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More than 20 Cheer Zones for spectators will be set up along the course. (Photo by R. Kennedy)

The Philadelphia Marathon returns this weekend with three-days of activity, capped by the main event on Sunday. This year the city-wide race is bigger than it’s ever been, with 20,000 runners participating and spanning over 26 miles of various neighborhoods and landmarks.

Click here to download the course map (PDF).

The Marathon is for more than just hardcore runners, with a weekend of exciting events free and open to the public, including the Philadelphia Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, the Rothman Institute 8K, the Half Marathon and more than 20 fan Cheer Zones.

Friday and Saturday: Health & Fitness Expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center
Friday: noon to 7pm; Saturday: 10am to 7pm

The Expo includes:

- exhibits, events and seminars offering expert advice from leaders in the field

- approximately 70 vendors showcasing the latest in running gear

- the Verizon Kids Fun Run: a short-distance, non-competitive event for future Philadelphia Marathoners ages 4-12

- the Discount Fan Pass, containing deals and discounts to nearly 100 participating shops and restaurants

Sunday: The Philadelphia Marathon and Fan Cheer Zones
Start time and location: 7am at 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway

The Philadelphia Marathon spans many different neighborhoods throughout the city and luckily there are Cheer Zones strategically located in nearly all of them!

Cheer Zones are a great way to participate in the 2009 Philadelphia Marathon Weekend events and feature unobstructed, transportation accessible, fan-friendly “perches” to catch all of the race activity.

(Photo by. R. Kennedy)

Check out the full list of all 20 Cheer Zones after the jump.

Philadelphia Marathon Cheer Zone locations:

Click here to download a map (PDF) of the Cheer Zones.

* Mile 1: 16th & Arch streets at Café Cret; Experience the spectacle of ‘bigger than life’ puppets, provided by Spiral Q Puppet Theater.

* Mile 2: 4th & Arch streets at the Holiday Inn Philadelphia – Historic District

* Mile 3: Washington Avenue & Front Street

* Mile 4: Front & South streets near Downey’s Pub; featuring Fralinger String Band

* Mile 4.5: 4th & South streets; say hi to the Crash Bang Boom Mascot & grab a complimentary hot beverage from Philadelphia Java Company

* Mile 5: 6th & Chestnut streets; put on your tri-corner hats, and join Philadelphia’s colonial characters

* Mile 6: Broad & Chestnut streets; listen to the West Philadelphia Orchestra and enjoy a complimentary hot beverage when you flash your Fan Pass at Marathon (formerly Marathon Grill).

* Mile 6.5: 21st & Chestnut streets at Caffeination Coffee House, Phillyjobs.com Cheer Zone

* Mile 7.5: 34st & Chestnut streets; the Geico Cheer Zone, with Drexel University’s mascot and University of Pennsylvania’s cheerleaders

* Mile 8: 34th Street & Fairmount Avenue

* Mile 8.5: 34th Street & Girard Avenue at the Philadelphia Zoo; check out the Zoo on Wheels

* Mile 9: Landsdowne & Sweet Briar Roads

* Mile 11: King Drive & Disabled Rowers’ Boathouse/Turnaround on MLK Drive; Vaudevillains New Year’s Mummers Brigade

* Miles 13 & finish line: Philadelphia Museum of Art near Eakins Oval; the Bank of America Cheer Zone – do some yoga with LuLu Lemon Athletica

* Miles 14: Sedgley & Lemon Hill Drives; say hi to fans from Archbishop Prendergast High School & Philadelphia KiXX dancers and mascot, SoccoRoo the kangaroo!

* Miles 14.5 & 24.5: Kelly Drive & Fountain Green Drive

* Miles 16.5 & 23.5: Kelly Drive at St. Joseph’s Boathouse

* Miles 17 & 23: Hunting Park & Kelly Drive at Laurel Hill Cemetery

* Miles 17.5 & 22: Kelly Drive & Midvale Avenue; check out the Betty Iron Thumbs band

* Miles 18.5 & 21: Main Street & Ridge Avenue; 97.5 BEN FM with music and games

* Mile 19.5 & 20: Main Street & Cotton at Lebus

* Mile 20: Main Street & Carson; The Turnaround, look for the Laurel Cheadle band