Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Philadelphia Marathon Weekend Opens With Record Field and New Greek Wreath Tradition

A new waitlist-backfill approach lifted registration to the event’s largest field to date.

Overview

  • Organizers report more than 36,000 entrants across the weekend’s races, with some estimates near 37,000 runners.
  • Saturday features the half marathon at 7 a.m. and the 8K at 11 a.m., with Sunday’s kids run and the full marathon scheduled to start at 7:00 a.m. for runners.
  • The expanded field was achieved through a waitlist and backfill system designed to keep entries at record levels.
  • Major road closures cover the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and certain Center City ramps with rolling reopenings after runners pass, and officials urge drivers to plan ahead.
  • Champions will receive golden olive wreaths handcrafted in Marathon, Greece, as the event welcomes participants from roughly 60 countries.