Philadelphia Marathon Provides Space For Every Athlete

PHILADELPHIA, PA — When it comes to experiencing new things, Chris Koch is more afraid of regret than failure.

Koch, a 43-year-old motivational speaker from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was born without arms or legs. No one knows why, Koch told Patch. Still, life has been good. The ups have far outweighed the downs.

And this weekend, Koch will experience a new "up" when he participates in the 29th annual Philadelphia Marathon for the first time. Regarded as one of the top ten marathons in the United States, the Philadelphia Marathon will start at 7 a.m. Sunday at 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway near the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Koch, who has competed in marathons since 2016, will be one of the thousands of participants in this weekend's event. It will be his 13th marathon, which he competes in by riding his longboard.

"The feeling of crossing the finish line is amazing," Koch told Patch. "I think the biggest thing I get addicted to is how supportive other runners are. Whether it's your elite runners or the ones dressed up in goofy costumes that aren't in marathon shape but are just doing it for the sake of challenging themselves, everyone is so supportive and I love that."

The Philadelphia Marathon welcomes more than 28,000 runners, 60,000 spectators, and 3,000 volunteers each year, according to the event's website. Other weekend events include a free two-day Health & Fitness Expo, a half-marathon, an 8K run and a Kids Fun Run on Saturday.

The weekend culminates in the full marathon on Sunday. As they compete, race participants will pass many of the city's famous attractions and landmarks, organizers said.

The Philadelphia Marathon is a qualifier event for the Boston Marathon.

The Philadelphia Marathon is one of the fastest-growing marathons in the country, with participants coming from all 50 states and more than 57 countries, according to race director Kathleen Titus.

Elite paralympic athlete Michelle Wheeler will compete alongside participants in this year's events. Wheeler, a member of the Boston Marathon U.S. Elite Team who has competed in marathons across the world, also participated in the 2019 Marathon World Championships and also won the 2018 Los Angeles Marathon.

Returning participants can expect a few new things this year, according to Titus.

• Overall prize money has increased by $54,000 to $121,800, the highest in marathon history. Prize money for participants increased in the full marathon, the half-marathon and the 8K.
• This year, prize money will be given to the second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers in the wheelchair category.

This year's marathon will also feature a category for non-binary runners for the first time. So far, 54 participants have signed up to compete in the non-binary category.

In an email to Patch, Titus said race organizers want to provide "a space for every athlete to register, race, and be celebrated exactly as they are."

"Safety is first as we want to ensure every runner gets over that finish line," Titus said. "But overall, we want them to enjoy the historical landmarks that Philly has to offer along the way."

The city's beauty and its people were two factors that drew Chris Koch to register for this year's marathon. After speaking in Philadelphia schools in the spring, Koch thought, "this is a cool city, and I want to come back."

While registration for the 2022 marathon is closed, Koch said anyone considering a marathon should find "one excuse to do it and just do it."

"You could find a million excuses to do it and one not to do it, and you'll hang your hat on that and won't do it," Koch said. "For me, I'm way more afraid of regret than failure. You don't have to go out there and do it better than anyone on your first try. Just do it and feel the exhilarating feeling of pride in yourself.

Philadelphia Marathon Info

Here are some quick links for Philly residents and spectators hoping to check out this year's events.

• 2022 race maps
• Road closures
• How to get to the marathon
• 2022 frequently asked questions
• 2022 race results

For complete race details, visit PhiladelphiaMarathon.com.