The Wissahickon Trail Classic is back for National Trails Day

Posted 5/18/23

After a three-year hiatus due to COVID, the Wissahickon Trail Classic (WTC), one of the region’s premier 10K trail races, is back and ready to welcome hundreds of runners.

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The Wissahickon Trail Classic is back for National Trails Day

Posted

After a three-year hiatus due to COVID, the Wissahickon Trail Classic (WTC), one of the region’s premier 10K trail races, is back and ready to welcome hundreds of runners to the Wissahickon Valley Park on Saturday, June 3. And, for the first time, the event will benefit Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW).

The WTC, which always takes place on National Trails Day, was established in 2006 by the Wissahickon Wanderers Running Club to highlight the park as one of the best trail-running destinations on the East Coast. It’s a great opportunity to highlight what runners love about the Wissahickon: well-maintained, challenging trails in a stunning natural environment.

Trail running gives participants a chance to experience a feeling of solitude and concentration they may not get in a city setting, with all the noise and distractions that come with it. Enjoy a great race through an urban forest, enjoying all that the park has to offer while knowing that with each stride you make you’re also helping the 99-year-old FOW continue to make strides in its stewardship of the Wissahickon. 

Each year, FOW makes improvements to over 20 miles of trails. Every project, large and small, is an investment in the park’s trail system. This stewardship directly improves the water quality of the Wissahickon Creek, a source of drinking water for one in three Philadelphians, as well as the experience of the park’s two million annual visitors. 

Here’s what you need to know:

The 10K trail race and 1-mile family-friendly nature walk begin at 8:30 a.m. on West Northwestern Avenue at Forbidden Drive. To increase inclusivity and representation for the diverse community running the Wissahickon Wanderer’s races, WTC has updated its race divisions and registration process to include a non-binary category for both adults and children. 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of National Trails Day, first organized by the American Hiking Society to bring together trail enthusiasts of all ages while “honoring those who help maintain and preserve hiking trails for everyone to enjoy” - like FOW. 

Consider becoming a sponsor

Thank you to our early partners Newrez, Univest Financial, Prentiss Smith & Co., La Sportiva, Green Mountain Energy, Urban Athlete, and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Sponsorship of the Wissahickon Trail Classic offers valuable opportunities to connect with thousands of health and fitness enthusiasts, as well as spectators, fans, and more. 

To register for the race, go to fow.org/wissahickontrailclassic. For more information, call 215-381-2942 or email Sarah Marley at marley@fow.org.

Ruffian Tittmann

Executive Director, Friends of the Wissahickon