Pittsburgh Marathon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pittsburgh Marathon
Pittsburgh Marathon Logo
Date	First Sunday in May
Location	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Event type	Road
Distance	Primary Event: Marathon Other Events: Half Marathon, Marathon relay, 5k
Established	May 5, 1985 (1985-05-05)
Course records	2:10:24 (1995)

The Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, commonly referred to as the Pittsburgh Marathon, is an annual marathon footrace held on the first Sunday in May in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States. The Marathon was first announced on October 3, 1984 with U.S. Steel and PNC Bank as sponsors. From 1985 to 2003, the race was held annually and named the UPMC/City of Pittsburgh Marathon, although serious financial difficulty within the City of Pittsburgh municipal budget and UPMC's withdraw from title sponsor led to suspension of the race from 2004 to 2008. In 2009, the event was revived with a new title sponsor, Dick's Sporting Goods, and renewed interest in the race.

The 1988 and 2000 races were USA Olympic Trials for women and men, that were held separately from the regular event although both were held over the same course.

The 2020 and 2021 editions of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants having the option to either run the race virtually or obtain a refund.

Events

Finish line of the Pittsburgh Marathon in 2010.

Aside from the main marathon event, several races occur during the weekend of the marathon, including a half marathon, two to five person marathon relay, 5k race, and "kids marathon." All races except for the "kids marathon" and 5k utilize the same route and starting time as the marathon. Attendance and popularity of the events has risen greatly since the 2009 revival. The 2012 race had the largest field in the history of the race. Registration for 2012 closed with roughly 25,000 participants between all races, with 6,000 entrants in the full marathon, 13,000 entrants in the half marathon, and 800 teams in the marathon relay, with the remaining entrants distributed in the 5K. Additionally, an estimated 60,000 spectators lined the course, and 4,000 volunteers provided assistance. 2012 also marked the earliest sellout in the race's history with all events except the 5k selling out on or before March 6, 2012.

Route

2011 Marathon runners pass through Friendship's Negley Avenue.

Historically, the course has wound through the unique and hilly topography of the city. Crossing five different bridges, the course traverses all three rivers of Pittsburgh's at least once. The start and finish lines have changed many times, but have always been in either Downtown or North Shore. Previous finish lines have included Point State Park, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, and the 50 yard-line of Heinz Field. The current finish line is on the Boulevard of the Allies near Point State Park. Numerous other historic and well-known Pittsburgh neighborhoods are along the route, including the South Side, Oakland, Shadyside, East Liberty, Highland Park, Bloomfield, Lawrenceville, and the Strip District.

Throughout the course, thousands of neighborhood residents show their support by lining the streets of the course and volunteering at aid stations. Neighborhood organizations are awarded financial grants for community-engaging celebrations along the route. Sixty bands, almost all of which are from the Greater Pittsburgh area, line the streets throughout the course, spanning a range of musical genres.

The Pittsburgh Marathon hosted the United States Olympic Marathon Trials for men in 2000 and the US Olympic Trials for women in 1988. In addition, it has served as the site for the United States men's national championship three times, the National Wheelchair Championship in 1986, as well as the Olympic Marathon Trials for both Finland and Denmark in the 1980s.

Past winners

Key:       Course record       American championship race

Edition	Date	Men's winner	Time (h:m:s)	Women's winner	Time (h:m:s)
Race not held in 2020 due to coronavirus pandemic
30th	5 May 2019	Boniface Kongin (KEN)	2:10:34	Bizuwork Getahun Kasaye (ETH)	2:36:29
29th	6 May 2018	Fikadu Girma Teferi (ETH)	2:13:47	Sydney Devore (USA)	2:32:38
28th	7 May 2017	Jacob Chemtai (KEN)	2:15:25	Ayantu Dakebo Hailemaryam (ETH)	2:36:20
27th	1 May 2016	Kipkoech Ruto (KEN)	2:17:26	Ayantu Dakebo Hailemaryam (ETH)	2:39:17
26th	3 May 2015	Stephen Njoroge (KEN)	2:15:19	Clara Santucci (USA)	2:32:25
25th	4 May 2014	Gebo Gameda (ETH)	2:16:30	Clara Santucci (USA)	2:34:06
24th	5 May 2013	James Kirwa (KEN)	2:13:37	Yihunilish Bekele Delelecha (ETH)	2:41:30
23rd	6 May 2012	James Kirwa (KEN)	2:14:09	Malika Mejdoub (MAR)	2:39:31
22nd	15 May 2011	Jeffrey Eggleston (USA)	2:16:40	Yihunlish Bekele Deleneh (ETH)	2:35:36
21st	2 May 2010	Kipyegon Kirui (KEN)	2:17:12	Alena Vinnitskaya (BLR)	2:42:34
20th	3 May 2009	Kassahun Kabiso (ETH)	2:22:51	Kristin Price (USA)	2:36:33
Race not held from 2004 to 2008
19th	4 May 2003	Juan Camacho (MEX)	2:12:05	Lyudmila Korchagina (RUS)	2:29:53
18th	5 May 2002	Reuben Chesang (KEN)	2:14:53	Magdalena Lewy (USA)	2:36:48
17th	6 May 2001	Elly Rono (KEN)	2:17:15	Wioletta Kryza (POL)	2:34:16
16th	7 May 2000	Rod DeHaven (USA)	2:15:30	Tammy Slusser (USA)	2:53:30
15th	2 May 1999	Alfredo Vigueras (USA)	2:14:20	Tatyana Titova (RUS)	2:40:00
14th	3 May 1998	Keith Brantly (USA)	2:12:31	Albina Gallyamova (RUS)	2:36:50
13th	4 May 1997	Dave Scudamore (USA)	2:13:48	Tatyana Titova (RUS)	2:37:41
12th	5 May 1996	Rubén Maza (VEN)	2:12:01	Tamara Karlyakova (RUS)	2:36:12
11th	7 May 1995	John Kagwe (KEN)	2:10:24	Alina Ivanova (RUS)	2:35:30
10th	1 May 1994	Abel Gisemba (KEN)	2:13:51	Tammy Slusser (USA)	2:37:14
9th	2 May 1993	Abel Gisemba (KEN)	2:16:55	Lizanne Bussières (CAN)	2:35:39
8th	3 May 1992	Jorge González (PUR)	2:17:33	Albina Gallyamova (RUS)	2:32:02
7th	5 May 1991	Herbert Steffny (GER)	2:16:21	Lynn MacDougall (USA)	2:42:45
6th	6 May 1990	Dick Hooper (IRL)	2:15:49	Conceição Ferreira (POR)	2:30:34
5th	7 May 1989	Ken Martin (USA)	2:15:28	Margaret Groos (USA)	2:32:39
4th	1 May 1988	Malcolm East (ENG)	2:19:49	Margaret Groos (USA)	2:29:50
3rd	3 May 1987	Rodolfo Gómez (MEX)	2:13:07	Silvia Ruegger (CAN)	2:31:53
2nd	18 May 1986	Dean Matthews (USA)	2:18:17	Laura Fogli (ITA)	2:37:04
1st	5 May 1985	Ken Martin (USA)	2:12:57	Lisa Ondieki (AUS)	2:31:54

Runners pass warehouses in the Strip District neighborhood.

Images for kids

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  Bomb squad dealing with suspected explosive in microwave oven, 2010

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  Water station around the 5 km (3.1 mi) mark on Penn Avenue in 2009