"When you have 30,000 people out, flat course, tremendously scenic, all the great neighborhoods that runners get to go through, the crowds that come out to cheer the runners on, it's a spectacular event," Mayor Michael Nutter said.
Security was tight along the course, forcing both runners and spectators to arrive early.
However an incident-free two hours, 17 minutes and 35 seconds after the start, Abebe Mekuriya of Ethiopia crossed the finish line.
He was followed by Tesfaye Dube.
Third place went to Nicholas Hilton, a Reading native, competing in his very first marathon.
"We started to break away about 15, 16 miles, the pack started to thin out. About 20 [miles] it was just the three of us. I figured I had a spot at least in the top three or four," Hilton said.
The women's winner was Irina Alexandrova, whose coach won this race in 2006.
"She was running alone. I think it was a great result. Thank you so much for the great race," agent Larisa Mikhaylova said.
While the elite runners take home the prize money, many others were just as proud of their medals.
Those like Erin O'Donnell, who finished her marathon in just over five hours. She dedicated her run to a friend's daughter who died of cancer.
"I'm running for Team Lemon for Alex's Lemonade Stand, raising funds for pediatric cancer research," said O'Donnell.
Even for those runners who didn't make a record time, they are still proud of their accomplishments.
Official results
Below are the top 5 finishers in all the Philadelphia Marathon catagories:
Men's Division Marathon
Abebe Mekuriya, City Falls, NY 2:17:35
Tesfaye Dube, New York, NY 2:18:15
Nicholas Hilton, Flagstaff, AZ 2:19:36
Birhanu Mekonnen, Washington, DC 2:19:59
Abiyot Endale, Bronx, NY 2:20:55
Women's Division Marathon
Irina Alexandrova, Hebron, KY 2:39:06
Tezeta Dengersa, Washington, DC 2:40:13
Meseret Basa, New York, NY 2:40:51
Aregash Abate, High Falls, NY 2:42:41
Amanda Marino, Jackson, NJ 2:43:57
Men's Masters Division Marathon
Jae Yung Hyung, Alburquerque, NM 2:24:40
Rich Burke, Morristown, NJ 2:31:20
Ray Pugsley, Potomac Falls, VA 2:34:06
Doug Fernandez, Richmond, VA 2:37:49
Women's Masters Division Marathon
Mary Pardi, Falmouth, ME 2:53:39
Myriam Grenon, Longueuil, QC, Canada 2:59:16
Catherine Spiess, New Albany, OH 3:06:15
Kim Redden, Ottawa, MB Canada 3:06:45
Men's Wheelchair Marathon
Grant Berthiaume, Tuscon, AZ 2:04:26
Men's Division Half Marathon
Elijah Karanja Hebron, KY 1:02:59
Direba Yigezu New York, NY 1:03:23
Jordan Chipangama Flagstaff, AZ 1:03:28
Yonas Mebrahtu East Flagstaff, AZ 1:03:53
Henry Rutto Royersford, PA 1:04:10
Women's Division Half Marathon
Rkia El Moukim Queens, NY 1:10:53
Adrienne Herzog, Boulder, CO 1:12:59
Jane Murage, Royersford, PA 1:12:59
Ingrid Mollenkopf, Flower Mound, TX 1:13:04
Allison Mendez, Austin, TX 1:13:47
Men's Masters Half Marathon
Eric Shafer, Pittsburgh, PA 1:13:21
Paul Thompson, Peekskill, NY 1:13:23
Kevin Beugless, Media, PA 1:17:05
Martin Fontaine, Otterburn Park, QC Canada 1:17:51
Women Masters Half Marathon
Vicky Jasparro Fredericksburg, VA 1:25:24
Jill Tenny, Harrisburg, PA 1:21:24
Susanne Vanzijl, Elkton, MD 1:29:49
Vicki Boyer, Elizabethtown, PA 1:29:42
Men's Wheelchair Half Marathon
Shannon Franks, College Park, MD 1:09:53
Daniel Wheeler, Shamong, NJ 2:11:44
Women's Wheelchair Half Marathon
Michelle Wheeler, New York, NY 1:30:51
