I applied for the NYC Marathon via the ‘guaranteed entry’ with a qualifying half time of 1:21, but apparently didn’t get in.
I’m thinking of doing the Philly Marathon as Plan B. Any thoughts on the course, race, etc? I’d be driving down from the Boston area and would probably only stay one night, then drive home after the race.
From what I’ve heard, it’s a pretty flat course, and it will also give me three more weeks of training than NYC would have.
As it stands, I’ll be doing my final tri the first weekend in September, so I should have around 10 weeks of focused marathon training if I were to do Philly. I put in a run block from September to January where I averaged around 225 miles a month, and I’m currently running around 50 miles a week. The plan is to try to keep the mileage around 40-45 for the tri season, then have a solid block of 60-70 mpw for my marathon block.
Philly Marathon is a great course! There are plenty of hotels to choose from close to the start…I’d say it’s one of my favorite marathon courses. I’ve only raced it once, but the year I did (maybe 10 years ago) it was VERY cold. Fast route…many people use it to PR.
I ran Philly last year as my first open marathon. It is a pretty flat course. The first part through the city is fun and exciting. The second half is mainly out and back and is slightly boring, except for the turn around. I raced Chattagnooga in September and basically just ran it off residual fitness from that. I think I was running 15-25 mpw in the immediate build up.
I drove down Saturday from upstate NY, raced Sunday morning and then headed home right after. It was an easy drive for me. The host hotel is a good location as it is a short walk to the start from there. Getting through security in the morning is a bit time consuming, but probably not anywhere near as bad as NYC since there are about 35,000 fewer people running.
Philly is definitely flatter/easier than NY. And the lodging & logistics are far easier, too. It’s a fun, urban marathon: well-organized, nice support, etc. As was mentioned, the second half consists of a scenic, but sometimes lonely, out-and-back.
I live in Philly. I’m happy to advise re: hotels, travel, etc.
Philly is a great course and logistically easy. There are a number of hotels all within a short walk of the start/finish.
The first half of the course winds around Center City, Old City and University City, generally flat. There is a decent hill at mile 9 going up the Please Touch Museum, with a subsequent downhill a mile later down to MLK Drive.
The second half of the course is a bit boring as it is just an out-n-back on Kelly Drive into Manayunk. There is another modest hill at mile 19 as you enter Manayunk (great spectator party spot here), which you then come down, turn at the 20 mile mark and then go back up that hill (again fairly modest). There is always a group of people set up at Mile 22 giving out little cups of Yuengling (if a sip of beer late in a marathon sounds good to you).
Philly is a great course and logistically easy. There are a number of hotels all within a short walk of the start/finish.
The first half of the course winds around Center City, Old City and University City, generally flat. There is a decent hill at mile 9 going up the Please Touch Museum, with a subsequent downhill a mile later down to MLK Drive.
The second half of the course is a bit boring as it is just an out-n-back on Kelly Drive into Manayunk. There is another modest hill at mile 19 as you enter Manayunk (great spectator party spot here), which you then come down, turn at the 20 mile mark and then go back up that hill (again fairly modest). There is always a group of people set up at Mile 22 giving out little cups of Yuengling (if a sip of beer late in a marathon sounds good to you).
The last 5 miles are flat and somewhat boring.
I chugged a whole beer at mile 22 (during my very first marathon). They had a couple of brews to choose from. I went with an IPA, and it was just what I needed. NOTE - I didn’t stop and chat about the beer. I just picked the darker of the 2 choices, and it happened to be an IPA.
Stay at one of the hotels right off Ben Franklin Parkway. Options include the Sheraton, Embassy Suites, and Windsor Suites. They are close to start/finish. But, they are pretty average hotels. If you want something nice, head into Center City a few blocks and stay at the Sofitel. Great hotel, still pretty close to the course, and near all the good restaurants. Avoid the convention center hotels–they are close to the expo and cheap, but they’re really pretty awful.
Philly Marathon is a great course! There are plenty of hotels to choose from close to the start…I’d say it’s one of my favorite marathon courses. I’ve only raced it once, but the year I did (maybe 10 years ago) it was VERY cold. Fast route…many people use it to PR.
Philly Marathon is a great course! There are plenty of hotels to choose from close to the start…I’d say it’s one of my favorite marathon courses. I’ve only raced it once, but the year I did (maybe 10 years ago) it was VERY cold. Fast route…many people use it to PR.
What’s the RossiMat situation?
What’s the situation with the RossiMat situation? Have there been timing issues?
I live in Philly and have done this race for the past 10 years…like others said here, it is a great race. I run portions of course weekly. Very easy to get around a logistically a piece of cake, especially if you stay in the city. Course is fair. I wouldn’t say completely flat as there is a significant hill at mile 9, and the out and back through Manayunk, mile 18 - 22 are slight inclines / declines, and also comes at a tough part in the race, but overall it is flat and fair. really a great course and a great race that gets better each year. crowd support solid at certain points and can be quiet at others, but overall - good. Also like others said here, happy to help with hotels, planning, etc…if needed.
