| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| H (°F) | 56 | 61 | 73 | 62 | 58 |
| L (°F) | 44 | 55 | 62 | 44 | 41 |
This race has a generous cut off and has pacers up to 7 hours. The weekend is very well planned and runs smoothly. The course goes throughout Pittsburgh and would … MORE
This race has a generous cut off and has pacers up to 7 hours. The weekend is very well planned and runs smoothly. The course goes throughout Pittsburgh and would make for a great long weekend to enjoy the race and the host city!
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This course is a fun way to see the city and a good challenge. The first half you’re with the half marathoners and you get to see the stadiums, great … MORE
This course is a fun way to see the city and a good challenge. The first half you’re with the half marathoners and you get to see the stadiums, great views of the city and a good amount of crowd support.
As you breakaway from the half runners, things quiet down and the hills get a little bigger. The race even has ‘hill runners’ to help run with you up the big long hill going into Oakland. While the second half is quieter, you still get crowds and great aid stations. You get to see some of the other neighborhoods in the city which is neat. The hills are tough but not anything that made me stop in my tracks steep.
Race weather can be cold and rainy or sunny and warm — you just never know! Often it’s a combo! Overall great race with a good expo, good feel and excitement from the city. Whether tourist or local, it’s a fun race to do. Race day logistics aren’t overly complicated or crowded which is nice!
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It was an honor to return to my hometown to run my first half marathon! I've been a short distance runner for years, doing 5Ks and a few 10Ks here … MORE
It was an honor to return to my hometown to run my first half marathon! I’ve been a short distance runner for years, doing 5Ks and a few 10Ks here and there. But I ran my first 10 Miler in DC in October, and it inspired me to try a half marathon. My training was truly down to the wire, as I was dealing with some hamstring strains back in March, but after some PT, I was able to do enough training to be ready. My goal was simply to run the whole thing without having to walk or stop, and I was able to reach it! First, the atmosphere at the race was electric and so positive. I was super nervous beforehand, and after walking out of a neighborhood church (which was extending their building for bathroom use), a priest standing outside said hello and asked to pray for me before I ran. I was really touched by that! Thousands of people lined the streets to cheer, hold hilarious signs, and to even perform music for those running by. I had read before that this was a particularly hilly course, but honestly, I didn’t think it was that bad. I remember maybe two or three hills before that last, renown stretch at mile 11, but the rest of it is relatively flat. I think as long as you’re incorporating at least some long(ish), gradual hills (not necessarily steep) in your training, you’ll be fine. The stretch at the finish line was almost surreal. Thousands of people were cheering, and it almost felt like a movie! If I were to describe the atmosphere of this race, it would be electric, positive, and extremely welcoming. The only critique I have is that it didn’t have nearly enough port-a-potties. I saw people waiting in line for them everywhere – even in the middle of the race! I promised myself ahead of time that I’d rather pee myself than have to stop (and thankfully, it never came to that.) But seriously – you should have double the port-a-potties next time! If you are a first timer, this is definitely a good race for you. The key is to start slow, keep slow, and speed up if you have any left in your tank toward the end.
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Overall I really enjoyed participating in the race experience here. THE EXPO: Pretty good overall with a large variety of vendors... Garmin, Nuun, Air Force, Army, local service providers and … MORE
Overall I really enjoyed participating in the race experience here.
THE EXPO:
Pretty good overall with a large variety of vendors… Garmin, Nuun, Air Force, Army, local service providers and running stores. Most booth gave away swag. There are a few things they could do to improve the experience: 1) give the shirt and check bag with the bib to eliminate cues and congestion… as is, the runner needs to hunt these locations down at the site.
THE RACE:
It was every thing I expected. The race routed across the 3 rivers using 3 separate bridges. It also took you by every professional sports venue in the city (Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park, Highmark Field and PPG Paints Arena) and past the 2 iconic inclines.
The final 3 miles were TOUGH!!! A major incline on the final bridge. It was devastating to see the marathoners start their decent while I was only half way up the bridge. Shortly after the bridge there is a pretty substantial hill where they had hill runners to motivate and challenge you.
Since the race website did not include the elevation graph for the event I did not know how to train properly.
Improvement points:
1) Please add the elevation charts to the race website.
2) Please allow runners to shift to later corrals. I registered the same day using the same estimated time as a friend and we got place in different corrals. The race marshal did not let us switch and run together.
3) A printed race guide would be appreciated… it is handy and could be kept as a momentum.
Nevertheless, this is an iconic race… and one of my favorite races so far! Thank you Pittsburgh for putting on an amazing event.
The Pittsburgh Marathon is extremely well run. Everything from their app, to the expo, to pre-race, to post race was excellent. Mile markers had timers at every mile so it … MORE
The Pittsburgh Marathon is extremely well run. Everything from their app, to the expo, to pre-race, to post race was excellent. Mile markers had timers at every mile so it was easy to see your pace. Fireworks at the start of each wave was an exciting way to go.
This race is very hilly, especially on the back half. Starting with a climb at mile 12, there are various long steady inclines through mile 21. Although there is some decline on the back sides, it is not as easilly apparent (at least to me) as the inclines. A severe decline at mile 23 doesn’t seem to make up for all the hills from mile 12.
Crowd support was excellent and rivals any of the big city races like Minneapolis, Chicago, or Cincinnati that I have run.
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This was my very first half marathon. The first half went quick and was pretty nice. The 2nd half is where you get some of the hills which aren't that … MORE
This was my very first half marathon. The first half went quick and was pretty nice. The 2nd half is where you get some of the hills which aren’t that bad. I unfortunately wasn’t able to train like I wanted to for this so for me, I wasn’t ready for any type of hill. But overall the course was great! A lot of people were able to beat their PR! The crowd support was nice and definitely gives you a good push when you need it most. The expo was amazing! I’ve done the 5k before and both years I’ve gone to the expo, it’s been pretty well done! The “after party” wasn’t too bad either. Overall I recommend this race whether you are a beginner or have been doing these for years 🙂 Already can’t wait for next year!
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I'll tell you what - this course kicked my 🍑, but I loved every minute of it. Let's do this! 👊🏼EXPO! The expo had a lot of vendors and a … MORE
I’ll tell you what – this course kicked my 🍑, but I loved every minute of it. Let’s do this!
👊🏼EXPO! The expo had a lot of vendors and a nice variety of them, too. I saw a lady selling pierogi across from a moonshine stand. Only one place selling gutters, too. 😄😄 (See my review for Boston for more on that.) Raw Threads had an awesome shirt (a few, actually) but the RUN STEEL CITY design was phenomenal. You should check them out at http://www.rawthreads.com .
The expo was easy to get to – it was at the convention center in downtown. Not a big fuss. The weather was gorgeous on Saturday when I went so it was a beautiful walk to get there.
Packet pick-up was simple – tell them your number, get your bib. T-shirt pick-up was behind them and they had a place to exchange shirts if you wanted to. (I did. I like baggy shirts.)
They had a stage for guest speakers but I didn’t hang around for them. It was so nice outside. They had a lot of places for photo ops around the expo, too.
The only critique that I had was that they didn’t give us a bag for the shirt and bib. The relay runners seemed to have them from the FedEx sponsor, but the rest of us had to buy something from someone or just stuff the bib in the polybag in which the shirt was wrapped (no handle.) A small gripe but just an FYI.
👊🏼 START LINE: We stayed at the Westin which is adjacent to the convention center. Signs for the corrals were right outside out door. We were in A but decided to run with friends in corral B. There was a massive line for the portapotties between A and B as we walked over. When I met my friend in B, he said “I’m in line for the bathroom.” I thought “great. It’ll be an hour before he’s here.” My other friend said “there’s portapotties over there, maybe he’s in those.” So fear not, my friends! there are plenty of portapotties if you spread out a little more.
👊🏼THE COURSE: From reading other posts here, I knew that this would be hilly. I just naively thought that my bouts in St. Louis and Boston would have prepared me for them. Nope. Not even close. I run a lot and am no stranger to endurance events but man- these hills are just relentless. 😄😄 It was flat once. Everything else: you’re either going up or down. Twice, we were doing downhill but the road was sloped in the opposite direction of an upcoming turn and I said to my friend “man, even the downhills are uphill!” Important notes: 🚨 Mile 12.5 is the beast hill. I swear it’s a solid mile of uphill but the race has this great thing: “HILL HELPERS” (or something like that.) These wonderful souls who run with you and try to keep you motivated as you climb this beast! How delightful! All day, they go up and down this thing. Isn’t that nice? 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Bravo to these people and to the race directors for thinking about this! This was wonderful! 🚨 You will be rewarded for that climb at mile 22 or 23 on the most glorious downhill you will ever know. It’s not a quad-crushing, steep downhill like the first 10K at Boston – it’s just a really nice, fast (and long) downhill. Take what it gives you.
💧 Water stations were about 1.5 miles at the start. It seemed that they became more frequent as the race went on. That may have been my imagination. They have Nuun drink first, then water second. I love when the races stay consistent with this from table to table. I’m not a fan of the Nuun so I carry my BCAAs with me and refill my bottle at one of the water stations. (which probably cost me some time, but my thighs needed a little rest anyway.) They seemed to be a little light on volunteers in the first few stations but I usually skip those and volunteers are hard to come by. I was happier to have them at the end of the race anyway.
🍌🍊 Throughout the course, spectators, neighbors, local clubs and organizations, etc. were handing out treats. The race had some sort of gel packs about every 3 miles or so (don’t quote me on that) after mile 6 The crowd support was fantastic. The German club at mile 2 was great. Up on the hill playing their traditional music. I loved it.
🎽🏅 The shirt was a long-sleeved tech shirt. Ladies got a v-neck. I’m 5’7″ and weigh 140 lbs. I got a large shirt because I like them baggy. The medal is also a beast. It’s weighs 9 ounces (that’s more than a half a pound.)
👊🏼 I wanted to sub-4 every marathon that I run but I seriously underestimated these hills. And it’s all good – I had a blast at this race this weekend. I’m a sucker for architecture and industrial American history so I caught myself sight-seeing a couple of times on this course and had to remind myself that I was in the middle of a marathon. I loved it. If you want to challenge yourself, this is the place to do it.
Good luck to you and happy running!
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I was a huge fan of the Pittsburgh marathon. The race organizers were very communicative every step of the way, the expo was easy to navigate, and you could not … MORE
I was a huge fan of the Pittsburgh marathon. The race organizers were very communicative every step of the way, the expo was easy to navigate, and you could not beat the crowd support. I was expecting some quiet stretches but that wasn’t the case, the locals were out supporting for most of the course, plus there were tons of pockets with live music/DJs. I thought the course itself was really nice – it starts downtown but pretty quickly takes runners over the first bridge (which offered some really pretty sights). There’s a rough hill during mile 12, but otherwise the course felt flat with some gentle rolling hills during the residential portions of the back half. The marathon finishes on a nice downhill and I appreciated the straightaway to the finish line (I hate when they throw in a ton of turns right at the end!) Overall I’m so impressed by my experience at this race. One con was that Dick’s apparently overbooked their group rate at our hotel, so we had a scare upon trying to check in that we’d have to move 4 miles further away from the starting line to a different hotel. I’m not really sure how you can prepare for that, but just something to be aware of. Otherwise, I loved my time running around Pittsburgh and would recommend this race to anyone!
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This is the second time I’ve done this race (first time I did the full). I like the expo because it is pretty big. Parking is very difficult: the convention … MORE
This is the second time I’ve done this race (first time I did the full). I like the expo because it is pretty big. Parking is very difficult: the convention center parking was full for the expo and the guards just shrugged and left you on your own to figure out street parking. It poured down rain but even with the rain, the cheer stations were still there and they were varied and fun.
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This is one of my favorite races! Glad I grabbed a poncho that some one threw to the side. It poured rain, it thundered, lightning. And the Crowds still came … MORE
This is one of my favorite races! Glad I grabbed a poncho that some one threw to the side. It poured rain, it thundered, lightning. And the Crowds still came out to cheer us on. Pittsburgh is an amazing town. I was told it is so hilly, but I had trained so the hills were not bad. You cross 3 or 4 of the golden bridges, you run by Steeler Nation stadium. They have an amazing finish line with all of the snacks you can image. The expo was one of the biggest I had been to since COVID. The finish line party looked amazing but it poured so I found my friends took pics and left. I hope to run this one again!
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This has become one of my favorites! This was my second time running the event. I had forgotten how much fun the event was, after running in a lot of … MORE
This has become one of my favorites! This was my second time running the event. I had forgotten how much fun the event was, after running in a lot of smaller events recently. The crowd support is great, and the overall production is excellent. The swag is average, but pre race expo is large and good. Weather for event this year was a bit tough with periods of downpours, but a great time.
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This was my 1st marathon and it was amazing. It was a great way to tour the city and the crowd support was awesome. There were plenty of well stocked … MORE
This was my 1st marathon and it was amazing. It was a great way to tour the city and the crowd support was awesome. There were plenty of well stocked aid stations. I wish I would have been more ready for some of the hills, but overall I wouldn’t change anything. Would definitely recommend and would love to do it again
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I love running this race. The weather was perfect. Spectators and volunteers along the route are great motivators. The after-party in the park afterwards was a little disappointing. Two of … MORE
I love running this race. The weather was perfect. Spectators and volunteers along the route are great motivators. The after-party in the park afterwards was a little disappointing. Two of my little grandsons ran in the Sheetz Toddler Trot which was a highlight for me. I’ll be back next year.
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This course takes you through Pittsburgh, you cross three bridges, and all along the course there is good crowd support. The course is not as "hilly" as one might expect, … MORE
This course takes you through Pittsburgh, you cross three bridges, and all along the course there is good crowd support. The course is not as “hilly” as one might expect, but not flat either. Support and organization is very good.
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Pittsburgh is my home race and while it is fun to run, the last two years it hasn't changed, so for me, it is once you have done it, unless … MORE
Pittsburgh is my home race and while it is fun to run, the last two years it hasn’t changed, so for me, it is once you have done it, unless you want to beat your time from a previous year, it isn’t a race I would want to do year after year.
It is cool to see a lot of the city and the bridges and everything though. That is the one great part of running Pittsburgh, is seeing all the buildings of downtown Pittsburgh and then being able to run the bridges and the different communities.
There is a ton of crowd support along the course handing out drinks, gels, whatever they can find really. So that is always nice.
I did the Challenge in 2019, 5K on Saturday and then the half on Sunday. And what I was a bit let down by was the medal for both races was exactly the same. To me they could have added some differences between them, but still nice to complete a challenge.
I will say if you are a back of the pack runner, Pittsburgh unfortunately may be a bit of a let down for you because what I have noticed is they tend to tear down the aid stations before all the runners have come through. But as long as you have your own fluid/water/gels you should be fine. I did notice the photographers were not as easy to find when your near the back of the pack. I don’ know if they assume since most people have gone past that those in the back don’t want pictures, but just be warned you may not have as many as some of the front runners.
Yes, Pittsburgh also has a lot of hills and bridges and it is a challenging course to take on but as long as you train appropriately, then you should be fine. Love my local race!
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The city comes out and there isn't a dull spot on the course. It is a great event and a wonderful way to see some nice parts of the city, … MORE
The city comes out and there isn’t a dull spot on the course. It is a great event and a wonderful way to see some nice parts of the city, with a pretty nice downhill finish.
The course though is a hilly course, crossing over a few bridges with a nice climb around mile 11, coming off a bridge where you just get hit by wind.
Great course, def there to push you a bit and does give you a chance to PR, but not the ideal course to do so
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This is my third year participating in this race and I will keep coming back. Not only is this race a hometown race, but it is so well put together. … MORE
This is my third year participating in this race and I will keep coming back.
Not only is this race a hometown race, but it is so well put together. The expo is huge and while very crowded there are a lot of things to do and see while you are there. I have been to expos with only a handful (or less) of booths and this one is sure to exceed expectations. I usually always make it to packet pick up before it gets super busy, but it is well managed and pretty easy to find and figure out. and they do have people there to help. The shirts are always very nice. Short sleeve for the 5k on Saturday and long sleeve for the half and full. Some years there has been a pint glass, this year the add on for the marathon was a pair of Goodr sunglasses and for the half you could purchase for a deep discount.
If you complete the 5k on Saturday and one of the races on Sunday you also get a 3rd “Steel Challenge” medal which is always super nice. and who doesn’t love extra bling!!?? If you do the relay there’s also an extra medal for that.
There’s a few other events during the weekend including a kids race and a dog walk so there is something for everyone. Plenty of hotels and plenty of amazing restaurants in walking distance.
The course is far from flat and I know that the full boasts way more and way harder hills (and bridges) so if you plan on running this one for the first time it is recommended that you add some hills into your training, but the crowd support is top notch and getting to see the city and the views can’t be beat.
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To start, Pittsburgh is a fun city with plenty to do. Bring the whole family to this one as their race weekend has an event for everyone...from the Toddler Trot, … MORE
To start, Pittsburgh is a fun city with plenty to do. Bring the whole family to this one as their race weekend has an event for everyone…from the Toddler Trot, the Kids Marathon (1 mile), 5K, Half marathon and Marathon, they cover everyone.
The expo is decent size and has your usual vendors. Bib pickup is easy but make sure you have your ID. Swag is good..long sleeve tech shirt for the Full/Half and short sleeve tech shirt for the 5K. Each shirt is race specific too. Medals were fantastic this year and they do offer a bonus medal (Steel Challenge) for doing both the 5K and Half/Full.
The course is very scenic and hits a lot of Pittsburgh landmarks. A nice mix of uphills and downhills makes it fairly fast. if you are feeling really good on race day, it could have the potential to yield a PR. Only really tough spot is a pretty steep hill at 11.5 but it’s followed by the final mile being all downhill so you makeup the time there.
Considering it’s large size, this is a very well organized race. You do have to get into town early but if you talk to a local, they can give you the best routes to take. After the race, getting around town was very easy. This is definitely a race to put on your must-do list.
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The only improvement I would like to see would be that they added a 10K. But I love running this 5K. The course is scenic through the neighborhoods, across a … MORE
The only improvement I would like to see would be that they added a 10K. But I love running this 5K. The course is scenic through the neighborhoods, across a bridge and into downtown. The cheering fans give you a boost of energy. The finisher medals are worth running for. I’ve placed in my age group each year and love the place medals also. The post race events are by far some of the best I’ve seen.
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I have run this marathon three times! I am originally from the southeastern PA, but I would highly recommend Pittsburgh's Marathon over the Philadelphia Marathon without reservation. The second half … MORE
I have run this marathon three times! I am originally from the southeastern PA, but I would highly recommend Pittsburgh’s Marathon over the Philadelphia Marathon without reservation.
The second half of the course is challenging with long, uphill climbs. The crowd support throughout the entire course is a great representation of the various neighborhoods that comprise the city. Many neighbors provide music and food in an all-out block-party atmosphere.
The finish areas is a great location at Pointe Park. The food for completers and swag are also top-notch.
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Enjoyable Race
This race has a generous cut off and has pacers up to 7 hours. The weekend is very well planned and runs smoothly. The course goes throughout Pittsburgh and would … MORE
This race has a generous cut off and has pacers up to 7 hours. The weekend is very well planned and runs smoothly. The course goes throughout Pittsburgh and would make for a great long weekend to enjoy the race and the host city!
Great race to see the city!
This course is a fun way to see the city and a good challenge. The first half you’re with the half marathoners and you get to see the stadiums, great … MORE
This course is a fun way to see the city and a good challenge. The first half you’re with the half marathoners and you get to see the stadiums, great views of the city and a good amount of crowd support.
As you breakaway from the half runners, things quiet down and the hills get a little bigger. The race even has ‘hill runners’ to help run with you up the big long hill going into Oakland. While the second half is quieter, you still get crowds and great aid stations. You get to see some of the other neighborhoods in the city which is neat. The hills are tough but not anything that made me stop in my tracks steep.
Race weather can be cold and rainy or sunny and warm — you just never know! Often it’s a combo! Overall great race with a good expo, good feel and excitement from the city. Whether tourist or local, it’s a fun race to do. Race day logistics aren’t overly complicated or crowded which is nice!
Perfect race for a first-timer!
It was an honor to return to my hometown to run my first half marathon! I've been a short distance runner for years, doing 5Ks and a few 10Ks here … MORE
It was an honor to return to my hometown to run my first half marathon! I’ve been a short distance runner for years, doing 5Ks and a few 10Ks here and there. But I ran my first 10 Miler in DC in October, and it inspired me to try a half marathon. My training was truly down to the wire, as I was dealing with some hamstring strains back in March, but after some PT, I was able to do enough training to be ready. My goal was simply to run the whole thing without having to walk or stop, and I was able to reach it! First, the atmosphere at the race was electric and so positive. I was super nervous beforehand, and after walking out of a neighborhood church (which was extending their building for bathroom use), a priest standing outside said hello and asked to pray for me before I ran. I was really touched by that! Thousands of people lined the streets to cheer, hold hilarious signs, and to even perform music for those running by. I had read before that this was a particularly hilly course, but honestly, I didn’t think it was that bad. I remember maybe two or three hills before that last, renown stretch at mile 11, but the rest of it is relatively flat. I think as long as you’re incorporating at least some long(ish), gradual hills (not necessarily steep) in your training, you’ll be fine. The stretch at the finish line was almost surreal. Thousands of people were cheering, and it almost felt like a movie! If I were to describe the atmosphere of this race, it would be electric, positive, and extremely welcoming. The only critique I have is that it didn’t have nearly enough port-a-potties. I saw people waiting in line for them everywhere – even in the middle of the race! I promised myself ahead of time that I’d rather pee myself than have to stop (and thankfully, it never came to that.) But seriously – you should have double the port-a-potties next time! If you are a first timer, this is definitely a good race for you. The key is to start slow, keep slow, and speed up if you have any left in your tank toward the end.
Great race in a great city!
Overall I really enjoyed participating in the race experience here. THE EXPO: Pretty good overall with a large variety of vendors... Garmin, Nuun, Air Force, Army, local service providers and … MORE
Overall I really enjoyed participating in the race experience here.
THE EXPO:
Pretty good overall with a large variety of vendors… Garmin, Nuun, Air Force, Army, local service providers and running stores. Most booth gave away swag. There are a few things they could do to improve the experience: 1) give the shirt and check bag with the bib to eliminate cues and congestion… as is, the runner needs to hunt these locations down at the site.
THE RACE:
It was every thing I expected. The race routed across the 3 rivers using 3 separate bridges. It also took you by every professional sports venue in the city (Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park, Highmark Field and PPG Paints Arena) and past the 2 iconic inclines.
The final 3 miles were TOUGH!!! A major incline on the final bridge. It was devastating to see the marathoners start their decent while I was only half way up the bridge. Shortly after the bridge there is a pretty substantial hill where they had hill runners to motivate and challenge you.
Since the race website did not include the elevation graph for the event I did not know how to train properly.
Improvement points:
1) Please add the elevation charts to the race website.
2) Please allow runners to shift to later corrals. I registered the same day using the same estimated time as a friend and we got place in different corrals. The race marshal did not let us switch and run together.
3) A printed race guide would be appreciated… it is handy and could be kept as a momentum.
Nevertheless, this is an iconic race… and one of my favorite races so far! Thank you Pittsburgh for putting on an amazing event.
Well organized race - tough course
The Pittsburgh Marathon is extremely well run. Everything from their app, to the expo, to pre-race, to post race was excellent. Mile markers had timers at every mile so it … MORE
The Pittsburgh Marathon is extremely well run. Everything from their app, to the expo, to pre-race, to post race was excellent. Mile markers had timers at every mile so it was easy to see your pace. Fireworks at the start of each wave was an exciting way to go.
This race is very hilly, especially on the back half. Starting with a climb at mile 12, there are various long steady inclines through mile 21. Although there is some decline on the back sides, it is not as easilly apparent (at least to me) as the inclines. A severe decline at mile 23 doesn’t seem to make up for all the hills from mile 12.
Crowd support was excellent and rivals any of the big city races like Minneapolis, Chicago, or Cincinnati that I have run.
Great for a first time half
This was my very first half marathon. The first half went quick and was pretty nice. The 2nd half is where you get some of the hills which aren't that … MORE
This was my very first half marathon. The first half went quick and was pretty nice. The 2nd half is where you get some of the hills which aren’t that bad. I unfortunately wasn’t able to train like I wanted to for this so for me, I wasn’t ready for any type of hill. But overall the course was great! A lot of people were able to beat their PR! The crowd support was nice and definitely gives you a good push when you need it most. The expo was amazing! I’ve done the 5k before and both years I’ve gone to the expo, it’s been pretty well done! The “after party” wasn’t too bad either. Overall I recommend this race whether you are a beginner or have been doing these for years 🙂 Already can’t wait for next year!
Hilly courses 2023: 2, Feisty Runner: 0
I'll tell you what - this course kicked my 🍑, but I loved every minute of it. Let's do this! 👊🏼EXPO! The expo had a lot of vendors and a … MORE
I’ll tell you what – this course kicked my 🍑, but I loved every minute of it. Let’s do this!
👊🏼EXPO! The expo had a lot of vendors and a nice variety of them, too. I saw a lady selling pierogi across from a moonshine stand. Only one place selling gutters, too. 😄😄 (See my review for Boston for more on that.) Raw Threads had an awesome shirt (a few, actually) but the RUN STEEL CITY design was phenomenal. You should check them out at http://www.rawthreads.com .
The expo was easy to get to – it was at the convention center in downtown. Not a big fuss. The weather was gorgeous on Saturday when I went so it was a beautiful walk to get there.
Packet pick-up was simple – tell them your number, get your bib. T-shirt pick-up was behind them and they had a place to exchange shirts if you wanted to. (I did. I like baggy shirts.)
They had a stage for guest speakers but I didn’t hang around for them. It was so nice outside. They had a lot of places for photo ops around the expo, too.
The only critique that I had was that they didn’t give us a bag for the shirt and bib. The relay runners seemed to have them from the FedEx sponsor, but the rest of us had to buy something from someone or just stuff the bib in the polybag in which the shirt was wrapped (no handle.) A small gripe but just an FYI.
👊🏼 START LINE: We stayed at the Westin which is adjacent to the convention center. Signs for the corrals were right outside out door. We were in A but decided to run with friends in corral B. There was a massive line for the portapotties between A and B as we walked over. When I met my friend in B, he said “I’m in line for the bathroom.” I thought “great. It’ll be an hour before he’s here.” My other friend said “there’s portapotties over there, maybe he’s in those.” So fear not, my friends! there are plenty of portapotties if you spread out a little more.
👊🏼THE COURSE: From reading other posts here, I knew that this would be hilly. I just naively thought that my bouts in St. Louis and Boston would have prepared me for them. Nope. Not even close. I run a lot and am no stranger to endurance events but man- these hills are just relentless. 😄😄 It was flat once. Everything else: you’re either going up or down. Twice, we were doing downhill but the road was sloped in the opposite direction of an upcoming turn and I said to my friend “man, even the downhills are uphill!” Important notes: 🚨 Mile 12.5 is the beast hill. I swear it’s a solid mile of uphill but the race has this great thing: “HILL HELPERS” (or something like that.) These wonderful souls who run with you and try to keep you motivated as you climb this beast! How delightful! All day, they go up and down this thing. Isn’t that nice? 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Bravo to these people and to the race directors for thinking about this! This was wonderful! 🚨 You will be rewarded for that climb at mile 22 or 23 on the most glorious downhill you will ever know. It’s not a quad-crushing, steep downhill like the first 10K at Boston – it’s just a really nice, fast (and long) downhill. Take what it gives you.
💧 Water stations were about 1.5 miles at the start. It seemed that they became more frequent as the race went on. That may have been my imagination. They have Nuun drink first, then water second. I love when the races stay consistent with this from table to table. I’m not a fan of the Nuun so I carry my BCAAs with me and refill my bottle at one of the water stations. (which probably cost me some time, but my thighs needed a little rest anyway.) They seemed to be a little light on volunteers in the first few stations but I usually skip those and volunteers are hard to come by. I was happier to have them at the end of the race anyway.
🍌🍊 Throughout the course, spectators, neighbors, local clubs and organizations, etc. were handing out treats. The race had some sort of gel packs about every 3 miles or so (don’t quote me on that) after mile 6 The crowd support was fantastic. The German club at mile 2 was great. Up on the hill playing their traditional music. I loved it.
🎽🏅 The shirt was a long-sleeved tech shirt. Ladies got a v-neck. I’m 5’7″ and weigh 140 lbs. I got a large shirt because I like them baggy. The medal is also a beast. It’s weighs 9 ounces (that’s more than a half a pound.)
👊🏼 I wanted to sub-4 every marathon that I run but I seriously underestimated these hills. And it’s all good – I had a blast at this race this weekend. I’m a sucker for architecture and industrial American history so I caught myself sight-seeing a couple of times on this course and had to remind myself that I was in the middle of a marathon. I loved it. If you want to challenge yourself, this is the place to do it.
Good luck to you and happy running!
Such a great race
I was a huge fan of the Pittsburgh marathon. The race organizers were very communicative every step of the way, the expo was easy to navigate, and you could not … MORE
I was a huge fan of the Pittsburgh marathon. The race organizers were very communicative every step of the way, the expo was easy to navigate, and you could not beat the crowd support. I was expecting some quiet stretches but that wasn’t the case, the locals were out supporting for most of the course, plus there were tons of pockets with live music/DJs. I thought the course itself was really nice – it starts downtown but pretty quickly takes runners over the first bridge (which offered some really pretty sights). There’s a rough hill during mile 12, but otherwise the course felt flat with some gentle rolling hills during the residential portions of the back half. The marathon finishes on a nice downhill and I appreciated the straightaway to the finish line (I hate when they throw in a ton of turns right at the end!) Overall I’m so impressed by my experience at this race. One con was that Dick’s apparently overbooked their group rate at our hotel, so we had a scare upon trying to check in that we’d have to move 4 miles further away from the starting line to a different hotel. I’m not really sure how you can prepare for that, but just something to be aware of. Otherwise, I loved my time running around Pittsburgh and would recommend this race to anyone!
Hilly course, nice cheer stations
This is the second time I’ve done this race (first time I did the full). I like the expo because it is pretty big. Parking is very difficult: the convention … MORE
This is the second time I’ve done this race (first time I did the full). I like the expo because it is pretty big. Parking is very difficult: the convention center parking was full for the expo and the guards just shrugged and left you on your own to figure out street parking. It poured down rain but even with the rain, the cheer stations were still there and they were varied and fun.
The best crowd!
This is one of my favorite races! Glad I grabbed a poncho that some one threw to the side. It poured rain, it thundered, lightning. And the Crowds still came … MORE
This is one of my favorite races! Glad I grabbed a poncho that some one threw to the side. It poured rain, it thundered, lightning. And the Crowds still came out to cheer us on. Pittsburgh is an amazing town. I was told it is so hilly, but I had trained so the hills were not bad. You cross 3 or 4 of the golden bridges, you run by Steeler Nation stadium. They have an amazing finish line with all of the snacks you can image. The expo was one of the biggest I had been to since COVID. The finish line party looked amazing but it poured so I found my friends took pics and left. I hope to run this one again!
Great to be Back
This has become one of my favorites! This was my second time running the event. I had forgotten how much fun the event was, after running in a lot of … MORE
This has become one of my favorites! This was my second time running the event. I had forgotten how much fun the event was, after running in a lot of smaller events recently. The crowd support is great, and the overall production is excellent. The swag is average, but pre race expo is large and good. Weather for event this year was a bit tough with periods of downpours, but a great time.
Great first marathon
This was my 1st marathon and it was amazing. It was a great way to tour the city and the crowd support was awesome. There were plenty of well stocked … MORE
This was my 1st marathon and it was amazing. It was a great way to tour the city and the crowd support was awesome. There were plenty of well stocked aid stations. I wish I would have been more ready for some of the hills, but overall I wouldn’t change anything. Would definitely recommend and would love to do it again
First Pgh in-person race since COVID
I love running this race. The weather was perfect. Spectators and volunteers along the route are great motivators. The after-party in the park afterwards was a little disappointing. Two of … MORE
I love running this race. The weather was perfect. Spectators and volunteers along the route are great motivators. The after-party in the park afterwards was a little disappointing. Two of my little grandsons ran in the Sheetz Toddler Trot which was a highlight for me. I’ll be back next year.
Great Race, Lots of crowd support
This course takes you through Pittsburgh, you cross three bridges, and all along the course there is good crowd support. The course is not as "hilly" as one might expect, … MORE
This course takes you through Pittsburgh, you cross three bridges, and all along the course there is good crowd support. The course is not as “hilly” as one might expect, but not flat either. Support and organization is very good.
My Home Course
Pittsburgh is my home race and while it is fun to run, the last two years it hasn't changed, so for me, it is once you have done it, unless … MORE
Pittsburgh is my home race and while it is fun to run, the last two years it hasn’t changed, so for me, it is once you have done it, unless you want to beat your time from a previous year, it isn’t a race I would want to do year after year.
It is cool to see a lot of the city and the bridges and everything though. That is the one great part of running Pittsburgh, is seeing all the buildings of downtown Pittsburgh and then being able to run the bridges and the different communities.
There is a ton of crowd support along the course handing out drinks, gels, whatever they can find really. So that is always nice.
I did the Challenge in 2019, 5K on Saturday and then the half on Sunday. And what I was a bit let down by was the medal for both races was exactly the same. To me they could have added some differences between them, but still nice to complete a challenge.
I will say if you are a back of the pack runner, Pittsburgh unfortunately may be a bit of a let down for you because what I have noticed is they tend to tear down the aid stations before all the runners have come through. But as long as you have your own fluid/water/gels you should be fine. I did notice the photographers were not as easy to find when your near the back of the pack. I don’ know if they assume since most people have gone past that those in the back don’t want pictures, but just be warned you may not have as many as some of the front runners.
Yes, Pittsburgh also has a lot of hills and bridges and it is a challenging course to take on but as long as you train appropriately, then you should be fine. Love my local race!
Great Community & Event... Tough Course
The city comes out and there isn't a dull spot on the course. It is a great event and a wonderful way to see some nice parts of the city, … MORE
The city comes out and there isn’t a dull spot on the course. It is a great event and a wonderful way to see some nice parts of the city, with a pretty nice downhill finish.
The course though is a hilly course, crossing over a few bridges with a nice climb around mile 11, coming off a bridge where you just get hit by wind.
Great course, def there to push you a bit and does give you a chance to PR, but not the ideal course to do so
Personal Favorite Hometown Marathon
This is my third year participating in this race and I will keep coming back. Not only is this race a hometown race, but it is so well put together. … MORE
This is my third year participating in this race and I will keep coming back.
Not only is this race a hometown race, but it is so well put together. The expo is huge and while very crowded there are a lot of things to do and see while you are there. I have been to expos with only a handful (or less) of booths and this one is sure to exceed expectations. I usually always make it to packet pick up before it gets super busy, but it is well managed and pretty easy to find and figure out. and they do have people there to help. The shirts are always very nice. Short sleeve for the 5k on Saturday and long sleeve for the half and full. Some years there has been a pint glass, this year the add on for the marathon was a pair of Goodr sunglasses and for the half you could purchase for a deep discount.
If you complete the 5k on Saturday and one of the races on Sunday you also get a 3rd “Steel Challenge” medal which is always super nice. and who doesn’t love extra bling!!?? If you do the relay there’s also an extra medal for that.
There’s a few other events during the weekend including a kids race and a dog walk so there is something for everyone. Plenty of hotels and plenty of amazing restaurants in walking distance.
The course is far from flat and I know that the full boasts way more and way harder hills (and bridges) so if you plan on running this one for the first time it is recommended that you add some hills into your training, but the crowd support is top notch and getting to see the city and the views can’t be beat.
Really well done race!
To start, Pittsburgh is a fun city with plenty to do. Bring the whole family to this one as their race weekend has an event for everyone...from the Toddler Trot, … MORE
To start, Pittsburgh is a fun city with plenty to do. Bring the whole family to this one as their race weekend has an event for everyone…from the Toddler Trot, the Kids Marathon (1 mile), 5K, Half marathon and Marathon, they cover everyone.
The expo is decent size and has your usual vendors. Bib pickup is easy but make sure you have your ID. Swag is good..long sleeve tech shirt for the Full/Half and short sleeve tech shirt for the 5K. Each shirt is race specific too. Medals were fantastic this year and they do offer a bonus medal (Steel Challenge) for doing both the 5K and Half/Full.
The course is very scenic and hits a lot of Pittsburgh landmarks. A nice mix of uphills and downhills makes it fairly fast. if you are feeling really good on race day, it could have the potential to yield a PR. Only really tough spot is a pretty steep hill at 11.5 but it’s followed by the final mile being all downhill so you makeup the time there.
Considering it’s large size, this is a very well organized race. You do have to get into town early but if you talk to a local, they can give you the best routes to take. After the race, getting around town was very easy. This is definitely a race to put on your must-do list.
Love this race!
The only improvement I would like to see would be that they added a 10K. But I love running this 5K. The course is scenic through the neighborhoods, across a … MORE
The only improvement I would like to see would be that they added a 10K. But I love running this 5K. The course is scenic through the neighborhoods, across a bridge and into downtown. The cheering fans give you a boost of energy. The finisher medals are worth running for. I’ve placed in my age group each year and love the place medals also. The post race events are by far some of the best I’ve seen.
Favorite PA Marathon
I have run this marathon three times! I am originally from the southeastern PA, but I would highly recommend Pittsburgh's Marathon over the Philadelphia Marathon without reservation. The second half … MORE
I have run this marathon three times! I am originally from the southeastern PA, but I would highly recommend Pittsburgh’s Marathon over the Philadelphia Marathon without reservation.
The second half of the course is challenging with long, uphill climbs. The crowd support throughout the entire course is a great representation of the various neighborhoods that comprise the city. Many neighbors provide music and food in an all-out block-party atmosphere.
The finish areas is a great location at Pointe Park. The food for completers and swag are also top-notch.