THE PHILADELPHIA MARATHON WEEKEND KICKS OFF ITS RETURN WITH THE HEALTH AND FITNESS EXPO

THE PHILADELPHIA MARATHON WEEKEND KICKS OFF ITS RETURN WITH THE HEALTH AND FITNESS EXPO

 This press conference will celebrate the opening of the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend

PHILADELPHIA, PA (November 17, 2022) – The City of Philadelphia is set to welcome those taking part in the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend on Friday, November 18, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. during a press conference and ceremonial ribbon-cutting before opening the Health and Fitness Expo located at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

In honor of the city hosting its 29th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Philadelphia Marathon, Marathon Race Director Kathleen Titus will be joined by Mayor James Kenney to discuss program updates and how Philadelphia continues to be one of the fastest-growing marathons in the country with participants coming from all 50 states (plus Washington DC and the armed services) and over 57 countries. Approximately 28,000 runners are expected to compete in person throughout the weekend. Participants range in age from 5 to 90 years old.

Aliphine Tuliamuck, a 10-time USATF Champion and competitor on Team U.S.A. at the 2021 Olympic Games and most recently took first place US female runner in the NYC Marathon will be welcomed on stage and acknowledged for her accomplishments alongside Jared Ward, who is a six-time All-American at BYU, three-time USA National Champion, and a 2016 Olympian. 

City officials have made major strides to grow the adaptive athlete category and this year hosts the largest wheelchair division in race history, led by Elite Paralympic Athlete, Michelle Wheeler. She will be competing as well as joining Tuliamuk and Ward for various race engagements throughout the weekend. 

The “founder of the Yasso 800’s and former editor of Runner’s World magazine, ” Bart Yasso, will also be acknowledged for being one of the few people to complete races on all seven continents. 

AACR Legacy Marathoners Mark Sullivan and Bob Koen, who both have participated in the Philadelphia Marathon since 1994, will be recognized as well. 

Race weekend serves as a proud moment for Philadelphia to shine on the national and international stage thanks to the scenic and historic landmarks across the city. This marathon is considered one of the most historic racecourses and has been ranked as one of the top 10 marathons in the country. Some brand-new partnerships including Ford, ASICS, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, and Hylands Naturals have elevated our event and allowed city officials to increase the prize money which in turn has already attracted the largest number of elite runners and wheelchair athletes to date. The overall prize money for the 2022 Philadelphia Marathon Weekend has increased by $54,000, making the grand total $121,800, the highest it has ever been.

The 2022 Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend will feature a nonbinary category for the first time ever. There’s been a push for gender inclusion in sports across the world, and this year Philadelphia made the change that is allowing participants to compete without having to register in the men’s or women’s divisions. City officials are always working on expanding opportunities for their runners and adding this inclusive category is just one of many additions. 

“The Philadelphia Marathon Weekend represents the best of Philadelphia. There’s nothing more special than when people come from all over the country to support one another and cheer on their neighbors. Philadelphia is a place of inclusion and city officials strive each year to be the place where runners can register, race, and be celebrated exactly as they are. We know there is still much more to be done, but changes such as this demonstrate our commitment to making the runner experience top tier, said Kathleen Titus.”

The event holds a special place for many as it benefits the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).  The Philadelphia Marathon is proud to have the AACR as its title partner and hopes through its collaboration with the race and community that the City of Philadelphia plays a role in eradicating cancer and positioning Philadelphia as one of the country’s healthiest cities. Dietz & Watson enters its second year as the title sponsor of the Half Marathon following in the footsteps of Rothman Orthopaedics which has been a proud supporter of the Philadelphia Marathon weekend for over two decades and is the title sponsor of the Rothman Orthopaedics 8K.

Mitch Stoller, Executive Director of AACR Foundation & Vice President, Philanthropy; American Association for Cancer Research, Taylor Grissinger, Sr. Retail Marketing Manager from Dietz & Watson, and Ed Tufaro, Senior Vice President of Operations at Rothman Orthopaedics will also be speaking at the press conference. 

The annual Philadelphia Marathon Weekend will start with the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon, Rothman Orthopaedics 8K, and the returning Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 19. The full AACR Philadelphia Marathon will be held on Sunday, November 20. Wheelchairs will begin at 6:55 a.m. and Runners/Walkers will begin at 7:00 a.m. at 22nd Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

NOTES TO MEDIA: All press will need to be at the race on Saturday and Sunday by 5 a.m. If entering on foot, media can check in at entrance point E1, located at Benjamin Franklin Parkway and North 22nd Street (southwest corner). If entering with a media vehicle, the entrance point is at E5, located at 25th Street and Kelly Drive (accessible via Pennsylvania Avenue), where all vehicles will be screened per public safety guidelines.

MEDIA THAT ARE INTERESTED IN RIDING ON THE LEAD TRUCK MUST RSVP BY THE END OF TODAY, NOVEMBER 17. 

Please contact Jennifer Sherlock at jsherlock@jennacommunications.com to obtain general media passes or to RSVP to ride on the lead truck. 

For more information visit www.philadelphiamarathon.com or contact Jennifer Sherlock at jsherlock@jennacommunications.com.

 About AACR:

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes 49,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and patient advocates residing in 128 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 30 conferences and educational workshops—the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting, with more than 74,000 attendees for the 2020 virtual meetings and more than 22,500 attendees for past in-person meetings. In addition, the AACR publishes ten prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up to Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.

About Philadelphia Marathon Weekend:

The Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend, organized by the Office of the Managing Director, welcomes over 30,000 runners, 60,000 spectators, and 3,000 volunteers each year. Race Weekend 2022 features a free two-day Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, November 18, and Saturday, November 19; the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon, Rothman Orthopaedics 8K, and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 19; and the AACR Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 20. Race participants pass many of Philadelphia’s famous attractions on the swift and scenic USATF-certified course, which is a Boston qualifier.

**Philadelphia Marathon Weekend Officials recommend all 2022 participants be up to date on vaccinations protecting them against COVID-19 and wear a face mask around others in public spaces. **