Pittsburgh Marathon 2018: 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 the 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:

There’s more going on than just the marathon.

In addition to the big race, thousands of people will participate in the:

• Half-marathon, Sunday, 7:05 a.m. Runners will experience only 13.1 miles of torture rather than 26. 2, but still run a course showcasing Pittsburgh's three rivers, bridges and skyline.

• Marathon Relay, Sunday, 7:05 a.m.: The relay splits the 26.2 mile course into five legs of varying distances.

• 5K, Saturday, 8 a.m.” Runners will traverse 3.1 miles of city streets, cross over one of the city’s many bridges and reach their goal at the official marathon finish line.

• Kids Marathon, Saturday 9:30 a.m.: The one-mile kids marathon Marathon is a way for kids and their families to participate in the marathon weekend of events. This event is the culminating race for Kids of STEEL participants following the Kids Marathon training plan.

• Toddler Trot, Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Toddlers can also participate in marathon weekend activities by being part of the culminating race for Kids of STEEL participants following the Toddler Trot training plan.

• Pet Walk: The one-mile Pet Walk will take place at Point State Park as part of Saturday's Family Day.

Getting around town won’t be easy.

Downtown road closures will begin Friday at noon on the Boulevard of the Allies between Wood Street and Stanwix Street. This section of the Boulevard of the Allies will remain closed through Sunday.

For the 5K and Kids Marathon on Saturday, North Shore and Downtown road closures will be in effect from 7:15 a.m. until noon.

For Sunday’s marathon, half-marathon and relay, Downtown road closures will start at 1:30 a.m. and continue around the city through 2:45 p.m. Certain sections of the city will be completely closed off to traffic on race day. Anyone in these sections of the city that will need to leave during the race should consider parking their car outside the area.

If you need to travel around the city on race day, here’s a map to help navigate the detours.

If you’re running, the best neighborhood to run through is Homewood.

Don’t take Patch’s word for it. Runners annually vote on their favorite neighborhood and Homewood has won four of the previous five years, Bloomfield being the outlier in 2014. In the past, residents have set up their own water stations for patched runners. What to expect running through the streets there this year? A DJ, cheer squads and more, according to The Incline.

If you’re rooting on the runners, there are festivals in each of the marathon course’s 14 neighborhoods.

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 Plaza.

• 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 won’t end when the last marathoner crosses the finish line.

The 4th annual Marathon after party takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m at Wigle Whiskey Barrelhouse on the North Side. All runners with a bib get a free Bloody Mary and their friends and kids are welcome. There will be live music and Blue Sparrow Food Truck will be on site. After the party, runners can get a free pour of cider down the street at the Threadbare Cider House.

Photo via Shutterstock.