Apr 27, 2024
Current Year Results
Results Search
Biggest/Best Boston Qualifier
2024 Results
2023 Results
2022 Results
2021 Results
2020 Results
2019 Results
2018 Results
2017 Results
2016 Results
2015 Results
2014 Results
2013 Results
2012 Results
2011 Results
2010 Results
2009 Results
2008 Results
2007 Results
2006 Results
2005 Results
2004 Results
2003 Results
2002 Results
2001 Results
2000 Results
☰
Philadelphia Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Philadelphia Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 3.8
Number of comments: 749 [displaying comments 61 to 71]
|
B. B. from Pittsburgh, Pa
(11/19/2013)
 "Very Well Done" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Philadelphia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 First class from start to finish. Big, but not overwhelming, expo. Efficent coral system that allowed us to get into a rhythm quickly. Plenty of aid stations-although a few early ones were overwhelmed by the volume. A great, but I would not use the word flat, course that was interesting and varied. The course included a few significant hills that suprised me because it is often discribed as flat and fast. No compliants though as each up hill was followed by a nice downhill section. Great finish line, including a high five from the mayor. The medal and shirt are both nice. My favorite element of this race though was the support it recieves from the people of Philly. With our names on the bids, I was inspired by the amount of well-wishes I recieved. Chestnut St and the final mile and a half were especially inspiring. My daughter and I picked this for her first full, and it did not disappoint. If you're looking for a big race, with manageable logistics and great weather, Philly is close to perfect. | |
|
John Doonan from Detroit, Mi
(11/19/2013)
 "ABSOLUTELY AMAZING" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Philadelphia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was by far one of the best races I have ever ran in my 10 years of doing races. The course had some hills on it but for the most part relatively flat. The views and the scenery makes up for any lack of crowd support that there might be. You always have something to look at to keep your mind off the fact that your legs are about to explode. If there was anything that the race directors could work on it would be making the expo a little less cluttered. I understand you want to make sure the participants see the vendors but at least make it so there is a somewhat of a route to get to the bibs, plus I wanted to buy some stuff philly marathon stuff and they only had 4 people cashing people out in that particular vendor spot so it was an hour wait just to get up and purchase your souveniers. The last thing was the post race food was not too impressive. I did like the fact that they provided changing tents. Overall this race was AWESOME. GREAT PEOPLE, GREAT Shirt and medal, GREAT SCENERY!!! I WOULD DEFINTELY RECOMEND THIS RACE TO ANY RUNNER. | |
|
E. O. from New Castle, PA
(11/19/2013)
"Nice event" (about: 2013)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Philadelphia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Overall this was a nice event. The spectators were awesome, the premiums were very nice, and the aid and water stations were plentiful. I thought the expo was a little disapointing and the finisher chute was very long and stretched out. This was the first event I have attended that did not offer Bananas at the finish line. The course is fairly flat and the Mayor of Philadelphia was at the finish line the whole time congratulating runners. I thought that was a nice touch! | |
|
R. S. from NJ USA
(11/18/2013)
 "Not flat" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Philadelphia Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Not really sure who was first to say ' flat and fast', but would not consider Philadelphia either. I found the last seven miles uphill from Manyunk to the finish line. The scenery is great with a historic tour of the city but train some inclines late in your long runs!! | |
|
S. S. from Georgia
(11/18/2013)
"First Marathon - GREAT experience!" (about: 2013)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I chose to run Philly so I could return to my home town and have my family there at the finish line. I am so glad I chose to make this race my first full marathon. The spectators were fantastic, the volunteers were just as great, and the security was felt everywhere and cheered on the runners as well. During training, I said I would never train for a full again, but I think this race may have changed my mind. Really well done :) | |
|
W. F. from Washington, DC
(11/18/2013)
 "Philly could do this better" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Philadelphia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Many of my problems with this marathon are problems of scale - perhaps it tried to grow too fast. Good things: 1) Relatively flat course. 2) Scenic course, with Independence Hall early and a riverside park for most of the second half. 3) Frequent hydration stations were well manned, and provided both Gatorade and water. 4) Attentive police presence. I saw a runner retching up ahead, and by the time I reached her, a policeman and two volunteers were already with her. 5) A clock at every mile marker. Downsides: 1) Bottlenecks. Because almost all of the first 13 miles was shared with the half marathoners, there were frequent bottlenecks, as runners of wildly different paces tried to fit into the road - sometimes 8-10 abreast fitting into two lanes. As a result, my first few miles were significantly slower than expected. Surprisingly, there were also bottlenecks during the 2nd half. 2) No advance notice of hydration stations, which meant that a runner at speed would suddenly be halted by the crowd at an unanticipated hydration station. 3) Security was dunderheaded. The police kept a good eye on things, but the other security personnel varied between obsessive and inattentive. 4) Post-race food. I was given a bag of perfunctory foods: a biscuit, some apple juice, some dried fruit and the highlight - a bag of pretzels. Why would I want to put salt-covered food into my dried-up mouth? There was also Gatorade, water, chicken broth, bananas and (small) oranges, but that was not easy to find. All of it was far short of the distinctive post-race cuisine at other marathons, such as cookies, sandwiches, pizza, soups, or pasta. | |
|
B. R. from Aspen, Colorado
(11/18/2013)
"Overall a very nice and friendly marathon." (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Philadelphia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I had an excellent experience at the Philadelphia marathon. The people were great and the course good. Roads getting a little rough in some places, but the generally flat course was fair for a good result. Running through the historic parts of Philly was great and with the narrower streets of an older city like this, the crowds were right on top of the action and it added a great vibe. With so many marathon options out there I'm not prone to run one more than once. But if I did, this would definitely be one I'd consider doing again. | |
|
B. S. from New York, NY
(11/18/2013)
 "Nice race, could be better" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Philadelphia Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 It seems fair to think of Philadelphia as one of this country's 10 or so most important cities. So, is this marathon a suitable representation of that? Sorta. Pros: - Expo, pre-race information, etc. all was smooth - Nice start / finish area near the art museum - Good pre-race program with Bill Rodgers, the mayor, etc. - Interesting first half of the course through downtown Philly - Great volunteers, plenty of water stations, etc. - Great field with a lot of strong runners - It fits well on the calender as the last big event of th Fall in the Northeast - I generally don't like politicians, but it was fun to give the mayor a high five at the finish Cons - The second half point and back along the river seems meant to be more about logistical convenience. Can't the return be along a different route? - In part because of the above, only a couple miles of the course reveal Philly in its glory - Need more porta potties. I have never seen longer lines. - Better swag would be nice. The medal was ho-hum, the shirt was fine, but there was nothing else other than some lousy advertisements | |
|
S. B. from Philly
(11/18/2013)
"great race with one exception" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Philadelphia Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is a great race and I echo the comments below. Well-organized, great course, great crowds, etc. The only problem is the lack of bathrooms from miles 14.5 through 24.5. Why a 30,000 peson race lacks port-a-lets for a 10 mile stretch is beyond me. If you cross the dense path of the outgoing runners at their mile I guess 14.5 as you come back in at I guess mile 21 (on the way back in on an out and back section), you can wait in line to use their four bathrooms, though you and others would lose a lot of time just crossing against dense traffic. I understand that downtown Manyunk (sp?) can't have port-a-lets, but there are plenty of places for them along the course in between miles 15 and 24. It just a bad course design in this respect. | |
|
A. M. from Richmond, VA
(11/16/2013)
"Made a long day even longer" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Philadelphia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I loved the 7 am start, but receiving an email one week out stating that runners need to arrive at the start at FIVE A.M. to go through security made this a 'one and done' marathon for me. I don't mind getting up early, but being instructed to get to the start of an already early-ish race TWO HOURS before the start is ridiculous. |
© 2000-2024, All Rights Reserved by MarathonGuide.com LLC
