Everything You Need to Know About This Year’s Philly Mayor’s Cup

Photo Courtesy of Philly Mayor’s Cup via Facebook

Local runnings clubs, it’s time to gather the troops and begin preparation: The third annual Philly Mayor’s Cup is scheduled for Saturday, August 12th, and bragging rights are at stake. If the Mayor’s Cup is a totally foreign term to you, stay tuned because the full run-down is outlined below, but to give you the real quick and dirty: It’s basically a huge cross-country meet for grown-ups featuring trail and road runs varying in distance, from a 5K to a half marathon, at the Belmont Plateau. Intrigued? 

The Mayor’s Cup challenges running clubs from all over the city and suburbs to fight to the death (okay not actually death, but it does take place in swampy early August, so runners might want to die at some point) in these five races — all of which start and finish at Belmont Plateau within a two-hour window:

Cross-Country 5K
Start Time: 9:15 a.m.
Cost: $25 ($20 if you register at the Pep Rally)
Course Map

Five-Mile Road Race
Start Time: 8:45 a.m.
Cost: $35 ($30 if you register at the pep rally)
Course Map

10K Trail Race
Start Time: 8:15 a.m.
Cost: $35 ($30 if you register at the pep rally)
Course Map

Ten-Mile Road Race
Start Time: 7:30 a.m.
Cost: $45 ($40 if you register at the pep rally)
Course Map

Half Marathon Trail Race
Start Time: 6:30 a.m.
Cost: $50 ($45 if you register at the pep rally)
Course Map (looped twice)

The first male and female finishers from each club in each event earn points for their club. In the end, the club with the most points overall is dubbed the Mayor’s Cup Champion. And it’s all for a good cause — each club is encouraged to select a charity to fundraise for in the time leading up to the race. Last year, 35 running clubs participated in the Mayor’s Cup, raising over $18,000 for 20 charities. You can check out the lineup of running clubs for this year’s Mayor’s Cup here to scope out what the competition will be like.

And of course, after sweating it out for miles on the trails (or the roads) there needs to be a celebration — this will be taking place at what the Mayor’s Cup organizers call “Athlete Village.” Running groups are encouraged to set up camp here, near the finish line, to eat, drink, chill and revel in their collective accomplishments.

The event is a running extravaganza with a lottt of personality. Don’t believe me? There’s a pep rally — yes, a pep rally — for the event next Wednesday, May 10th, at Morgan’s Pier from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., which also happens to kick off registration for the Mayor’s Cup. Participating clubs are encouraged to represent at the pep rally to win over new members and show the competition what’s what. Oh, and just in case you didn’t notice, there are registration discounts available for those signing up at the pep rally. Plus, the first 50 runners to register get free beer.

Get the full scoop on all things related to the Philly Mayor’s Cup here. Run like the wind, folks!

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