I’ve got to take a business trip to Philly in July.
Is there anything tri-related to do during the week?
Is there anything non-tri-related to do during the week besides go see the Liberty Bell or see the new Philly Stadium?
Running is okay in Philly, run along the river (the art museum route by the boathouses) and that is a 8 mile loop if you run on both sides of the river. No fountains though. There are some running groups that meet there on a semi regular basis. If you are a hard-core runner though, I would head for the hills and run with the bryn mawr running club. There are some really good runners out there, and really large hills. As far as tri-clubs, not sure. Biking would seem scary, but I am sure there are plenty of pools.
As far as other things, there are some great restaurants, the club scene is just so so, not sure about bars, not sure you would be interested anyway… in good news NYC is only a couple hours away via train, I think about $40 for a round trip train ticket? Visiting NY is my favorite thing to do when I am in the philly area.
HA! No - in the nation’s 5th largest city there is nothing to do!
How long will you be in town? Where will you be staying? If you are looking to get some training in, check out the Art Museum - Falls Bridge loop - an 8.4 mile paved path along both sides of the schuykll river, going by Boathouse Row, etc. The path is always full of runners, walkers, rollerbladers, non-serious cyclists (too crowded for serious riding, etc.), and the river is full of crew. If you chose not to go over Falls Bridge and if you had your bike, follow the bike trail signs - they will take you 30 miles out past Valley Forge park.
You could go meet the president of Elite Bicicles - Dave Greenfield - at 2124 South St (his shop) and talk shop with a former pro triathlete and a guy who has been interviewed by this website along with Triathlete Magazine and many others for his expert bike making and fitting…
There are several other bike shops in the city too…
You could show up at a TSMSA training activity - a local triathlon club http://www.tristatemultisport.org/
You could go to Endless Pools nearby in Aston, PA and check them out…
Lots of elite runners train in or just outside of Philadelphia (Jen Rhines and Terrence Mahon both quickly come to mind…)
July? The area has a large triathlon race scene in New Jersey and Delaware… There are even some weekday evening run/swim races nearby…
Non-tri related? Well, believe it or not, there are just a few restaurants and clubs and bars in the city… there is always the historic district - liberty bell, independance hall (where the Declaration was signed), the Betsy Ross house (where the woman who stitched the 1st flag lived), the Ben Franklin homesite, Eldreth’s Alley (oldest continously occupied street in the nation), etc., etc. It’s the nation’s oldest city… there are a few things other than the liberty bell, silly.
You could check out the new baseball stadium… or whatever minor sports are going on in July (there’s a pro lacrosse team, indoor soccer, minor league hockey team, arena football team, etc.)
Go get an authentic cheesesteak where it was invented at 8th and Passyunk…
Check out Penn’s Landing (along the DE river) - often there is outdoor entertainment there… plus, there is the Spirit of Philadelphia dinner cruises (believe it or not Philly is a major harbor), plus numerous other river entertainment…
Go to an outdor concert just across the river at the Tweeter Center - take the Ferry from Penn’s Landing…
If you enjoy gambling, Atlantic City is just an hour’s drive away (and therefore so is the beach)…
Go to the minor-league stadium right underneath the Ben Franklin Bridge in NJ
Go seek out the Real World (I think they will be in Philly in July)
Yeah, there are a few things in the nation’s 5th largest and oldest city besides the liberty bell and the new baseball stadium.
Yes, there are water fountains and bathrooms along the 8.4 mile Art Museum loop. There is one fountain near the Boathouses, another fountain and bathrooms about 1.5 miles further down towards Falls Bridge, a bathroom and water fountain on the return trip, and another water fountain as you get about 2/3 back to the Art Museum on the far side.
Also - the best running is done at Forbidden Drive - a 5 mile mostly cinder road closed to traffic that runs along a large creek and has lots off off-trails that get well-used by mountain bikers and horseback riders. There is a restaurant 1/2 way out Forbidden Drive and each 1/2 mile is marked. A great 18 miler or so - from the Art Museum, head out the loop, but instead of crossing Falls Bridge, continue straight out to Forbidden Drive. On the way back, cross the bridge and run the other side of the loop for a 20+ miler.
Head to NYC? Whatever. Give Philly a little credit.
As for the Bryn Mawr running club - they do have some great runners there. I know they had two marathoners make the olympic trials qualifying time a year ago. My wife used to run with them (she’s a 19:00 5k runner and a 66:00 10-miler)) when we lived nearer. They have some serious workouts. We now belong to a running club more local to where we live now.
I’ve got to take a business trip to Philly in July.
Is there anything tri-related to do during the week?
Is there anything non-tri-related to do during the week besides go see the Liberty Bell or see the new Philly Stadium?
Two words: LOVE Park
