History of Philadelphia Marathon in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: November 23, 2025

The Philadelphia Marathon is an annual marathon held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the third Sunday of November. As one of the nation's largest marathons, it attracts over 10,000 finishers. The professionally certified course spans 42.195 kilometers (26.219 miles).

1954: Unofficial Inaugural Year

In 1954, the Philadelphia Marathon, then largely a suburban event with various names, had its unofficial inaugural year.

1981: Greater Philadelphia Independence Marathon Name

In 1981, the Philadelphia Marathon was known as the Greater Philadelphia Independence Marathon.

1988: Fairmount Park Marathon Name

In 1988, the Philadelphia Marathon was called the Fairmount Park Marathon.

1994: Establishment of the Philadelphia Marathon

In 1994, under Mayor Ed Rendell, the Philadelphia Marathon was established as an annual running event entirely within the city, with over 1,500 runners participating in the first race.

1995: Rothman 8K Sponsorship

In 1995, the Rothman Institute, along with dedicated runners, sponsored a smaller running event as part of the Sunday Marathon event, which later evolved into the Rothman 8K.

2006: Addition of the Half Marathon

In 2006, a half marathon was added to the Sunday lineup of the Philadelphia Marathon by Janis Pierce, the City Representative at that time.

2006: Half Marathon Added to Race Weekend

In 2006, the Half Marathon was added to the Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend. Dietz and Watson is the current sponsor for the half-marathon portion.

2007: Eco-Friendly Initiatives Begin

In 2007, the Philadelphia Marathon began its eco-friendly initiatives by recycling paper, cardboard, plastics, food, and medals.

2011: Deaths at the Philadelphia Marathon

In 2011, the Philadelphia Marathon experienced its first deaths in over a decade, with Jeffrey Lee, a 21-year-old student, and Chris Gleason, a 40-year-old triathlete, passing away.

2012: Gold Certification from Council of Responsible Sport

In 2012, the Philadelphia Marathon received a Gold Certification from the Council of Responsible Sport (ReSport) for environmental sustainability and community engagement.

2012: Previous Peak for Number of Finishers

In 2012, the Philadelphia Marathon set a peak of 11,641 finishers, a record that stood until 2024.

2013: Gore-Tex Announced as Title Sponsor

In 2013, Gore-Tex was announced as the title sponsor for the Philadelphia Marathon for the next three years.

2013: Gold Certification from Council of Responsible Sport

In 2013, the Philadelphia Marathon received a Gold Certification from the Council of Responsible Sport (ReSport) for environmental sustainability and community engagement.

2014: Green Certification and Zero Waste Achieved

In 2014, the Philadelphia Marathon received Green Certification and achieved Zero Waste, diverting over 90% of waste from landfills.

2016: Transition to a Two-Day Event

In 2016, the Philadelphia Marathon transitioned into a two-day event, with the half marathon and 8K races held on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday.

2017: Dietz & Watson Named Official Sponsor

In 2017, Dietz & Watson was announced as the official sponsor for the half marathon portion of the Philadelphia Marathon.

2017: AACR Named Title Sponsor

In 2017, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) was announced as the title sponsor for the full marathon for the next three years.

2017: Rothman Institute Continues Sponsorship

In 2017, the Rothman Institute agreed to continue its sponsorship of the 8K event, a partnership that dates back to when Drs. Richard Rothman and Peter Sharkey began sponsoring the 8K.

2018: Garmin Joins as Official Timer and Running Watch

In 2018, Garmin became an official sponsor for the Philadelphia Marathon and was named the official timer and running watch for the year's marathon.

2020: Cancellation of the Marathon due to COVID-19

In 2020, the Philadelphia Marathon was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the city's moratorium on public gatherings.

2021: Options for Registrants

In 2021, registrants of the cancelled 2020 Philadelphia Marathon were offered the choice to transfer their entry to 2021, 2022, or 2023, or to obtain a refund.

2021: Marathon Held Under Restrictions

In 2021, the Philadelphia Marathon was held with the restriction that only vaccinated runners could participate, and the Dunkin Kids Fun Run was canceled; the race had over 21,000 participants in total between in-person and virtual events.

2022: Options for Registrants

In 2022, registrants of the cancelled 2020 Philadelphia Marathon had the option to transfer their entry to 2022, or 2023, or to obtain a refund.

2023: Options for Registrants

In 2023, registrants of the cancelled 2020 Philadelphia Marathon had the option to transfer their entry to 2023, or to obtain a refund.

2023: Record-Breaking Participation and Sold-Out Race

In 2023, the Philadelphia Marathon race weekend saw a record-breaking 34,000 runners participate and also sold out for the first time in a decade.

2024: New Record for Number of Finishers

In 2024, the Philadelphia Marathon had 12,381 finishers, setting a new record for the race, surpassing the previous peak of 11,641 set back in 2012.

2025: Third Consecutive Sell-Out

In 2025, the Philadelphia Marathon sold out for the third year in a row, reaching capacity earlier than in the previous two years; the announcement was made on July 4.