FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Philadelphia Marathon Date Moved to November 15th Weekend
2013 Race Registration Will Open on April 1, as Usual.
PHILADELPHIA (February 22, 2013) – Philadelphia Marathon officials today
said that the date of the race has been changed from the weekend of
November 22-24 to the weekend of November 15-17 -- one week earlier than
planned -- to adjust to the scheduling of a prestigious national trade
convention on sustainability in Philadelphia and to ensure the best
experience and amenities for race participants.
Now during the weekend of the 22nd, the Greenbuild International Conference
and Expo, a sustainable building conference, will be at the Pennsylvania
Convention Center in Center City -- the venue where the marathon's key
pre-race Health & Fitness Expo activities traditionally have been held. The
Greenbuild Conference is the largest conference and expo dedicated to green
building.
Philadelphia Marathon Executive Director Desiree Peterkin-Bell said that
the race-date change provides an opportunity for two highly visible events
to take place on back-to-back weekends. She said it would showcase
Philadelphia as a desirable world-class destination for both marathoning
and other large-scale attractions.
"The Philadelphia Marathon decided to move the date for the 2013
Philadelphia Marathon to secure space in the Pennsylvania Convention Center
(PCCA) for the Marathon Health & Fitness Expo," said Peterkin-Bell. "As we
have been informed by authorities at the Convention Center, it would have
been difficult for the City to host the Philadelphia Marathon and the
Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, while providing the hotel space
needed for nearly 60,000 combined attendees at the PCCA on the same
weekend. As we do every year, we have worked with our hotel partners
citywide to set aside a number of rooms at a favorable rate for our
runners. On April 1st, registration for the Marathon will open, and
participants will be able to reserve reduced-rate hotels rooms available
through our website."
Added Peterkin-Bell: "We continue to work closely with the PCCA and the
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau on these efforts. This November,
we will host two major events which will generate significant revenues for
our city during two consecutive weekends. While we regret any inconvenience
to our runners, we are excited to host them in 2013 for the 20th
anniversary of the Philadelphia Marathon."
Peterkin-Bell said the marathon is looking forward to hosting the more than
30,000 people expected to participate in the race, one of the nation's
largest marathons.
Said Jack Ferguson, president & CEO, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors
Bureau: "Hosting U.S. Green Building Council 2013 is a prestigious honor
for Philadelphia, where thought leaders from around the world in
sustainability will be coming together during a time when the City and
Mayor are focused on being the top green city in America. At the same time,
the Philadelphia Marathon is certainly an important staple event for the
city. U.S. Green Building Council is a full building show and even
requiring meeting facilities in our hotels, so we thank the Marathon
organizers for moving the date so the City is able to host both of these
amazing events in the City and at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The
official hotel room block for the Marathon will be open in April when
registration for the Marathon opens. Combined, these two events will
generate more than $55 million in economic impact and bring nearly 60,000
visitors to our great city."
Peterkin-Bell said this year the Marathon falls on November 17th, which is
a day earlier than the 2012 race.
"We are still holding the race within the same time frame this year," she
said. "We understand that marathoners have invested a great deal of time,
training and dedication to prepare, and greatly appreciate their
flexibility. The new date ultimately allows them to have the same quality
experience they are accustomed to. We hope to see everyone out on the
course the weekend of November 15th."
The times of all of the weekend activities will remain the same. Here is a
complete schedule of 2013 Marathon Race Weekend activities:
Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16: Health & Fitness Expo
Noon – 9:00 p.m., Friday, November 15
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Saturday, November 16
Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1201 Arch St.
Entry is free and open to the public and includes numerous activities,
vendors and seminars.
Saturday, November 16: 8K Race
7:30 a.m.
22nd Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near the Philadelphia Museum of
Art.
Scenic Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, set along the Schuylkill River, is the
site for 3,000 8K race participants to kick-off Philadelphia Marathon
Weekend's running events.
Saturday, November 16: Kids Fun Run
*Onsite registration begins at 9:00 a.m.*
Races begin at 10:30 a.m. at 22ndStreet & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near
the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The Kids Fun Run is a noncompetitive race promoting health and fitness
among children, ages 6-14.
Sunday, November 17: Philadelphia Half Marathon and Philadelphia Marathon
Wheelchair and Handcycle competitions begin at 6:57 a.m.; Competition for
runners begins at 7:00 a.m.
22nd Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near the Philadelphia Museum of
Art.
The Philadelphia Marathon is an elite U.S. race. Sunday is the climax of
Marathon Weekend, when thousands of race competitors travel through 13.1 or
26.2 beautiful miles of Philadelphia's race course.
Philadelphia Marathon Weekend attracts more than 30,000 runners and 60,000
spectators to Philadelphia to experience "The Best Time of Your Life." Race
Weekend features The Philadelphia Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday,
November 17; the 8K Race and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 16; and a
free two-day Health & Fitness Expo Friday, November 15 and Saturday,
November 16. Race participants pass many of Philadelphia's famous
attractions on the swift and scenic USATF-certified course, which is a
Boston qualifier. Take the first step to experiencing 26.2 miles of fun,
beauty, history and excitement by visiting www.philadelphiamarathon.com
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