Running for Research: A Live Report From the 2025 AACR Philadelphia Marathon Weekend

November 21, 2025 by Steve Schneible

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has been sponsoring the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend for the past eight years, and in tandem with the AACR Runners for Research has arguably made the already-healthy activity of running even healthier by using it to fundraise for cancer research projects.

The road from basic research to tangible patient benefit—that proverbial “bench to bedside” pipeline you’ve probably heard about—is indeed a long one.

To the end of traversing that gap between patient needs and existing therapies, the AACR Foundation’s fundraising group Runners for Research have been, well, running, and they’ve been at it since 2015—making this the official 10-year anniversary of the endeavor. With over $5 million raised by committed individual runners in that time, the program has allowed amateurs and serious competitors alike to raise money in races across the world by creating campaigns for research funding. A race needn’t be sponsored by AACR—so long as an AACR Runner for Research creates a campaign for a race, they can raise money.

This year, Cancer Research Catalyst is sending a correspondent to the marathon weekend: yours truly—who will, in the course of his duties, also be running the half marathon. The idea that the progress against cancer we’d seen could stall or even evaporate was anathema to me. In a nutshell, I figured that, although I don’t have a PhD, I do have a pair of sneakers and a willingness to tolerate some leg pain—so I signed up for the half.

Steve Schneible picks up his bib at the pre-marathon expo, where he happily shared he is running for research funding.

But that is, of course, just one personal motivation among many. I want to find out who’s running, why they’re running, and what it’s like to be an AACR Runner for Research. As the AACR’s literally roving correspondent, I’m here to give you the closest thing you can get to the experience of running in the 2025 Philadelphia Marathon Weekend without ever needing to leave your couch—from live photos of the landmark-laden course to the stories of the tens of thousands who have poured into the city to compete. I plan to speak with all comers who’ve made their way to the City of Brotherly Love this year. Some will be running for research; some, for personal achievement; and others just for the fun of it all.

Last week, Cancer Research Catalyst spoke with Karlie Kisha, the U.S. Olympic field hockey player who competed in the 2024 Paris games mere months after a cancer diagnosis. On Saturday, Karlie is an AACR Runner for Research in the 8K (and at about seven months pregnant, no less!), so stay tuned as we catch up with her before her race, provide the stories of some other runners, and offer a live perspective from the course as I make my way through it.

A Timeline of Steve’s LIVE UPDATES

5:45 a.m. – Warming Tent

Well, it’s a beautiful morning here in Philadelphia, provided you’re a fan of cold rain. Seems like runners are hoping the weather will let up soon as we all hunker down in the warming tent. I spoke with a serious competitor, one of the runners leading the charge in the most elite corral. Jack from New York City, who’s been running competitively for over 25 years, is aiming to finish in an hour and 25 minutes—or 6 minutes and 29 seconds per mile. Yowza!

6:00 a.m. – Warming Tent

The warming tent is heating up as more runners arrive to seek shelter from the elements. I inquired about one bib reading “Patriot Challenge,” an event for those who are itching to run the 8K immediately following their completion of the half marathon. Sam from Connecticut, the Patriot Challenger in question, had this to say about why she signed up for the undertaking: “It seemed like a good idea at the time!”

6:35 a.m. – AACR Runners for Research Tent

The AACR Runners for Research tent is positively abustle. Bill DeWitt from Rhode Island is here in Philadelphia for the fifth time and sporting a long list of people for whom he’s running. “Initially, I didn’t run with the AACR,” he said. “But when I saw what the AACR Runners for Research did, and how they were able to support cancer research, I decided to join them and raise some money for a great cause.”

6:45 a.m. – Gathering at the Starting Line

Along with the rest of the runners, I am heading to the starting corrals.

A dawn shot of the art museum steps for good luck.

6:55 a.m. – Starting Corrals

And here we are in our starting corrals. I spoke with Jeff Smith of Harrisburg, PA, who’s all decked out in AACR Runners for Research gear for his first Philadelphia half marathon. “I’m just glad to be out here for a great cause!” he said.

7:30 a.m. – Half Marathon Begins

And we are off!

7:45 a.m. – Mile Two

Things are off to a great start here, although the serious competitors took off at a pace that suggests they’re already halfway done with the race. The Liberty Bell is off to our left, but for whatever reason, no runners are stopping to have a look.

8:00 a.m. – Mile Four

Your loyal correspondent is beginning to reconsider the pros and cons of maintaining a live blog while running. Luckily, the views of the Delaware river are splendid, and the Talking Heads tracks queued up on the playlist are keeping things moving (although, despite what Mr. Byrne says, I’d rather not be dropped in the water today).

8:26 a.m. – Halfway Point

At six and whatever miles, we’re halfway done, and the long straightaway down Walnut Street is a great reminder of how distinctively pretty a town Philadelphia is. It is also a very flat town, which we’re all feeling grateful for this morning.

8:35 a.m. – Mile 7.5ish

Here we are in University City, where some very committed college students are braving the frost to cheer. It’s worth noting that we’re passing through a veritable hotspot of AACR membership with all the labs on this side of Philly, so I may well be running by some researchers this morning as they head home from their overnight experimental timepoints.

8:55 a.m. – Mile 10.5

Just finished the climb up the hill into East Fairmount Park. In theory: bucolic and life-affirming. In practice: unpleasant.

9:05 a.m. – Mile 11

After some ups and downs, the welcome return to flat road on Kelly Drive is in sight. Time to “lock in,” in the parlance of our times. See you at the finish line.

Steve takes selfie as he nears the end of the race

9:20 a.m. – Finish Line

Approaching the finish line!

And crossing it!

10:30 a.m. – Finish Line Reflections

Well there you have it, folks—that was the view from the half-marathon course at this year’s Marathon Weekend, brought to you by AACR.

As I wait to reconnect with the AACR Runners for Research Olympian, Karlie Kisha, before her 8K, I have a little time to reflect on the experience. Mainly, the big takeaway here is the foreign but very welcome feeling of community I felt in running with the AACR Runners for Research today. I say that feeling is foreign because running is often very lonely. Your own brain needs to get you through what’s fundamentally a somewhat unpleasant experience—there are no teammates who can tap in for you.

But when you’re running on behalf of a cause with other people—people sporting colors and names of loved ones that remind you of why you’ve decided to do this—the sense of shared experience rubs off on you. You go a little faster. The pain eases a bit.

10:40 a.m. – Reconnecting With Karlie Kisha

And speaking of team sports, here’s Karlie with her husband, Josh, who’ll be running with her!

“I’m excited, I’m ready—let’s do this!” she said, warming up. “I’m glad I have Josh with me today, since I’m running while so pregnant.”

Is Josh a habitual runner? “Not at all,” he said, laughing. “I roped him in!” Karlie added.

“Running for the sake of running is still pretty new to me, as someone from a competitive team sports background, but the AACR Runners for Research definitely makes this feel more like a group endeavor,” she said.

Asked if she had sights on anything beyond today’s 8K, Karlie had her answer locked and loaded: “definitely a marathon next time.” With the AACR Runners for Research? “Absolutely!” she said, with no hesitation.