Franklin Institute debuts SportsZone

Running in museums: Typically prohibited.

Running in the Franklin Institute's recently renovated SportsZone: Totally encouraged.

When the 3,600-square-foot, 21-interactive-activity, new-gym-smelling permanent exhibit reopens to the public Saturday, expect a long line for "Athletes in Action." The 40-foot dash lets two visitors compete side-by-side against virtual versions of (choose one!) Eagles WR Jordan Matthews, wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden, a marathon runner, a Paralympic sprinter or the comparatively slow yet surprisingly speedy (considering that tummy) Phillie Phanatic.

Wanna guess which runner most guests are gonna pick?

Preopening testers have most often selected the big, green Galapagosian. After all, no one's winning against McFadden. A few runners, however, according to the Institute's chief bioscientist and lead exhibit developer, Jayatri Das, have kept up with marathoner Dawn Grunnagle. Over 40 feet. Not in an actual marathon. Grunnagle would have you there.

The space faces Ben Franklin Parkway on the Institute's third floor. It opened 15 years ago as the Sports Challenge, then closed this spring to undergo a $3.1 million, in-house overhaul. It still aims at families with kids ages 8 to 13. Most activities are ADA accessible.

A hardwood basketball court-like floor (one half still has AstroTurf), tons of touch-screen technology and five white plastic benches that play sports announcer Merrill Reese's voice when you sit on them.

There's a pitching cage where you can record your toss, then compare it with that of Taney Dragons pitching coach Dewey LaRosa. There's a giant action shot of Mo'ne Davis to get you motivated.

Advances in equipment - better shoes, better prostheses, better helmets, a better swimsuit - are on display. So are advances in eating and drinking. (Gatorade might be for sale in Institute vending machines, but the exhibit says it's not the best way to hydrate before a jog.) Exhibits teach how skis, bike gears, high dives, golf balls, soccer balls and calories work. Knees, too.

Still there, but now refurbished, are the basketball running jump and waterless ride-on surfboard.

No longer there? Shaquille O'Neal. "Kids were asking us who he was," said Das.

Also gone is the Wall of Fame and its photos of pro athletes, a few of whom have been caught doing things they shouldn't have been doing. Replacing them are more current athletes, both unknown and known, who don't seem likely to get into much trouble.

Local basketballers Brandy Batch, formerly of the Philadelphia Belles, and Nerlens Noel, currently of the Sixers, for example. Longtime Phillie Chase Utley, who wouldn't dare ditch our team before getting caught up in a postseason dirty-slide controversy. Right?

Lots of lessons to be learned here:

Eat right. Drink right. Suit up right. Stretch right. Study lots. Practice lots.

Also, the only thing you can count on in sports is change.

SportsZone, Franklin Institute, 20th Street and Ben Franklin Parkway, opens 9:30 a.m. Saturday (first 500 visitors free; first 100 visitors receive orange foam fingers), $19.95, $15.95 ages 3-11, free under 3, 215-448-1200, fi.edu.