Savage finished third last year in 2 hours, 26 minutes, 2 seconds, and the 31-year-old expects the times to be even better this year.
"They changed the course this year, taking out one of the hills, so the times should be lower," said Savage, who instead will run in the half marathon that goes off at the same time as the 26.2-mile race.
"This course is mostly flat and fast," Savage said, "so runners in good shape should really do well."
City Representative Melanie Johnson, the executive director of the Philadelphia Marathon, said that construction on Kelly Drive forced the elimination of Lemon Hill from the course. But Johnson said she does not expect the change to alter the enthusiasm of the competitors.
"These are incredible people," she said of the 11,000 runners expected to take off at the start/finish line at 22d Street on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. "It's going to be another great day for the city."
The 17th annual Philadelphia Marathon is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. Sunday. The half marathon has 9,000 registered runners, and 3,000 runners are expected to take part in Saturday's Rothman Institute 8-kilometer run.
More than 50,000 spectators are expected to line the course to watch the marathon runners, organizers said. The male and female winners will receive $3,500 each.
John Crews of Raleigh, N.C., won last year's event in 2:17:15, and Jutta Merilainen of Ontario, Canada, was the top woman finisher, in 2:46:44.
The marathon course runs through Center City to Penn's Landing, University City, and Manayunk before winding along Kelly Drive and back to the Art Museum.
Philadelphia Marathon On Sunday
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