PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It’s marathon weekend in Philadelphia!
About 20,000 runners will hit the streets on Saturday for the half-marathon and 8K. Then, on Sunday, about 17,000 will run in the full marathon. Maps of each race can be found here.
Race Director Kathleen Titus said this year’s marathon is setting a lot of records.
“It’s our largest number of participants, but it’s also the most international travels we have. We have over 60 countries represented this weekend,” Titus said.
It was also the earliest sell-out, with bibs gone in June, with the widest array of merchandise, and the biggest footprint, with MLK Drive open for the kids run on Sunday, and, for the first time, the winners will be crowned with gold olive leaf wreaths, a gift from Greece presented by Consul General Iphigenia Kanara.
“Those wreaths traveled from Greece across the Atlantic and represent strength, human endurance, and, of course, victory,” Kanara said.
There will be many first-time marathoners on the course, but Mark Sullivan is running his 186th.
He has run all 32 Philadelphia marathons.
“I’ve retired from all marathons except to do this one each year. Wanted to run as many races as we could in the city, so that’s why I came back and ran it and stuck with it ever since.”
But with race weekend comes some travel disruptions.
Here’s what roads are closed
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway from Friday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 23.
- The I-676 off-ramp at 22nd Street (westbound) on Saturday, Nov. 22, and Sunday, Nov. 23, at 4 a.m. for event security preparation. Ramps at 15th and Broad streets may also close if needed.
- Eastbound I-76 at Spring Garden Street (top of the ramp) at 4 a.m. No traffic will be permitted into Center Cty; traffic for the Art Museum & the Art Museum garage is allowed on Saturday, Nov. 22, and Sunday, Nov. 23.
- Eastbound Winter Street at 23rd Street (just off of eastbound I-676) at 2 a.m. will be closed.
- Westbound I-76 at Girard Avenue (Exit #342) will be closed beginning at 6 a.m.
- Citywide along the 13.1-mile Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon route on Saturday, Nov. 22. The full route can be viewed here.
- Citywide along the 26.2-mile route of the AACR Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 23.
“No Parking” regulations will be strictly enforced, so be sure to pay attention to signs before leaving your car.
Public Transit
SEPTA will offer two subway lines, Regional Rail service to and from the surrounding suburbs, and bus service throughout the city.
Select buses will operate on different routes during the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon and the AACR Philadelphia Marathon. Bus detour information and updates or changes to service can be found on SEPTA’s System Status page or TransitView on the SEPTA app.