Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon takes place on Sat, Nov 21, 2026 in Philadelphia, United States. The main route is 21.1 km.
- Date
- Sat, Nov 21, 2026
- Start
- Philadelphia 🇺🇸
- Distance
- 21.1 km
- Level
- Open to all
Athletes start along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the cultural Museum District and wind through Philadelphia’s most scenic and historic neighborhoods over a 13.1-mile course.
Official event pageWhat this race demands
This half marathon requires sustained aerobic capacity and efficient pacing over a 21.1-kilometer road course in late November.
Aerobic endurance
The 21.1-kilometer distance demands a high level of cardiovascular fitness to sustain running pace over the entire duration.
Pacing discipline
Navigating urban historic neighborhoods and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway requires controlled early pacing to prevent premature fatigue.
For a half marathon effort likely lasting over 1.5 to 2.5 hours, athletes should consume 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per hour depending on total duration.
What would it take you?
Pick the level closest to yours for an estimate of finish time on this course and the training a solid preparation needs.
Estimated finish
1:45–2:10
Peak-week training
5–7 h/week
A model estimate from distance, climbing and level, not a promise. Conditions, drafting and pacing move it.
IntervalCoach turns those weekly hours into a concrete plan built around your actual fitness. Start with this race as your goal
Your road to race day
Race day at Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon is 13 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.
01Base1 week · Aug 23, 2026 – Aug 29, 2026
Aerobic foundation: mostly steady endurance work that grows the aerobic engine and the durability the later phases stand on.
02Build6 weeks · Aug 30, 2026 – Oct 10, 2026
Progressive overload: training load climbs in waves, with harder weeks stacked on the base and planned recovery weeks that let the gains land.
03Peak3 weeks · Oct 11, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026
The hardest weeks of the plan: race-specific intensity at nearly full training load, sharpening exactly what this race asks for.
04Taper2 weeks · Nov 1, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
05Race week1 week · Nov 15, 2026 – Nov 21, 2026
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.
Similar races
Organising this race?