The Philadelphia Marathon Weekend 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 beautiful and scenic course takes athletes past historic landmarks, through urban neighborhoods, and along Philadelphia’s picturesque waterfronts. Each year, spectators line the course, eager to cheer on athletes, because there’s nothing Philadelphians love more than champions.
Race Weekend 2024 features the AACR Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 24; the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon, Rothman Orthopaedics 8K and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 23; and a free two-day Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23.
The Philadelphia Marathon Weekend Events are USATF sanctioned and course-certified.
Due to safety concerns, handcrank bikes are not permitted at any of the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend events.
Awards and Prize Money
For Elite Athletes: For 2023, the City of Philadelphia is following the policies of the national governing body USA Track and Field (USATF) which does not currently recognize a separate division for elite non-binary runners. The current policy will award prize money to elite non-binary athletes if they place in the top 5 in the men’s or women’s division. We recognize all winners by their identified gender. The City has instituted changes to improve gender inclusion in its registration and award recognition processes. The elite athlete field is by invitation or by application. To apply for an elite field, athletes must submit a request and qualifying times by email to [email protected] with the subject: "Elite/Complementary entry request."
The City of Philadelphia will launch a community engagement process in 2024 to consider potential Philadelphia-specific changes to future Philadelphia Marathon Weekend Races to insure our continued commitment to inclusion.
For Sub Elite Athletes: The AACR Philadelphia Marathon, Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon, and Rothman Orthopedics 8K will award the the top five (5) men's and women's finishers and the top three (3) non-binary finishers in each age group and cash prize money for the top finisher in all gender categories for 1st Masters, division, 1st Philadelphia (Marathon Only) and Course Record(s) for all races. Participants must declare the gender division that they will race under upon registration.
The Philadelphia Marathon Weekend invites seasoned marathoners and first-timers alike. We are committed to ensuring equal access and opportunity for athletes of all gender identities. We offer three registration categories: men, women, and non-binary. Participants can select the category that best aligns with their gender identity. PLUS, our USATF-certified event requires no prequalifying times, ensuring it's open to all experience levels.
Learn more about the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend's non-binary initiatives.