The Wissahickon Trail Classic is Back!
By Laura Feragen
Photo courtesy of Wissahickon Wanderers
On your mark, get set, go – on June 3, National Trails Day
The 10K trail race and 1 mile family-friendly nature walk begin at 8:30 a.m. on West Northwestern Avenue at Forbidden Drive.
Click here to register!
After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, 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.
“FOW is thrilled to be the beneficiary of this iconic trail race and to engage with the active running community in our region,” said Ruffian Tittmann, FOW’s executive director. “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 concrete, 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. And what better day to raise visibility of our work than on National Trails Day,” said Tittmann.
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.
“Our club is more than just runners; we’re a group of civic-minded and environmentally conscious individuals who are so appreciative of and get so much from having a place as special as the Wissahickon that we need to give something back,” said Melanie Wright, WTC’s race director for 2023. “We want to help preserve it for future generations and we know that it requires our financial support, so we’re thrilled to show our love for the park in this way.”
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 learn more, call 215-381-2942 or email Sarah Marley at marley@fow.org.
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. Thank you for supporting FOW’s work to improve the more than 50 miles of trails that run through the 1,800-acre Wissahickon Valley Park.