Hey, I'm going to be at a conference for like a week in downtown Philadelphia. Can someone tell me if it is safe for me to run from the convention center (essentially -- I'll be staying at the attached mariott) straight down market street and then north on the river trail for about 3 miles (out and back)? I would probably be alone although if you thought I should I could make my husband to decrease his pace to run with me.

It's about a mile down market street to get to the river and from the satellite view on googlemaps it looks like it has a sidewalk.

Any help?

This is the link to the route I'm proposing to take:

URL for this route is: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3811206

I work in downtown Philly right where you are talking about, and I WOULD NOT run anywhere in Philly alone unless the sun was up. After the sun goes down, even center city where all the businesses are can get shady, because the professionals go home to the suburbs for the day. The best places to run after dusk would be Old City (2nd and Market, by Penns Landing) since it's a lot of young people and they stay out until 2 or 3am, so it's always busy and mostly safe. I would not run by yourself anywhere at any time in Fairmount Park, even when the sun is high in the sky. With your husband, yes.

I love this city, but it can get crazy at times. Not like Manhattan (NY) where I feel safe leaving a bar at 4am!

Hmmm... What about in the early morning? Like starting out around 5:30 or 6 am? Are the crazies out EARLY?

Thanks for the help, by the way! I was hoping that I'd find a Chick who could help me out. It'll be week 7 of my 1/2 marathon training and I need a 7 mile long run. I really don't want to do it on the treadmill -- and if they want to charge me $20/day for access to the fitness center I will flip.the.****.out. (Disclosure: I don't know for sure if they charge for the fitness center, but it seems like more and more places are these days.)

Sure! My best advice to you would be to just run straight down Market street, then back up again. That will be the safest for you. Stay between 2nd (Penns Landing) and 30th (Drexel University) along Market- don't go beyond 30th street. If that stretch is only a mile, you're really better off doing that stretch 7 times, rather than trying to make it interesting and going off on different roads. Maybe in another city, but not here.

So you're staying in the Marriott downtown? I LOVE their Liberty Ballroom and hope maybe my fiance and I will be able to book it for our wedding reception soon! That's a great hotel.

I thought I'd weigh in here. I work one block from the convention center & live in the city. I feel perfectly safe in the city, day or night, but I know where I'm going so it's easier for me.

As for safety, your route is perfectly safe during day time hours.
Center City is very, very safe.

However, I must warn you, the run from Market Street to the river is kind of boring. You will have to contend with traffic lights along the way. Once you get near the parkway, you will have to cross gigantic intersections.

Just run towards the Art Museum and once you get there, run the path along your right.

But once you get to the river and Kelly Drive, the run is pure bliss. It's gorgeous and the path is wide and pleasant. There is also the River Walk which connects from 23rd and Locust to the Art Museum. It's a fantastic path that connects to Kelly Drive, but ask for directions at the hotel. It is not well marked.

You can also run along Penn's Landing. It isn't nearly as pretty or as long as Kelly Drive, but you might want a change of pace.

I hope you enjoy your week in Philly. I have lived here most of my life & it's a wonderful city. Check out Yelp Philadelphia if you want suggestions for places to eat. The Philly Yelpers know their stuff. Also, pick up the City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly. These free weeklies have listings of the many events going on in the city.

Enjoy your week in the city...