Philadelphia Distance Run

The Philadelphia Distance Run (PDR) is one of the most historic and performance-oriented half marathons in the United States, bringing runners onto the streets and riverfront roads of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania each September. First held in 1978, the race has built an extraordinary competitive history, with multiple world records established on its famously fast course and generations of elite and recreational runners using PDR as an early-autumn test of fitness.

The Philadelphia Distance Run was created with the goal of giving Philadelphia a first-class road race capable of showcasing the city while attracting world-class competition. The inaugural race in 1978 drew approximately 3,400 participants, an exceptionally large field for a first-year road race at the time—and quickly established itself as an important event on the American distance-running calendar.