Philadelphia Marathon 2014: Route, Course Map, Times, Event Details
Approximately 30,000 men and women are gearing up for one of the nation's most highly recognized races this weekend. The Philadelphia Marathon is regarded as one of the most scenic races in the country, and 2014's installment of the historic race is going to garner plenty of attention.
Founded in 1954, the Philadelphia Marathon features runners from all 50 states and multiple countries around the world. The stiffest competition in the world comes to Pennsylvania each year to fight against the field and their own will—and the ensuing event is always a pleasure to watch.
There are also wonderful stories associated with the race. It's not all about winning for most people. Many run for the thrill of finishing the grueling 26.219-mile trek.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Below is everything you need to know about the event.
Route
The city of Philadelphia is going to be swamped with runners for much of the day on Sunday. CBS Philly broke down the race route:
"The Philadelphia Marathon takes runners on a tour through the city’s historical sites, starting at 22nd Street & Ben Franklin Parkway near the Philadelphia Museum of Art and winding through Center City and Old City before continuing along MLK Drive, around the Philadelphia Zoo, then back down and up Kelly Drive. It then continues through Manayunk, then back along Kelly Drive before finishing up back near the Art Museum.
"
The marathon's official website broke down some of the famous monuments and locations the runners will race through:
"Our beautiful and scenic course takes runners past historic landmarks like Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin's Burial Place, the National Constitution Center and the Liberty Bell, through urban neighborhoods such as Old City, University City, South Philadelphia and Manayunk, and along the picturesque waterfronts of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers.
"
Something to note about the route is that it's relatively flat. This is better for inexperienced runners who have yet to truly test themselves in a marathon.
It goes without saying that a more hilly race would tire the field out quicker. A flat course will presumably result in better finish times and an easier go of things.
You can check out the race's elevation chart here, courtesy of the official race website.
Course Map
The marathon's setup allows runners to view a sizable portion of the city on their journey. The entire course map can be viewed here, courtesy of the official race website.
Times
The full marathon isn't the only event of the weekend. There are multiple other races to participate in or view. Check out the full schedule for the weekend below:
| Friday, November 21 | |
| Health and Fitness Expo | 12 p.m. - 9 p.m. |
| Saturday, November 22 | |
| Rotham Institute 8K | 7:27 a.m. for wheelchairs and handcyles |
| 7:30 a.m. for runners | |
| Kids Fun Run | 10:30 a.m. |
| Health and Fitness Expo | 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
| Sunday, November 23 | |
| GORE-TEX Marathon and Half-Marathon | 6:57 a.m. for wheelchairs and handcyles |
| 7 a.m. for runners |
Note that the marathon and half-marathon begin at the same time.
Event Details
The top runners in the world will flock to Philly in order to compete for both glory and a bit of prize money. The five best runners will receive a small cash prize, though there are multiple bonuses that competitors can earn:
| 1st | $2,500 |
| 2nd | $1,000 |
| 3rd | $500 |
| 4th | $350 |
| 5th | $250 |
| 1st Place Master | $500 |
| 1st Place Wheelchair | $500 |
| Course Record Bonus | $1,000 |
Of course, not every runner is in it for the money. Some just run it for the thrill of finishing the race.
William "Zev" Rosenberg is one of those guys. He suffered a spinal cord injury at work just days before the New Jersey Marathon last year, but he plans on running (not walking) this weekend's race, writes Tracey Romero of Philly.com:
"This Sunday, he is back at the Philadelphia Marathon and he is running the full marathon with his middle daughter Ziesel. He has four kids, a son and three daughters. 'She told me that if I can do it, then she can, too.'"
It's stories like Rosenberg's that make the Philadelphia Marathon such an exciting event.
It'll be interesting to see if last year's winner, Abebe Mekuriya of Ethiopia, will repeat in 2014. He finished with a time of 2 hours, 17 minutes, 34.7 seconds, and that's a mark that will surely prove difficult to top—for both Mekuriya and the rest of the field.
Last year's third-place finisher, Nicholas Hilton, is a runner everyone should watch this time around. The marathon's official Twitter account tweeted how well he fared in 2013:
"3rd place winner Nicholas Hilton completed the course with an unofficial time of 2:19:36 for his FIRST EVER marathon. #PhillyMarathon
— PhiladelphiaMarathon (@Philly_Marathon) November 17, 2013"
That's right, it was his first-ever marathon. Just imagine what he'll do a full year later with experience under his belt.
Irina Alexandrova won for the first time on the women's side in 2013, making her a favorite yet again in 2014.
Who will make history in 2014? There's certainly a stacked field of competitors, but only one can cross the finish line first with their hands in the air signifying victory over both the field and their own will.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
