[1] The marathon course is professionally certified at 42.195 kilometres (26.219 mi) by the Road Running Technical Council of USA Track & Field.

Now, 23 years and 3,000 runners later, the Rothman 8K is an integral part of Marathon Weekend and an enjoyable event for beginners or those who just want to run.

Having collapsed after crossing the finish line of an apparent heart attack, the cause of his death actually remains unknown.

Although the cause of death was officially diagnosed as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, after further examination of the autopsy, it was concluded that the diagnosis may not have been accurate since the size of his heart would have been normal for an athlete.

[7] In 2020, the Marathon was cancelled after mayor Jim Kenney announced a moratorium on public gatherings of more than 50 people within the city of Philadelphia on July 14 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[9] In 2021, the marathon was held under a restrictions that only vaccinated runners may participate in all events and the Dunkin Kids Fun Run was cancelled.

The Philadelphia Marathon course is relatively flat and offers a view of many historical landmarks that include Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House and the Liberty Bell.

[14] The terrain presents many uphill and downhill challenges for the runners, though the course itself is very flat compared to other large scale marathons.

[15] The event also serves as a qualifying race for entry into the Boston Marathon for participants whose times meet age group bracketed standards.

[16] Transportation - Detours throughout parts of the city begin at 3AM and run until 1PM [16] Several cash prizes are awarded for the full marathon.

The AACR Philadelphia Marathon, who collaborated with the Mayor's Office of Civic Engagement to turn the race into an eco-friendly sporting event.

In 2012-2013, the Philadelphia Marathon received a Gold Certification from the Council of responsible Sport (ReSport) and organization that certifies special events for environmental sustainability and community engagement.

[23] In 2017, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) was announced to be the title sponsor for the next three years for the full marathon.