Broad Street Run 2026

[Erika10021]

I’m dreading that subway ride from the stadiums to the start. Packed like sardines would be a pleasure in comparison.

Is it worse than NYC rush hour? I remember when one would have to wait for mulitple trains to pass to even get on. And then even when you made it onto the train, it felt like you were touching no less than five other individuals.

 

[Novatrix]

Is it worse than NYC rush hour? I remember when one would have to wait for mulitple trains to pass to even get on. And then even when you made it onto the train, it felt like you were touching no less than five other individuals.

Not worse than NYC, but it is a long ride from the stadium to the start (33 min). They have trains every 8 minutes, I just wait for the next one to ensure I have a seat for the journey.

 

[smrt1]

Not worse than NYC, but it is a long ride from the stadium to the start (33 min). They have trains every 8 minutes, I just wait for the next one to ensure I have a seat for the journey.

Ive never been on a NYC subway so I can’t compare. However, I can say that I’ve been on the subway to BSR many times where it would’ve broken the laws of physics if they were able to press one more person into the train. Literally standing in the middle of the aisle with people pressing on you from all directions and nothing to hold onto for close to an hour. I rode the subway in Boston everyday for years and there was never anything even close. I’m trying to figure out a way to arrive close to the start so I don’t have to deal with it. It’s a major damper on an otherwise fun event. I know that people dislike the bus transportation to Disney races. I consider that part of the rD experience. The Broad Street subway ride is also part of the race experience, but it’s torture.

 

[Novatrix]

It probably depends where you board. I drive in and get on at Stadium, where trains arrive empty and fill with runners, so I can just wait 8 minutes and get a seat. That’s a very different experience than getting on mid-line between Stadium and Olney, where it’s already packed.

The other difference vs the NYC subway is the flow. SEPTA is mostly people with the same goal getting on and off at the same stops, so it feels more like a crowded Disney bus than true subway chaos.

 

[marty3d]

Is it worse than NYC rush hour? I remember when one would have to wait for mulitple trains to pass to even get on. And then even when you made it onto the train, it felt like you were touching no less than five other individuals.

However, I can say that I’ve been on the subway to BSR many times where it would’ve broken the laws of physics if they were able to press one more person into the train. Literally standing in the middle of the aisle with people pressing on you from all directions

It probably depends where you board. I drive in and get on at Stadium, where trains arrive empty and fill with runners, so I can just wait 8 minutes and get a seat. That’s a very different experience than getting on mid-line between Stadium and Olney, where it’s already packed.

The other difference vs the NYC subway is the flow. SEPTA is mostly people with the same goal getting on and off at the same stops, so it feels more like a crowded Disney bus than true subway chaos.

I can definitely attest that the experience of boarding at city hall is pretty much how @smrt1 describes it. It is an adventure. It's much more akin to trying to being the last person on a bus that's already full than it is to any NYC subway experience (except for maybe the one time I made the mistake of trying to board the subway at Penn/ MSG right after a Rangers game). NYC rush hour at least has people getting off at most stops so you have room to squeeze in.

I might seriously consider an Uber this year depending on wait/ cost.

 

[Novatrix]

Hard to believe that time has flown by, and the Broad Street Run is less than a month away!

I wanted to take the temperature of the group and see if there was any interest in a Saturday meetup? I was thinking near convention center Hall F, so people can pickup their bibs then meet.

 

[marty3d]

Hard to believe that time has flown by, and the Broad Street Run is less than a month away!

I wanted to take the temperature of the group and see if there was any interest in a Saturday meetup? I was thinking near convention center Hall F, so people can pickup their bibs then meet.

Doing my longest run of the training plan tomorrow

I'm in as long as it's not morning.

 

[smrt1]

Anyone running Philly Trail Marathon/Half Marathon tomorrow (3/11)?

 

[smileyanna]

Checking in on disboards runners for broad street. I’m registered and trained for the race (well I trained for the Cherry Blossom ten miler a few weeks ago), but life is happening pretty hard this weekend. I’m not sure I can/should leave my husband with all the parenting joys this weekend.

I’d be running solo but I’ve heard great things about this run. Coming up from the DC area. Ahhhh.

Thoughts, fellow runners?

 

[Erika10021]

My husband and I are doing it this weekend. We're local enough (an hour away) to not have to stay over. I am so glad (knock on wood) that the weather looks like it'll be pretty good. It's our first time for this one so I'm a little nervous about the logistics.

 

[Novatrix]

Checking in on disboards runners for broad street. I’m registered and trained for the race (well I trained for the Cherry Blossom ten miler a few weeks ago), but life is happening pretty hard this weekend. I’m not sure I can/should leave my husband with all the parenting joys this weekend.

I’d be running solo but I’ve heard great things about this run. Coming up from the DC area. Ahhhh.

Thoughts, fellow runners?

Not a parent, and this is a local race (only about 25 minutes until I'm parking in the morning) for me so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I've done the reverse of you, and driven down to DC multiple times for race weekends. Expo closes at 6pm on Saturday. If you really want to do the race weekend, you could probably leave your home by 2pm on Saturday and be home again by 2pm the next day worst case scenario. Only you know if it would be unfair to ask your husband to take over for 24 hours.

It's a good race, with a fast course. I only did Cherry Blossom once a long time ago, so memories are a bit hazy, but I'd say Broad Street run has better crowd support and Cherry Blossom has the prettier course. Both are fast courses, but Broad Street is faster in my experience with less wind due to the buildings providing a break.

Good luck deciding!

 

[smrt1]

I’m not feeling it this year. I’ve done it every year since 2012 and I’m kind of over it. I’ll be doing it this year as well, but I’m just not looking forward to dealing with the traffic at the exit, getting into the parking lot, and most of all, the subway ride. I finish fast enough that I can escape the parking disaster without issue. I can be home within an hour of crossing the finish line. I enjoy the running part of these big, city races, but I can’t stand everything else that goes along with them.

 

[Novatrix]

My husband and I are doing it this weekend. We're local enough (an hour away) to not have to stay over. I am so glad (knock on wood) that the weather looks like it'll be pretty good. It's our first time for this one so I'm a little nervous about the logistics.

If driving and parking the morning of the race, plug in the SEPTA station address 3600 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19145 then when you get close you should see a lot of cars looking to get into the lot and people directing traffic. I usually aim for Lot T.

It takes 37 minutes on the SEPTA from the NRG station at Citizen's Bank Stadium to the Olney Transit Center, plus additional time walking to the start/waiting for a train/ect. so make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the start in addition to driving in. If you'll want to use a port-a-potty before the race, those lines will be LONG if the school track field isn't open again this year, so make sure to add in another 20/30 minutes for that to not feel stressed.

I personally really enjoy the race (it's my 9th year doing it), but I like the energy of big races. Logistics to me aren't bad, but it all depends on what you're used to. I spend a lot of time driving in NYC and North Jersey, so to me traffic exiting doesn't even register. I'm in my car, with the heater blasting, and it only adds 10 minutes to my journey.

 

[marty3d]

Checking in on disboards runners for broad street. I’m registered and trained for the race (well I trained for the Cherry Blossom ten miler a few weeks ago), but life is happening pretty hard this weekend. I’m not sure I can/should leave my husband with all the parenting joys this weekend.

I’d be running solo but I’ve heard great things about this run. Coming up from the DC area. Ahhhh.

Thoughts, fellow runners?

I think only you can decide if you can take the time this weekend. As for the race itself, the atmosphere is great. I ran it for the first time last year and I’m back again this year. The energy from the crowd combined with the fast, straight course really help if you’re trying to set a quick time. This is my rD POT race. It really is one of the more fun races I’ve run outside Disney.

Weather looks good this weekend if you prefer cool temperatures for a run (I don’t but I think I’m in the minority)

Good luck if you decide to run it!

 

[smileyanna]

My husband and I are doing it this weekend. We're local enough (an hour away) to not have to stay over. I am so glad (knock on wood) that the weather looks like it'll be pretty good. It's our first time for this one so I'm a little nervous about the logistics.

It would be my first time too and agree that the weather looks decent! Knock on all the wood!

 

[smileyanna]

Thanks for all the responses! I love hearing what the experienced racers say about this race. I'm leaning more towards going.

Will update! And good luck to all the runners!

I personally really enjoy the race (it's my 9th year doing it), but I like the energy of big races.

As for the race itself, the atmosphere is great.

Weather looks good this weekend if you prefer cool temperatures for a run (I don’t but I think I’m in the minority)

I love me a giant big city race, with a cold start. So Broad Street this year hits all the buttons! I also don't love but don't mind the logistics, its all part of the fun (though with the caveat that I haven't actually run in this race, and it could be that the reality of Broad Street is rougher than I think).

I updated my POT with Cherry Blossom this year, and don't think I have it in me to push again so soon so I wouldn't be using it as a fast race. I heard Broad Street is net downhill (good for POT) but pretty crowded?

I’m just not looking forward to dealing with the traffic at the exit, getting into the parking lot, and most of all, the subway ride.

this is a great example of unknown logistical snafus! I've been thinking mostly about the morning logistics, didn't even think about the post-run exit...

 

[marty3d]

! I also don't love but don't mind the logistics, its all part of the fun (though with the caveat that I haven't actually run in this race, and it could be that the reality of Broad Street is rougher than I think).

It’s not. it’s a big city race with lots of people. It’s really not that bad at all especially since you’ve done other city races. But I’d rely on @Novatrix advice on parking because I’m not driving. Subway only.

Hope you make it up this weekend!

 

[rick1zoo2]

If driving and parking the morning of the race, plug in the SEPTA station address 3600 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19145 then when you get close you should see a lot of cars looking to get into the lot and people directing traffic. I usually aim for Lot T.

It takes 37 minutes on the SEPTA from the NRG station at Citizen's Bank Stadium to the Olney Transit Center, plus additional time walking to the start/waiting for a train/ect. so make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the start in addition to driving in. If you'll want to use a port-a-potty before the race, those lines will be LONG if the school track field isn't open again this year, so make sure to add in another 20/30 minutes for that to not feel stressed.

I personally really enjoy the race (it's my 9th year doing it), but I like the energy of big races. Logistics to me aren't bad, but it all depends on what you're used to. I spend a lot of time driving in NYC and North Jersey, so to me traffic exiting doesn't even register. I'm in my car, with the heater blasting, and it only adds 10 minutes to my journey.

Thanks for the tip on the station and train time. One question I haven't been able to figure out is how to get from the finish area at the Navy Yard back to the parking (other than walking)?

 

[marty3d]

Thanks for the tip on the station and train time. One question I haven't been able to figure out is how to get from the finish area at the Navy Yard back to the parking (other than walking)?

They have shuttles. It takes you back to the stadium.

 

[rick1zoo2]

They have shuttles. It takes you back to the stadium.

Ok great, thanks! Just figuring out our logistics, looks like a really early start (3-ish) as we have about an hour drive. Good thing we are used to the early starts for the runDisney races. 8 o'clock bedtimes and 4am wake ups this week to get adjusted to it then. Good thing is we can throw everything in the car to cover all clothing and food options. I do like what the forecast is predicting - it was cold like that this past Sunday and I had an amazing 7 mile run, which I hope happens again.