I am no longer in support of this run. They are run by irresponsible people. As an avid runner, I do look into how runs are managed because it is a reflection of what the race director(s) stand for. However, I am very disappointed in how these people are handling the COVID situation. They are refusing refunds and offering only two options: deferral or run virtually. 1. Why would I pay full price to essentially go on a "training" run? Stop and go traffic, no awesome people cheering and being fun and supportive, etc. 2. You cannot possibly expect people to know their schedule this far in advance? 3. You cannot expect people to still feel secure and safe in March 2021 I sent an email requesting refund since I have no idea what's going on March 2021 or 2022. They sent me some generic response (screen shot posted) with a link to runner's world for me to look at for reasons why most races have no refund policy. This is hilarious (and lazy of them) because that policy only makes sense when I am the one cancelling for the date I actually signed up for. I know this because I bailed on two races due to unexpected hospitalizations and never asked for refund... So I respond to them outlining how Pittsburgh Marathon and Philadelphia Marathon offered refunds so it is indeed a viable option and to please reconsider. No response. There is nothing uneeasonable with giving people option of refund under such circumstances; when coast is clear for 2021, people will just re-register. It's not like this is a lottery run. "We are doing our best to provide you with as many options as possible.." That is comical because they only provide two.... technically three: defer; virtual, or let LR/CGI keep your money. Other races have offers: defer, virtual, refund, donation. That's four whopping choices without being dishonest! Double the options! Try harder, CGI because you clearly aren't trying hard enough. As for the other races that are managed more honestly/responsibly, I am absolutely re-registering. This gets better. On their facebook webpage they are deleting comments that mention their refund refusal. Any comments that are remotely close to constructive criticism they remove. Examples: "Is there an option for refund?" "Why is there not a refund option?" "Can you offer more swag for virtual run vs just medal/shirt?" ^All deleted, instead of addressing them professionally like a "business." And of course they deleted rants like mine. And they were all rated G rants... including mine. This was nail on the coffin for me. I get this is "business," but even business need to address questions/concerns/complaints. I have never gone to a restaurant and asked staff, "Does this have cilantro?" and they just give me a blank stare and walked away. This is run by some shady people. So I have a wild guess: Race Directors irresponsibly managed race funds and squandered away all their money they made from registration. Now they have nothing. It has nothing to do with "other major races have no refund policy." It's because CGI/Love Run literally cannot afford to.. and instead of addressing this, they delete any comment that doesn't praise them. Legitimate races have reserves for emergencies. I also have never encountered a business where I say something like, "I ordered this in black, not grey" and they go, "Sorry! We already spent what you gave us!" But then again, in LR's case, they would just hide and not respond. Regardless of how much one paid for the run, or if they can "afford" to bite the cost or not, it all about principle. They claim to care about well-being and safety, but they fact they are forcing one to run during these times negates their claim. They could have just made up something like, "We are a smaller organization and dont have funds / resources that larger runs have" and I would have kept my mouth shut. I'm definitely not supporting this run ever again, and neither is my fiance or my other running buddies. read more

Love Run Half Marathon - Lmao excuses excuses. - Races & Competitions Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Ever since running my first 5K back in 2014(the now defunct chickie's and pete's boardwalk run) I've always wanted to reach that half-marathon status. I wanted to see what it took to push through that many miles and come out victorious. Am I up to it ? Am I a strong enough runner ? Don't you have to be elite to do that sort of thing ?? Self doubt and questioning of my ability as a runner crept in & pretty much kept me focused mainly on 5k's, 10k's and an ocassional 10miler(looking @ you broad street) The day my 2nd child was born I noticed an email come through. "love run half marathon register now !" I'm sitting up 3am in the hospital room with my wife ... my newborn son was sleeping in her arms. hmmmm Love Run ... I have a new Love in my life ... I always wanted to do a 1/2. The gears starting turning. I'll Run the love Run for a new love in my life. I need a new Goal. (does it sound lame ?) well, it made sense to me at the time so I went ahead and registered. Looking back, it sounds damn near insane as well as a bit ocd ... I mean god knows how little sleep I was about to have or the time I'll have to train with a newborn at home. wtf was I thinking ?? Well, in the end it all seemed to work out. I even went as far as starting a vlog on youtube to record the process and to keep me motivated. The audible app also became my go-to for daily motivation ...with such reads as "My year of running dangerously" & "Finding Ultra" haven't read them ? check them out. This review is getting long winded so I'll cut to the chase. Race expo was a breeze, I got in and out within 10-15 minutes (The reading market was calling me) Race day arrived and with that history was made. The positive atmosphere, sights and sounds ... The entire experience was unforgettable. Approaching and then crossing the finish line while hearing my name called out over the PA will stay with me forever.... For those few seconds, I was in the moment. It's difficult to put words to it honestly. It just felt so right. I'm not sure if I'll ever get the chance to run a half again but if I do, I'd sign back up for the love run in a heartbeat. I truly loved the entire process. btw the coffee mug is badass. . . the medal too. read more

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Love Run March 2014: Personally, this was a very exciting and unforgettable race experience. It was my very first half marathon. Not just I finished the 13.1 miles; I finished it in a monsoon! I was very determined, motivated and mentally encouraged. Now, I have something to remember for the rest of my life. 10,000 of strong runners and I, were running the streets of Philadelphia. We started and finished our race near the Museum of Art at the Eakins Oval. I think there were more than 2000 volunteers helping us get to finish. Without their push I might have quit. I'd like to send a big huge thank you, you guys were incredible. Hydration station where very frequent, and they had water, Gatorade and GU. I LOVE/ed the LOVE run. I even registered for 2015! But wasn't able to run at the last minute! And what's not to love? We were given a bag, and in the lovely bag, I got FREE Phillies tickets, yes FREE! Beer lovers, listen to this, there was a FREE beer- Oh yeah! For us coffee lovers, I got a coffee mug- Double Oh yeah! Last year, we all got that beautiful black high-tech t-shirt, and this year, we got even more beautiful red long sleeves T-shirt. And that's why they call it "the race that loves you back". Love and five Yelps! read more

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This was not my favorite race. Maybe it's because it was brutally cold. Maybe it's because of the lack of supporting crowds. Maybe it's because I shouldn't have eaten that extra slice of cake the night before.... OK, I wasn't as prepared as I should have been. The rather dull run up and down the Schuylkill -- like every other race in Philadelphia -- didn't help. Neither did the long wait in the cold at the start line. The final straw was the beer tag falling off my bib during the race. I didn't realize this until waiting 20 minutes in line for beer afterward. They refused to give me a beer, despite my explanation, and I walked away annoyed, cold, and defeated. You get some nice gear: A coffee cup and a lightweight running shirt. It's also a half marathon in March. And right in the city. So there's that. read more

Excellent event! Great atmosphere. I didn't feel crowded. Lovely run through the heart of Philadelphia. Such an iconic location with the Art Museum and the "Rocky Stairs". I may have just lucked out with a beautiful day, but I would highly recommend this for new and experienced runners. There was a 7.6k and a half marathon being run at this event which was nice. read more

This was a very well organized half marathon. Considering the number of participants, they definitely operate like a well oiled machine. Bib pick up was easy and fast, there were lots of useful, relevant vendors at the expo, and the item claim area was well organized and fast. The course is well marked with regular water stations and porta-potties if you need. There was really only one big hill which was a big relief for me as I'm a pretty mediocre runner. One big bummer, I never got my post-race beer! Le sad. read more

This was my 2nd half marathon and I absolutely loved it. It's great to run the streets of Philadelphia and see the sights from that perspective. If you're looking for a race with a lot of spectator support, this is not the race for you. There are pockets, but for the majority of it, there are few to no spectators. I think Love Run has has two years of weather issues. Obviously, they can't control that. But it made the expo very unenjoyable since it was at the ballpark and primarily outdoors. Race day was a blistering 27 degrees and we got some wnd off the river. I finally warmed up by mile 10, though that may have been my slow pace. :) The race is very well organized and for someone who is more of a back of the packer there was plenty of food, drink, and sepctators. The race announcer was fabulous. He announced your name as you finished and he sounded just as energic three hours later. Very impressive. I may sign up for this race again. It's fairly flat, minus a couple hilly points around mile 7-9. It's a great way to keep your self in shape over the winter. read more