Philadelphia Running Calendar: 10 Spring 2015 Races to Have on Your Radar

Runners at the Bucks County Half Marathon | Photo via Facebook

Believe it or not, the 2015 spring racing season is just about upon us. If you’re planning on doing a run or two, now’s the time to get serious about training.

To help you get amped, we’ve rounded up our 10 favorite runs coming up in the next few months. (Except for Broad Street because, well, we think that goes without saying.) Get ready to hit the road, runners.

1. Tyler 10K Trail Run
When: Saturday, April 11th.
Where: Tyler Arboretum, 515 Painter Road, Media.
Registration: $30 through March 16th, $35 after.

This year marks the 23rd year for this Delco trail-running tradition. The race through gorgeous Tyler Arboretum includes plenty of elevation changes and four creek crossings to keep you engaged. The race is limited to 400 runners and always sells out, so sign up ASAP if you want in.

2. Run the Vineyards 5-Miler
When: Sunday, April 26th.
Where: Heritage Vineyards, 480 Mullica Hill Road, Mullica Hill.
Registration: $45 before March 15th, $50 after.

This chip-timed race takes you through the pretty vineyard on trails and roads, and includes a two-hour post-race reception, where you can sip a free glass of wine. Runners get a commemorative wine glass and race shirt.

3. The Love Run Half Marathon
When: Sunday, March 29th.
Where: Eakins Oval.
Registration: $92 through January 31st.

This second-year spring half marathon features mileage in Center City, passing Logan Circle, City Hall and Independence Hall. The majority of the miles are logged along MLK Drive and in West Fairmount Park. The race ends with a finish-line party where tailgating is encouraged. Runners get Philly-favorite snacks like Tastykakes and soft pretzels.

4. Back On My Feet 5-Miler
When: Saturday, March 28th
Where: Schuylkill Trail Connector (near Paine’s Park).
Registration: $25 through January 31st, $35 from February 1st through March 18th, $40 after.

This timed race starts near the Philadelphia Museum of Art and heads out on MLK Drive toward the Please Touch Museum along a certified five-mile course. Awards are given for top finishers. In the past, the post-race finish line celebration has included food trucks and massages. The race benefits Back On My Feet, a Philly-based national organization that uses running as a tool to change the lives of homeless men and women.

5. Perkiomen Trail Run
When: Saturday, March 28th
Where: Central Perkiomen Valley Park, 1 Plank Road, Schwenksville.
Registration: $25.

This four-mile, out-and-back course along the Perkiomen Trail follows the Perkiomen Creek. The course is relatively flat and paved. Proceeds benefit the maintenance of Central Perkiomen Valley Park and the Perkiomen Trail.

6. Bucks County Half Marathon
When: Sunday, April 12th
Where: Tyler State Park Center for the Arts, 10 Stable Mill Road, Richboro.
Registration: $67 through February 1st, $72 after.

This USATF-certified course is a modified double loop through pretty Tyler State Park, with paved, wide roads and gradual rolling hills for an added challenge. Runners get technical racing shirts and finisher’s medals, and awards are given out to top finishers. The race benefits the Autism Cares Foundation.

7. Cherry Blossom 10K/5K
When: Saturday, April 11th
Where: Fairmount Park Horticultural Center, 100 North Horticultural Drive, West Fairmount Park.
Registration: $30 for the 10K, $25 for the 5K.

The 10K distance is a new addition to this springtime run celebrating our region’s pretty pink blooms as part of the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia’s Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival. The course takes you through Fairmount Park’s Centennial District, where you’ll enjoy great views of Memorial Hall and Shofuso Japanese House and Garden as you run under a canopy of beautiful cherry blossoms.

8. Cape May Brewing Company 5K
When: Sunday, April 19th.
Where: Cape May Brewing Company, 409 Breakwater Road, Cape May.
Registration: $40.

Head down the shore for this first-time race, which includes a flat, shaded chip-timed 5K followed by brewery tours and a free beer for every runner. Runners also get a commemorative pint glass and race shirt.

9. Out & Back Party Run
When: Friday, April 24th.
Where: The Smith House, 3500 Reservoir Drive, East Fairmount Park.
Registration: $45.

This evening 5K is really all about the after party. The flat, fast course takes you past the historic Fairmount houses of Mount Pleasant and Laurel Hill, and the Smith Memorial Playground. The after party takes place at Smith House, where runners are treated to an evening of food, frosty beverages and music. The run is a fundraiser for the ALS Hope Foundation.

10. XTERRA Brandywine Creek 12K/5K
When: Sunday, March 15th.
Where: Brandywine Creek State Park, 41 Adams Dam Road, Wilmington.
Registration: $20 for the 5K through February 12th, $25 after; $30 for the 12K through February 12th, $35 after.

Here’s one that’s sure to be a change of scenery. Both courses take you into Brandywine Creek State Park. The 5K features rolling hills, while the 12K starts on a rocky, hilly single-track trail through the woods for five miles before opening up to a cross-country course for the remainder. Awards are given to top finishers.

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