The Philadelphia Marathon returned for its 32nd year this weekend, bringing 37,000 runners to the four keystone events that comprised one of the largest gatherings in the event’s history. 

South Africa’s Melikhaya Frans was the men’s winner in 2:13:57. Anna Oeser, of Brookfield, Connecticut won the women’s side with a time of 2:34:55. It was her first-ever marathon. For real.

Although registration matched last year’s record total, organizers saw more runners starting the race, thanks to a newly-introduced waitlist that filled the gaps left by deferred or dropped registrations. In past years, about 14% of runners didn’t make it to the race, but this year’s waitlist helped ensure a fuller field of runners in 2025.

The weekend kicked off Friday with a free Health and Fitness Expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and revved up on Saturday with the Dietz and Watson Half Marathon and the Rothman Orthopaedics 8k. Sunday’s full marathon began on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, where push-rim wheelchair athletes kicked off the race at 7 a.m., with runners following shortly behind. 

Families gathered at 10 a.m. on Sunday at Eakins Oval for the popular Nemours Children’s Health Philadelphia Kid’s Run, which brought out younger runners and plenty of cheering parents. While both the half and full marathons, sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), sold out back in August, spots for the Children’s Run were still available the day of the event, with on-site registration offered for families who showed up for this event spontaneously.

To help manage safety and crowd flow at the marathon this year, the race encouraged spectators to gather at pre-approved cheer zones. Even with regulated cheer zones, the creativity of spectators never slowed. Spectators were welcomed along the sidewalks of the route and, in typical Philly fashion, enthusiastic attendees spilled into the streets and swamped the sides of Kelly Drive. 

The Philadelphia Marathon isn’t just one of the fastest-growing races in the U.S., it’s also a snapshot of everything that makes the City of Brotherly Love feel like home. Across 26.2 miles, Philly showed up exactly as Philly does: loud, loving, sarcastic, and full of heart. 

As always, the signs told the story — one joke, one jawn, and one roast at a time.

Below are some of the most enthusiastic, and most Philly, signs on display during the 2025 Philadelphia Marathon.

Family members from South Bend, Indiana, competed in the Philadelphia half-marathon on Saturday, then took their place along the full marathon route on Sunday to cheer on Liam in his first full marathon. (Hanbit Kwon)

With nearly 3,000 volunteers needed to staff the races, volunteers of all ages were welcomed. (Hanbit Kwon)


Maria (seated, second from right) gathered with friends and family in the pre-dawn hours to cheer on her sister Carolina. (Hanbit Kwon)

Amy (left) and Carley teamed up to support brothers Brendan and Shane. (Hanbit Kwon)

Handmade signs encouraged the runners with reminders of a few of their favorite motivators, like pistachios. (Hanbit Kwon)

Many declarations of love were made, including this playful, personalized sign to motivate his runner, featuring photos and a promise waiting at the finish line. We can’t confirm the question … (Hanbit Kwon)

Spectators cheered with endless enthusiasm. (Hanbit Kwon)

Political puns were a “running” joke of the day. (Hanbit Kwon)

Daughters gathered to cheer on their dads: Jay, Matt and Chris. (Hanbit Kwon)

Green lettering to honor the Eagles was a popular choice for many signs. (Hanbit Kwon)

It’s hard to lose motivation when encouraged by larger-than-life dog sporting hats. (Hanbit Kwon)

The best way to recycle is to create three-dimensional Wawa encouragement. (Hanbit Kwon)

This family from Montclair, N.J., gathered to honor their husband/dad Bryan Fitzpatrick in his second full race and his first Philadelphia Marathon. (Hanbit Kwon)

Honoring Haley’s first full marathon, using the sneaky spin of 26.2 miles as 8 5Ks. (Hanbit Kwon)

Dog advice invites unbridled bursts of speed. (Hanbit Kwon)

A 36 SEPTA Trolley (now known as the T5) cheers from the sidelines. (Hanbit Kwon)

SEPTA puns brought joy to Philadelphia runners and spectators alike. (Hanbit Kwon)

Animal signs and Eagles jerseys often appeared joyfully along the parade route. (Hanbit Kwon)

Insider jokes about the speed of the Schuylkill “Expressway” also hit home. (Hanbit Kwon)


Gritty showed up as an ambassador for the grit required to run 26.2 miles. (Hanbit Kwon)


Blurring past Friendship Gate at 10th and Arch streets. (Hanbit Kwon)

Political humor was popular along the marathon route. (Hanbit Kwon)

A trio of supporters gather on Kelly Drive. (Hanbit Kwon)

High-fives were offered freely near the finish line by many younger fans. (Hanbit Kwon)

Digs on the Dallas Cowboys inspired many Eagles fans’ signs. The jokes didn’t age well, sadly. (Hanbit Kwon)

A joyful reunion between Joshua and his partner Kirsten at the finish line. (Hanbit Kwon)