Philadelphia Trail Marathon

Philadelphia Trail Marathon is held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 10, 2027, with two formats: the full marathon (26.2 miles) starting at 8:00 a.m. and the half marathon (13.1 miles) an hour later at 9:00 a.m. Both are run on trails rather than city pavement, which changes the character of the day considerably.

A trail marathon is a different proposition from a road one. Uneven footing and rolling terrain will cost you time compared with your road marathon pace, so set your expectations by effort and not by the clock. A 16-week build with a weekly long run that reaches 18 to 20 miles, at least part of it off-road, is the right preparation, along with strength work for your ankles and hips. If this is your first marathon of any kind, the half is the wiser starting point on this kind of surface.