Be patient until halfway
The first half has the crowds and the hills, and both make it easy to overspend. Aim to reach halfway at even pace or a little behind, feeling like you have a gear left.
Philadelphia, PA · Sunday, November 22, 2026
Philadelphia Marathon race guide
Philly has two personalities. The first half runs through Center City, along the Delaware, out to University City, and into the hills of Fairmount Park. After a drop back to the river around mile 16, the rest is a mostly flat out-and-back along the Schuylkill to Manayunk. The runners who do well here stay patient through the park and race on Kelly Drive.
Pace plan
Plan your race on this course
Set your goal and start time. Your checkpoints, the time of day you’ll reach each one, and the course guide below all update to match.
Build your plan01
Pacing
A little slower on the climbs, a little faster on the downhills and flats, for the same finish time. Based on where this course climbs. Treat it as an effort guide.
The race starts at 7:00 a.m. Later corrals cross the line a few minutes after that.
Splits
Your Philly Marathon02
Average pace
8:01/mi
- First half
- 1:45:04
- Second half
- 1:44:56
- Finish line
- 10:30 a.m.
Hover or tap a bar to see that mile.
| Checkpoint | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware waterfrontMile 2.9 · Don’t get ahead of this one | 23:06 | 7:23 a.m. |
| University CityMile 7.1 · Right on pace before the hills | 56:36 | 7:57 a.m. |
| Fairmount ParkMile 10.2 · Climbing to the high point. A little behind is fine | 1:21:47 | 8:22 a.m. |
| HalfwayMile 13.1 · Even pace, or just behind | 1:45:04 | 8:45 a.m. |
| Manayunk turnaroundMile 20 · Final 10K. Race from here | 2:40:12 | 9:40 a.m. |
| Kelly DriveMile 24.6 · Flat all the way home | 3:16:58 | 10:17 a.m. |
| FinishMile 26.2 · Art Museum steps | 3:30:00 | 10:30 a.m. |
Save it to your phone, or send the link to the people cheering for you.
- Date
- Sunday, November 22, 2026
- Start time
- 7:00 a.m. ET (push-rim wheelchairs 6:55 a.m.)
- Start
- 22nd Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Finish
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Time limit
- 7 hours; 16:00 per mile minimum pace
- Elevation gain
- About 700 ft
- Official site
- philadelphiamarathon.com
- Profile
- Two real climbs in Fairmount Park (miles 7–8 and 9–11), rolling to mile 15.5, then mostly flat
- Best for
- A PR or a qualifier, if you pace the first half carefully
- Biggest mistake
- Treating the fast, crowded early miles as a chance to bank time
- Early start
- 7:00 a.m. gun, so most runners are up around 4 a.m.
The course
Mile by mile, at your pace
- Miles0–7
Center City, Old City & the waterfront Flat
You start on the Parkway and head through Center City toward the Delaware River, then pass through the historic district. These miles are flat, crowded, and loud, and it’s easy to run them too fast. Settle in at or just under goal effort.
7:58 /miMile 7 at 55:477:56 a.m.
- Miles7–8
University City & the first climb Climb
You cross the Schuylkill River into University City, around Drexel and Penn, where the crowds are great. Then the course turns north and climbs about 80 feet toward the park. It’s the first real hill of the day, so ease off and let the pace slow.
8:15 /miMile 8 at 1:04:028:04 a.m.
- Miles8–12
Fairmount Park Rolling
Fairmount Park is where Philly gets tough. After a short drop past mile 8, you climb again from about mile 9.4 to the high point of the race, around 135 feet near mile 11. Hold your effort steady and let the pace slow on the uphills. You’ll get the time back later.
8:02 /miMile 12 at 1:36:088:36 a.m.
- Miles12–16
The high ground & the drop to the river Rolling
Around mile 12 the course dips sharply and climbs right back up, then rolls along the high ground through halfway. Just past mile 15.5 it drops about 75 feet to the river in half a mile. Let the hill carry you, but don’t sprint it. If the park went well, you should feel in control here.
7:59 /miMile 16 at 2:08:059:08 a.m.
- Miles16–20
Kelly Drive to Manayunk Flat
This is a mostly flat run north along the river, with a few small rises, through East Falls and into Manayunk, where Main Street is one of the loudest stretches of the race. You turn around around mile 20. You’ll see runners on the other side of the road, so run your own race.
8:02 /miMile 20 at 2:40:129:40 a.m.
- Miles20–26.2
Home along the river Flat
You retrace the route back down Kelly Drive. It’s flat and fast, but it can be windy along the water. The Art Museum comes into view with a mile or so to go, and the finish is right below the steps.
8:00 /miFinish at 3:30:0010:30 a.m.
Every mile split for 3:30:00
| Mile | Terrain | Pace /mi | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flat | 8:01 | 8:01 | 7:08 a.m. |
| 2 | Flat | 7:55 | 15:57 | 7:16 a.m. |
| 3 | Flat | 7:57 | 23:54 | 7:24 a.m. |
| 4 | Flat | 7:58 | 31:52 | 7:32 a.m. |
| 5 | Flat | 7:59 | 39:52 | 7:40 a.m. |
| 6 | Flat | 8:01 | 47:52 | 7:48 a.m. |
| 7 | Flat | 7:54 | 55:47 | 7:56 a.m. |
| 8 | Climb | 8:15 | 1:04:02 | 8:04 a.m. |
| 9 | Downhill | 7:53 | 1:11:55 | 8:12 a.m. |
| 10 | Climb | 8:16 | 1:20:11 | 8:20 a.m. |
| 11 | Flat | 8:02 | 1:28:13 | 8:28 a.m. |
| 12 | Flat | 7:55 | 1:36:08 | 8:36 a.m. |
| 13 | Rolling | 8:03 | 1:44:12 | 8:44 a.m. |
| 14 | Rolling | 8:02 | 1:52:14 | 8:52 a.m. |
| 15 | Flat | 7:59 | 2:00:12 | 9:00 a.m. |
| 16 | Downhill | 7:53 | 2:08:05 | 9:08 a.m. |
| 17 | Flat | 7:58 | 2:16:02 | 9:16 a.m. |
| 18 | Rolling | 8:00 | 2:24:02 | 9:24 a.m. |
| 19 | Flat | 8:05 | 2:32:07 | 9:32 a.m. |
| 20 | Rolling | 8:05 | 2:40:12 | 9:40 a.m. |
| 21 | Downhill | 7:57 | 2:48:09 | 9:48 a.m. |
| 22 | Rolling | 8:04 | 2:56:13 | 9:56 a.m. |
| 23 | Flat | 7:58 | 3:04:10 | 10:04 a.m. |
| 24 | Flat | 8:00 | 3:12:10 | 10:12 a.m. |
| 25 | Flat | 8:00 | 3:20:10 | 10:20 a.m. |
| 26 | Flat | 8:04 | 3:28:13 | 10:28 a.m. |
| Finish | Flat | 8:07 | 3:30:00 | 10:30 a.m. |
Lap your watch at each marker; GPS distance drifts over 26.2 miles. Even-pace card for 3:30:00
Race strategy
How to pace the Philly Marathon
Race the river miles
From about mile 16, after the drop back to the river, the course is mostly flat. If you paced the park well, this is where you hold pace or pick it up, especially after the Manayunk turnaround.
Respect the wind on Kelly Drive
The river stretch is exposed. If there’s a headwind, tuck into a group, keep your effort steady, and don’t fight for the exact split.
The last few weeks
Train for this course
- Put hills in the middle of your long runs (around miles 7–15 of a 20-miler) and practice running them by effort.
- Practice a negative-split long run: an easy first half, then a flat second half at marathon pace. That’s the shape of this race.
- Rehearse the early start. Do a few long runs at 7 a.m. with your race-day breakfast and wake-up time.
Race-day weather
Late November in Philadelphia usually means a cold start, often in the 30s or 40s°F at 7 a.m., warming into the 40s or low 50s by the finish. Wind off the Schuylkill can matter on Kelly Drive. Bring throwaway layers for the corral.
Race morning
Getting to the start
- The start is at 7:00 a.m., and runners can begin lining up at 5:00 a.m. Plan to be in the area well before then. Roads close early.
- Free gear check is on the south side of Eakins Oval. Only the clear bag from packet pickup is accepted.
- Corrals are assigned from the finish time you gave at registration. Stay in yours.
- Packet pickup is at the expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center the Friday and Saturday before the race. Bring a photo ID.
Questions runners ask.
Is Philadelphia a fast marathon?
It can be. The second half is flat and the weather is usually cool. The hills in the first half mean an even-effort plan works better than chasing even splits. Many runners use Philly for qualifying attempts.
Where are the hills?
Between about mile 7 and mile 15.5. The official elevation chart shows a climb of about 80 feet in mile 8, a second climb to the course’s high point (about 135 feet) near mile 11, and rolling high ground until a drop back to the river around mile 16. After that it’s mostly flat, with small rises near Manayunk.
What is the time limit?
Seven hours. All participants must keep a 16-minute-per-mile pace. Runners who fall behind are asked to move to the sidewalk.
Are there pace groups?
Yes. Philadelphia Runner runs free pace groups. For the marathon they typically range from 2:50 to 5:30. Check the official site for this year’s list.
Last checked October 20, 2026. This is an independent guide from Miles. We’re not affiliated with the race organizer. Start times, cutoffs, and logistics can change, so confirm everything on the official race site before race day.
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