Thousands of runners will hit the streets of South Philadelphia on Sunday for the 13th annual Philly 10K, bringing hours of road closures, parking restrictions and transit detours across a wide swath of the neighborhood.
The race begins at 7:30 a.m. along the 800 block of South Street and finishes along the 500 block. While the course is well south of Northeast Philadelphia, the event will disrupt SEPTA bus service on 10 routes, and drivers heading downtown or to South Philly should plan extra time or avoid the area entirely.
Closures start at 1 a.m. and stretch into the afternoon
Race organizers said streets will shut down in stages. Beginning at 1 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, 4th Street, 5th Street, East Passyunk Avenue and Bainbridge Street will close in sections around the start and finish area. South Street from 4th to 11th streets closes at 2 a.m.
A larger set of closures takes effect at 7 a.m. as the race gets underway. Those streets include portions of 6th Street, Washington Avenue, Moyamensing Avenue, Snyder Avenue, 13th Street, Dickinson Street, East Passyunk Avenue, 9th Street, Locust Street, 12th Street, Christian Street and 7th Street. They will reopen as the race concludes.
All closed streets are posted as temporary no-parking zones from 1 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vehicles left in those areas will be relocated. Drivers who believe their car was towed should call the police district where the car was parked.
Ten SEPTA bus routes detoured starting at midnight
SEPTA Bus Routes 12, 23, 29, 40, 45, 47, 47M, 57, 64 and 79 will be detoured from their normal routes beginning at midnight Sunday through approximately noon. Specific route changes are available on SEPTA’s System Status Page at septa.org.
Runners are encouraged to take public transit to the race. Those using the Broad Street Line can exit at Lombard-South Station. Riders coming from New Jersey via PATCO can exit at the 9th/10th and Locust Street Station.
Post-race party and safety rules
After the race, a post-race party will be held near the finish area until about 2 p.m. Organizers said every runner 21 and older gets a complimentary Brewery ARS beer, and everyone receives a free Lil Pop popsicle. Live music, limited-edition race merchandise and photo opportunities will also be available.
The city will provide law enforcement, traffic control and emergency medical services throughout the event. Strollers, bikes, vehicles of any kind and non-service animals are not permitted on the course. Attendees should not leave bags or other items unattended and should report anything suspicious to a police officer or call 911.
Drivers are advised to use alternate routes, avoid areas along the race course and allow extra travel time throughout the morning.