Funny Philadelphia Marathon Signs: 32 Sign Ideas for 2026

The 2026 Philadelphia Marathon is on Sunday, November 22, with runners starting at 7:00 a.m. near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The course runs past Independence Hall, out along Kelly Drive to Manayunk and back the same way, which means your sign gets read twice if you stand in the right place. Here are 32 funny Philadelphia Marathon signs written for this course, sorted by where you'll be standing.

Updated October 2026

Quick answer

The best Philadelphia Marathon signs are about Philly itself and about this course. Our favorites:

• Rocky ran the steps. You're running everything else.
• Kelly Drive: see you twice. Look less tired next time.
• Mile 20 in Manayunk. Everything from here is the way home.
• Cheesesteak at the finish. Probably. Keep going.
• The Liberty Bell cracked. You won't.

On Kelly Drive, make your sign double-sided: one line for the trip out, a new one for the trip back.

Historic district signs (around mile 5)

Runners pass near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell early, while they still have the energy to laugh.

1. The Liberty Bell cracked. You won't.
2. Life, liberty and the pursuit of a PR.
3. Founding fathers never ran 26.2. Just saying.
4. You're making history. Literally, it's right there.
5. Only 21 miles to go. Ben Franklin would have taken a carriage.
6. Smile. You're in a stranger's camera roll now.

University City and Center City signs (miles 6 to 8)

7. Running faster than the 38 bus. Barely.
8. This is the only time Chestnut Street has had a speed limit problem.
9. Philly believes in you. Philly also boos. Don't give us a reason.
10. You paid for this. Get your money's worth.

Kelly Drive signs: the way out (miles 14 to 18)

The course goes out along the Schuylkill River and comes back the same way. Stand near Fountain Green Drive or Laurel Hill Cemetery and you'll see your runner twice, so these lines are for the first pass.

11. Kelly Drive: see you twice. Look less tired next time.
12. Wave now. I'll still be here on the way back.
13. Same river, same sign, see you in an hour.
14. The river is calm. Be like the river.
15. Halfway behind you. Manayunk ahead of you. Snacks are with me.
16. Out-and-back courses are just marathons with a sense of humor.

Manayunk signs (around mile 20)

The turnaround is in Manayunk, so Main Street sees runners twice a few minutes apart. Mile 20 is where a lot of runners meet the wall.

17. Mile 20 in Manayunk. Everything from here is the way home.
18. Turn around. No, really. That's the course.
19. The wall is in Manayunk. You're just visiting.
20. Main Street believes in you. Twice.
21. 6.2 miles left. That's just a Philly 10K with a backstory.

Kelly Drive signs: the way back (miles 22 to 25)

Flip the sign. They've seen the front already.

22. Told you I'd still be here.
23. You look exactly as tired as I hoped. Keep going.
24. Remember me? I'm the one with the snacks.
25. Same sign, new runner. You're doing great.
26. The Art Museum steps are optional today. The finish isn't.

Art Museum finish signs

27. Rocky ran the steps. You're running everything else.
28. Cheesesteak at the finish. Probably. Keep going.
29. Wawa is on you after this. That's the rule.

Signs for your own runner

30. Go [Name]! I woke up at 5 a.m. for four seconds of you. Twice.
31. [Name], you're my favorite person on Kelly Drive.
32. Run, [Name]. Brunch in Fishtown is on you.

Type any of these into our free marathon sign maker, swap in their name and print it tonight.

Sign tips for this course

• Double-sided wins on Kelly Drive. Your runner passes you going out and coming back.
• Short and huge. Five or six words, thick dark letters, light board.
• Check the rules before the finish area. Only clear bags go into the secure start and finish area, and the race posts a prohibited items list. Check the current list on the official site before you carry a big sign in there.
• Tell your runner which side of the road you're on, for both directions.

For where to stand, the times your runner should pass each spot and how to track them, read our Philadelphia Marathon spectator guide 2026. For lines that work at any race, see funny marathon sign ideas. Before race day, you can draw your own art on the Center City grid with our Philadelphia Strava art routes.

After the finish: gifts for your Philly marathoner

• 2026: The Year I Ran 26.2 ornament ($24.99): the race finishes the weekend before Thanksgiving, just in time for the tree.
• 26.2 and Won't Shut Up About It dad hat ($34.99): they won't, and now everyone knows it.
• I Paid to Feel Like This tee (from $34.99): for anyone who paid an entry fee to run to Manayunk and back.

More ideas in our marathon finisher gifts and our guide to the best gifts for marathon runners in 2026. For you, the one holding the sign: Spectator. Trained 0 Miles. Cheered All 26.2. ($34.99) and more support crew gifts.

FAQ

When is the 2026 Philadelphia Marathon?

Sunday, November 22, 2026, with runners starting at 7:00 a.m. Check the official race site the week of the race for updates.

Where should I stand with a sign at the Philadelphia Marathon?

Kelly Drive, because the out-and-back lets your runner read your sign twice. Near Fountain Green Drive they pass around miles 14.7 and 24.6, and near Laurel Hill Cemetery around 17.2 and 22.9.

What is a good sign for the Philadelphia Marathon?

A short Philly joke like "Rocky ran the steps. You're running everything else," or your runner's name in huge letters. On Kelly Drive, put a second line on the back for the return trip.

Keep reading

• Philadelphia Marathon Spectator Guide 2026: Where to Cheer
• Funny NYC Marathon Signs: 40 Sign Ideas for Every Borough
• Funny Marathon Signs: 42 Marathon Sign Ideas for Runners
• Free Marathon Sign Maker

Run & Tell is an independent shop. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Philadelphia Marathon or TIAA. Course details can change, so check the official race website before race day.