Everything You Need to Know About the Philly 10K 2017

The Philly 10K | Photo by Matt Stanley

It might not feel like you’ve got a super-sweaty summer race in your not-so-distant future (what is UP with this 50-degree weather in May, amirite?), but you do, my friends: Our friends over at the Philly 10K have given us all the juicy details for this year’s race, going down Sunday, August 27th. And to answer the question we know you’re all asking: Yes, the race, known for its course through Philly neighborhoods, will, once again, end in South Philly with a giant block party complete with Philadelphia Brewing Company beer and frozen custard, a collaboration between Shake Shack and Federal Donuts, for all. Mmmmmmmm.

Below, everything you need to know about this year’s race, including what the course looks like, where the pre-race kickoff party will be (they’re switching things up this year!) and when to set your alarm for registration. Read up below!

When it comes to the course, the Philly 10K’s Ryan Callahan says, “We received so much positive feedback on last year’s course changes that we felt like we finally found the perfect course for showing runners, both local and from afar, an up-close and genuine glimpse into the rich neighborhood fabric of Philadelphia.” So this year’s course for the race, in its fourth year, will look just like last year’s, starting at 8th and South Street and taking runners through Philly neighborhoods like East Passyunk, the Italian Market, by Washington Avenue and more, avoiding riverside views, because we have enough races along the river, right? Right.

But one VERY welcome addition to the course? Cooling stations — as in stations with ice-cold sponges for runners to pat themselves down with if (er, when) they get hot. As Callahan says, “One of the things we liked most about last year’s course was how much of the streets were shaded.” So the cooling stations, one along the course and one at the finish, add onto the course design to help runners stay as comfortable as possible in the August heat.

So when can you get in on the race, you ask? Well, registration will open next Monday, May 15th at 12 p.m. Registration will run you $64 plus a $5 registration fee and gets you your bib, a super-soft T-shirt (we can vouch — these T-shirts are basically as soft as a two-day-old puppy), a finish-line beer from PBC and a frozen custard (this year’s creation, made just for race day, is a vanilla frozen custard blended with cinnamon marshmallow sauce and Federal Donut’s apalonia-spiced sugar cake donut — whoa) on race day.

Before race day though, like past years, they’ll have a kickoff party instead of a bib pick-up expo (because, well, boring). But this year, they’ll be moving locations. Instead of partying at Headhouse Square, the Diadora Kickoff Party will go down outdoors at Philadelphia Brewing Company, coming complete with beer (duh), local food, music and the Run Philly Merch Store, with exclusive race gear. Also new this year, the race has arranged to donate more money to local charity by asking their sponsors to donate 10 percent of their sponsorships to the race’s charitable partner (TBA), which the race will match. We can dig it.

Callahan tells us there will be more surprises to come as race day nears, but for now, go ahead and mark your calendar for May 15th at 11:57 a.m. so you can snag your spot here. And if your legs are still sore from Broad Street, we promise you’ll have recovered by August.

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