Race and Course Information

The Blue Cross Broad Street Run is a point-to-point course scheduled on October 4, 2020 (note new date!). Named one of the fastest 10-mile courses in the country by Runner’s World, it starts at Broad Street and Somerville Avenue and ends inside the Philadelphia Navy Yard in South Philadelphia. This race is your opportunity to pass through many of the city’s neighborhoods, taking in the various communities that make up the City of Brotherly Love. For 2020, the race begins at 7:30 a.m. (new!)

If you signed up for the 2020 Philadelphia Challenge with the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend, or if you are a tenured, 2019 deferred runner or twice not selected (2018-2019), be sure to select the “10 Miler Guaranteed Entry” option.

Guaranteed entry registration is open until February 21.

Getting to the start

The start area is located on the grounds of the Central High School Field at Broad Street and Somerville Avenue.

You have several options to get there on race day.

Coming from inside the city

The best way to get to the start area is to take the Broad Street Line, free of charge for runners. Simply show your race bib to the cashier at any Broad Street Line station.

Check septa.org for more information (be sure to wear your race bib on the front of your shirt).

For those taking Regional Rail from outside of the city to Suburban Station, you can hop on the Broad Street Line at City Hall Station.

If you’re taking PATCO from New Jersey, get off at the 12th and 13th & Locust Station, walk two blocks west to the Broad & Locust Station on the Broad Street Line.

Coming from outside the city

If you plan on driving from outside of the city, you should park at one of the following locations:

• The Stadium Complex
• Center City (and use any Broad Street Line station)
• FDR Park

Please don’t park near the start area, as no parking is available.

There is also no parking on Pattison Avenue or inside The Navy Yard. Normal parking restrictions will be enforced.

Once you’ve parked, you can get to the start area one of two ways:

• Take the Broad Street Line at NRG Station near the Stadium Complex for FREE (be sure to wear your race bib on the front of your shirt)
• Take a shuttle outside of NRG Station

 All trains travel north to the Olney Transportation Center, right by the start area.

Note: it takes about 35 minutes to reach SEPTA Broad and Olney Transportation Center, just a few blocks from the start area.

If you’re taking SEPTA’s Regional Rail or Market-Frankford Line into the city, take it to Suburban Station, and then hop on the Broad Street Line from City Hall Station.

If you’re taking PATCO from New Jersey, get off at the 12th and 13th & Locust Station, and walk two blocks west to the Broad & Locust Station on the Broad Street Line. Again, remember to wear your race bib on the front of your shirt.

After the race, you can either walk or take a shuttle bus from the finish area back to the parking areas and NRG Station.

For public transportation information, visit septa.org or call 215-580-7800.

Race Day Parking

Driving down to the race? Below is some information so you know where to leave your car and how you can get to the start area.

There is no parking available at the Start area.

For the Finish Line area, we suggest that all runners park at the Stadium Complex in the Citizens Bank Park and the Wells Fargo Center parking lots. All runners must be out of these lots no later than 11:30 a.m.

Runners and spectators may also park at FDR Park (enter from Pattison Avenue, across from the Novacare Complex). Parking along the roadway in FDR Park is only permitted on one side of the road. Illegally parked cars are subject to towing by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. All lots will open no later than 5:00 a.m. and will be closed as they are filled. No vehicles will be permitted in the Navy Yard without credentials at all entrances.

All running clubs that are planning post-race gatherings are asked to refrain from using the Citizens Bank Park or Wells Fargo Center lots. Instead, please plan to arrive early to park under I-95 in the rear of FDR Park.

RESTRICTIONS
Runners and spectators must park in designated areas and are subject to parking regulations. The Philadelphia Parking Authority and the Philadelphia Police Department will enforce normal parking restrictions. Please observe all parking regulation signs and directions from the parking lot attendants.

There is no parking available at the start area, on Pattison Avenue, or inside The Navy Yard. Parking areas are not controlled by the Blue Cross Broad Street Run and made available at the courtesy of various sports facilities. Some gates will be left closed to control traffic.

Getting to the Start

Check www.septa.org for more information. Runners can ride free on the Broad St. Line only by showing their race bib.

The Broad Street Subway will be running on a special race day schedule. For more information please check out www.septa.org and the race website on race weekend.

You are strongly encouraged to board a train no later than 5:30 a.m. Most trains will be express trains; however, a limited amount of trains will be starting out from the Walnut-Locust station for our Center City participants.

Additional shuttle buses will also be available on Little Broad Street just north of Pattison Avenue to take runners to the start area.

Getting to the Start via Regional Rail

SEPTA is pleased to announce that participants in the Blue Cross Broad Street Run have Regional Rail service alternatives to reach the Race route directly.

Early morning train service from Glenside and Jenkintown will connect runners to the Broad Street Line at Fern Rock Transportation Center. Take the Broad Street line one (1) stop to Olney Transportation Center, where signs will direct them to the warm-up area at Central High School Athletic Field at Broad Street and Somerville Avenue.

At the end of the Race, riders should take the Broad Street Line to City Hall Station where they can connect to Suburban Station and Regional Rail service.

Travel time from Glenside and Jenkintown Stations to Fern Rock Transportation Center is 9 minutes. Both stations offer free parking on weekends and frequent return service on several SEPTA Regional Rail Lines.

For more service information consult the Glenside Combined Regional Rail timetable – Sunday service at www.septa.org

Gear check

Gear Check Procedure for 2020 – Arrive Early to Avoid Delays!

All gear check buses will be located at the start area on Olney Avenue, Ogontz Avenue, Old York Road, and Somerville Avenue.

You are strongly encouraged to bring as little as possible with you to the start of the race.

All items must be visible. No backpacks are permitted in the start area.

Clear plastic bags must be used for gear check in, and you cannot place your backpacks in the clear bags.

ALL ITEMS BROUGHT INTO THE START AREA ARE SUBJECT TO SEARCH AND/OR CONFISCATION.

Look for the yellow school buses at various locations around the start area.

Buses will NOT be loaded by BIB NUMBER, you can check your gear on any bus.

To have your extra clothing and gear transported from the start of the race to the finish area, you must use a clear plastic bag and mark it with the official gear check identification wristband that will be provided at the gear bus.

At the finish, display your gear check identification wristband to the volunteers, and your items will be returned to you. Runners should place a business card or mailing label and phone number inside their bag to help with identifying it after the race.

All gear must be checked onto the buses 7:00 a.m. so they can depart for the Navy Yard.

When you check your gear, you will be handed two matching wristbands and a sticker. The wristbands and sticker have your bus number and individual bag number printed on them.

Attach one wristband to your bag and give your bag to the gear volunteer.

Keep the second wristband and sticker with you. You will need these to find your bus and claim your bag at the finish area.

Please put some form of identification in your bag in case we need to ship your bag to you after the race. Be sure to include your name, address, and telephone number.

Race bibs

You will receive your race bib, which shows your official competitor’s number, in your race packet. Please be sure to:

Check that your information at the bottom of your bib is accurate.

Fill out the medical information on the back of your bib in case of an emergency.

Wear your bib on the front of your shirt on race day.

Trade in your small tear-off the number to receive refreshments after the race.

If any information on your bib is incorrect, email [email protected] or call 215-683-3594 to have it fixed. Errors can also be corrected at the Solution Center at the Health and Wellness Expo presented by Einstein Healthcare Network.

A timing device will be embedded in your race bib. We use the IPICO timing system, a single-use bib tag. Read the bib instructions to ensure you receive an accurate time. Please confirm your race bib is:

Clearly visible on the front of the torso unaltered and unmodified (Do not fold or wrinkle)

Pinned in all four corners and not covered (jackets, runner belts, etc.)

Start area

When you arrive at the start area, feel free to warm-up at the Central High School Athletic Field on Broad Street and Somerville Avenue. There will be more than 400 portable toilets located throughout the field. A group stretch will also take place one hour before the start of the race. For 2020, the event will begin at 7:30 a.m.(new!)

Tips for before the race:

Arrive at the start area early to allow yourself enough time to check your gear, use the facilities, and stretch before the start.

Hydrate! Look for water flags for water stations.

Stay off the surrounding streets.

Be respectful of the residents of the area by keeping off their lawns, steps, and porches.

Corrals

We use a corralled, wave system at the start of the race. We base corral assignments on the anticipated finish time you provide when you register. You will receive your corral assignment by email in late April.

The starting line is located at Broad Street and W. Fisher Avenue. The corrals begin at the starting line and line up along Broad Street going north.

All runners must be in their proper corral by 7:10 am.

Any runner not starting in the proper corral may not get scored for the race and their time may be withheld from the results. If you are planning to run with a slower runner, please line up in their corral. Slower runners should not move up to a faster corral.

Remember, this is run, not a walk. All runners are expected to run a sub-15 minute-mile pace. Any runners not keeping this pace will be directed to sidewalks to allow traffic to re-open in a timely manner.

If you’re planning on running a slower pace, please line towards the back of your corral.

Course restrictions

The following are restricted on the course for your safety and insurance considerations:

• Animals (except for seeing eye dogs)
• Baby joggers
• Bicycles
• Portable media players (i.e., iPods or mp3 players. Runners must be able to hear voice commands, vehicle sirens, and horns.)
• Skateboards
• Roller skates or blades
• Wheeled conveyances (other than wheelchairs*)

Water stations

Water and Gatorade^® will be available along the course and at the finish. Look for blue water flags for water stations. At the four stations where Gatorade is available, look for the bright green cups on the first tables of those stations on both sides of the street.

Emergency services

Ambulances will be located along the course. If you get sick or are injured, remain calm until help arrives. If any runner comes upon an emergency and no help is in the area, please report it to any police officer along the course.

The following hospitals are located along the course:

• Temple University (N. Broad Street and W. Tioga Street)
• Hahnemann University (N. Broad Street and Vine Street)
• Methodist (S. Broad Street and Wolf Street)

Course entertainment

Music groups, high school bands, cheerleading squads, church choirs, and drill teams are invited to perform along the course to energize the runners and spectators.

If your organization would like to participate, call 215-683-3594 or email [email protected]

Finish line

The finish line is located about one-quarter mile past the main gate of the Navy Yard, at the southern end of Broad Street.

In order to provide a better finish line experience, after you finish the race please proceed through our finish area in a cooperative manner.

This year you will be directed by our volunteers to one of our two runner food tents. After moving through the food tent you will get your RACE MEDAL at the rear of the Food Tent.

Once you go through the food tent and pick up your medal, please proceed to gear buses, the Marine Parade grounds or the Shuttle Buses. Once you have left the refreshment area, you may not return.

Locating the Gear Buses at the Finish
Gear pick up at the Navy Yard will be located at the south end of the Marine Parade Grounds in the parking lot directly across Constitution Avenue.

Shuttle Buses at the Finish Line
After the race, Shuttle Buses will be available to take runners and spectators back to the stadium parking lots or FDR park. These buses will be located on Normandy Place east of 13th.

To catch a shuttle bus, please exit from the northeast or southeast exits of the Marine Parade Grounds.

Pick Up Lot:
In an effort to accommodate those runners who wish to be picked up after the race and to avoid congestion in the Navy Yard with unauthorized vehicles, we have established a parking lot similar to a cell phone waiting lot at the airport. The hours for this lot are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Runners wishing to be picked up in this manner should board the FDR shuttle buses to be transported to the pickup lot located on West Pattison Avenue between 20th Street and the NovaCare Complex (Eagles training facility). The shuttle buses to FDR park and the pickup lot will be located at 11th Street and Normandy Place.

Instructions for drivers picking people up are as follows:

Family members or friends only coming to pick up runners at the completion of the race are urged to use this cell phone waiting lot. Drivers must enter this lot from the west at the Police checkpoint located at Pattison Avenue and Penrose Avenue.

Drivers communicate to the Police that they are there to pick up runners. All drivers must remain with their vehicle the entire time. ANY VEHICLE LEFT UNATTENDED WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TOWED.

All spectators at the Navy Yard will be required to go through security check points to enter the Marine Parade Grounds. No backpacks, duffel bags or coolers are permitted in the Navy Yard.

If you bring items into the Navy Yard, they must be in one gallon size clear bags. All items are subject to search by security.

Restrictions

Please, no dogs or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the Navy Yard. We also ask for your cooperation in keeping the Navy Yard clean by putting all waste in the proper receptacles.

Lost runners

All runners should plan to meet family and friends at the Lost Runners Information Tent in the center of the Marine Parade grounds.

We will not make any announcements about missing people from the Awards Stage. If someone is missing, go to the nearest information booth for instructions.

Door prizes

All registered runners are eligible for random drawings, which will be held throughout the day. You must be present to win any of the door prizes. Winners will be announced at the Awards Stage at the Navy Yard.

Drug testing

Athletes who take part in the competition may be subject to formal drug testing under the IAAF Procedural Guidelines for Doping Control or the Olympic Movement Anti-Doping Code. Drug testing and the adjudication of positive findings will be carried out by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Athletes found to have committed a doping violation will be disciplined according to USADA Protocol and suspended, if appropriate, according to IAAF rules. Such penalties may result in a period of ineligibility as well as disqualification from the event.

Any substance taken by an athlete is at his/her own risk and may result in a positive sample (This includes cold medicines, nutritional supplements, and some over-the-counter medicines).

Information on drugs and drug testing may be obtained by calling the USADA Drug Reference Hotline at 1-800-233-0393 or visiting usantidoping.org.

*The term “wheelchair” as used in this event means “push-rim wheelchairs” only. For safety reasons, hand-crank bicycle types of equipment are not permitted.