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Philadelphia Distance Run race photo

Philadelphia Distance Run

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USSep 19, 202721km · 5km
Seth Werkheiser from USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Race date in 346 days
Sep 19, 2027 Sun
City · Distance
Philadelphia · 21km · 5km
Entry fee
$89Varies by event and entry period
2027Date Sep 19, 2027 · Open
2026Date Sep 20, 2026 · Start 07:30
Official website ↗
Instagram
D-day as of Oct 8, 2026
Philadelphia Distance Run race photo
Seth Werkheiser from USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Philadelphia Distance Run — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Philadelphia Distance Run (PDR), the first half marathon held in Philadelphia,

began in 1978 and is the event where half marathon six world records have been set.

In 2026, it will host half marathon and a 5K on September 20.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Philadelphia Distance Run runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 3
Ian E. SeniorRan in 2025
“We enjoyed our time at the race.”

Ian ran the 2025 Philadelphia Distance Run with his wife. Bib pickup at the expo was simple, and he experienced a flat course that crossed the river several times, together with the cheering. He described it as a comfortable race worth recommending.

Read the original on philly2goofy
tyler_runs_liftsRan in 2025 · Finish time 1:11:05
“My coach told me to go out at PR pace.”

The runner traveled from New Orleans to Philadelphia, received their seeding, and entered the half marathon. Managing the target pace, the runner won the Masters division in 1:11:05.

Read the original on Reddit r/AdvancedRunning
Mile By MileRan in 2024 · Finish time 1:46:25
“This was 4 minutes faster than March and my fastest half since 2015.”

The runner recorded 1 hour 46 minutes 25 seconds at the 2024 Philadelphia Distance Run half marathon. They dealt with hot, humid weather and hip cramps late in the race, but rated the flat course and event organization positively.

Read the original on Mile By Mile

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon 2024 (Full Course) I Treadmill Virtual Run

William Pierce

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Philadelphia Distance Run — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Half

Entry cost $89

until Nov 30, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

5K

Entry cost $29

until Nov 30, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Philadelphia Distance Run course map and elevation

The 21km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 07:30
EventStart
Half21.0975km07:30
5K5km07:00
City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

Show more

The half marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. at 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, runs through downtown Philadelphia, and finishes at Eakins Oval.

The course is described as Philadelphia’s flattest half marathon, with a fast course suited to runners targeting a personal best.

The event combines the 21K race with a 5K, bringing participants across multiple distances together.

PDR was Philadelphia’s first half marathon and has produced six world records since its founding in 1978.

Since 2020, a new generation of local runners has carried on the event’s legacy while promoting a more inclusive race.

Held on the third Sunday of September, it has also become a useful tune-up for the marathon season.

Registration includes race entry, timing and split times, a technical T-shirt, and a finisher medal.

Typical race-season temperature: around 20°C (69°F)
Short sleeves — hydrate for the warmth

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Event T-shirt 2026

Finisher medal 2026

Timing chip 2026

Bag drop 2026

Pacers 2026

This may change for the next edition.

Where and when to collect your Philadelphia Distance Run race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition
Stations & transport near the venue

Skip the SEPTA Key card entirely — just tap your own contactless bank card or phone wallet at the turnstile or as you board the bus/trolley; it gets the exact same fare and free-transfer terms as a Key Card, on Bus, Metro (subway/trolley), and Regional Rail.

IC card

SEPTA Key (Key Card / Key Card Travel Wallet)

Fare kiosks at stations, SEPTA Transit/Regional Rail sales windows, or the SEPTA Key External Retail Network (100+ third-party retail locations).

New Key Card costs $4.95 (refundable if registered online within 30 days).

Works directly at the gates

Alternative: One Day Anywhere FleX Pass (covers up to 10 rides on bus/subway/trolley + any Regional Rail zone);

cheaper One Day Neighborhood FleX Pass covers Zone 2 Regional Rail only One Day Anywhere FleX Pass ≈ $13.00;

One Day Neighborhood FleX Pass ≈ $10.00 (confirm current price near travel time) —

Worth it only if you'll take more than ~4-5 rides in one day or need unlimited Regional Rail access;

otherwise pay-as-you-go tap is cheaper since transfers are already free.

More details

SEPTA officially confirmed contactless bank cards and mobile wallets work directly on Bus,

Metro (subway/trolley/Market-Frankford/Broad Street/Norristown High Speed Line), and Regional Rail.

One caveat: contactless payment does not cover travel to/from New Jersey (Trenton/West Trenton) stations.

SEPTA has had multiple fare increases due to an ongoing funding crisis (base fare $2.90 as of Sept 2025, further increases proposed for 2026) —

verify the current fare shortly before travel.

Source · checked Aug 17, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Check the local forecast for September 20 when planning your race-week clothing.

Depending on the temperature, bring a layer to remove just before the start and a separate top to wear during the race.

For the 21K, it is safest to use only nutrition products tested in training.

After finishing, participants aged 21 and over receive one beer.

Collect your bib and T-shirt at WHYY Public Media Commons from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on September 18, or from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on September 19.

Race-day pickup is available only if purchased separately during registration, so arrange this in advance.

The expo is in Old City, while the start is at 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

WHYY is accessible via PATCO, SEPTA buses and subway, and Indego bikes.

Times are local to Philadelphia. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the Philadelphia Distance Run start line in

Hotels that make race morning easy

7 places

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown, An Ihg Hotel

Hotel · 393m

8.5/10(1574)
View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

47 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Philadelphia Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise

$90

View on Klook

New York Signature Dinner Cruise on the Eternity

$316

View on Klook

Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Cruise Experience (1 hour)

$37

View on Klook

Manhattan Skyline & Statue of Liberty New York Night Cruise

$37

View on Klook

Philadelphia｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service at Philadelphia International Airport

$94

View on Klook

Philadelphia｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-Off Service at Northeast Philadelphia International Airport

$632

View on Klook

Rent a car in Philadelphia (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Philadelphia Airport Transfers (GetTransfer)

Verified article matching, preliminary quote comparison reservation (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Reservation after price confirmation

View on GetTransfer

Philadelphia Airport–City Centre Private Taxi

Fixed rate advance reservation, pickup at the door, check price and reserve

View on Kiwitaxi

Philadelphia car rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Philadelphia Museum of Illusions Admission Ticket

$30

View on Klook

Philadelphia Museum of the American Revolution Admission Ticket

$33

View on Klook

Philadelphia Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Admission Ticket

$24

View on Klook

Philadelphia Eagles American Football Game at Lincoln Financial Field

$316

View on Klook

New York Helicopter Tour (Departure from New Jersey)

$359

View on Klook

Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Game at Chase Field

$29

View on Klook

Philadelphia Historic District Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour

$16

View on Klook

Philadelphia Reading Terminal Market Walking Tour

$28

View on Klook

New York Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Walking Tour

$51

View on Klook
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Philadelphia with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Philadelphia.

Total cost and budget for Philadelphia Distance Run

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Philadelphia Distance Run

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Philadelphia runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Philadelphia Distance Run

FAQ
When does Philadelphia Distance Run 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sun, September 19, 2027 in Philadelphia, United States.

How much is the Philadelphia Distance Run 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $89.

What distances does Philadelphia Distance Run 2027 offer?

Half. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Philadelphia Distance Run 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:30. (From the 2026 edition)

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