 10 marathons in the country. The course guides participants through a unique experience of centuries of history and architecture, diverse and lively neighborhoods, and remarkable views throughout Fairmount Park and along the Schuylkill River. Each year, spectators line the course, eager to cheer on athletes, because there’s nothing Philadelphians love more than champions.
Race Weekend 2025 features the AACR Philadelphia Marathon and the Nemours Children’s Health Philadelphia Kid’s Run on Sunday, November 23; the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon and the Rothman Orthopaedics 8K on Saturday, November 22; and a free two-day Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22.
For more information about the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend, visit philadelphiamarathon.com.
