Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon: A Rundown Of What You Need To Know

PITTSBURGH, PA - The Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is one of the city’s biggest annual events, involving far more than the more than 20,000 runners participating in the grueling 26.2 mile race. A full weekend of activities centered around the marathon kicks off Friday at 11 a.m. with the GNC Live Well Pittsburgh Health and Fitness Expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

What should you be aware of this marathon weekend? Here’s a helpful guide:

A number of races are being run this weekend. Here are their details and start times:

• Marathon: Sunday, 7 a.m. (wheelchair 6:50 a.m.)

Runners will cross Pittsburgh’s three rivers over three different bridges each with their own distinct architecture and incredible views of the city. They’ll travel through more than a dozen different and unique neighborhoods featuring festivals, bands, and cheerathoners.

• Half-marathon: Sunday, 7 a.m.

Runners will still be exposed to a diverse number of neighborhoods, but will run only half the distance of the full marathon. The half-marathon course can be found here.

• Marathon relay: Sunday, 7 a.m.

Five-member teams will run various distances of the course ranging from 3.8 to 6.5 miles.

• 5K: Saturday, 8 a.m.

Runners will begin on the North Shore, run through the North Side, cross the Roberto Clemente Bridge and conclude at the marathon’s official Downtown finish line.

• Kid’s Marathon, Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

The one-mile run begins on the North Shore, continues across the Clemente Bridge and concludes at the official Downtown finish line.

• Toddler Trot, Saturday, 8:30 a.m.

The course will be in Point State Park.

• Pet Walk, Saturday, noon.

The walk will be in Point State Park.

The marathon course has been changed this year.

The Downtown start and finish lines will remain the same. But construction projects and a Pirates game mean the three sister bridges -- The Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol and Rachel Carson spans - won’t be available to runners this year. Instead, the route will go around Allegheny Commons toward PNC Park, turns right onto General Robinson Street, then follows North Shore Drive to Heinz Field.

Getting around the city will be challenging all weekend.
Initial Downtown road closures begin Friday at noon on the Boulevard of the Allies between Wood Street and Stanwix Street. That section of the boulevard will remain closed through Sunday.
For Saturday’s events, the Pittsburgh 5K and Kids Marathon, North Shore and Downtown road closures will start at 7:30 a.m. and continue until noon.
For the Sunday marathon, half-marathon and relay, Downtown road closures will start at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday and continue around the city through 2:30 p.m. For detailed road closure information, click here.

It’s not just a marathon. It’s a citywide party.

There will be 14 neighborhood festivals along the marathon route. Their locations:

• North Shore: East Ohio Street between Cedar Avenue and the Commons.

• West End: South Main Street between Alexander and Sanctus.

• South Side: 1100 East Carson Street

• Oakland: Schenley Plaa.

• Shadyside: Corner of Bellefonte and Walnut Street

• Point Breeze: Penn avenue and South Dallas Avenue.

• Homewood: Frankstown Avenue between Homewood and Lang avenues.

• East Liberty: Corner of Frankstown Avenue and East Liberty Boulevard.

• Highland Park: Corner of North Highland Avenue and Bryant Street.

• Friendship: East Liberty Boulevard and North Negley Avenue.

• Bloomfield: Liberty Avenue and Edmond Street.

• Uptown: Fifth Avenue.

• Strip District: 20th Street from Penn Avenue to Liberty Avenue.

• Downtown: Liberty Avenue.

The fun doesn’t end when the marathon is over.

The official post-race party will occur from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wigle Whiskey Garden and Barrelhouse on the North Side. The event will feature cocktails, whiskey sampling, a Bloody Mary Bar, live music, lawn games and food vendors. The party is free and family friendly. Runners will receive a free Bloody Mary or boozy milkshake with their race bib. this is a family-friendly event and runners will receive a free Bloody Mary or boozy milkshake with their race bib.

Photo by John Marino via Creative Commons.