Pittsburgh Marathon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pittsburgh Marathon |
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|---|---|
| Date | First Sunday in May |
| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | Marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, 5K |
| Primary sponsor | Dick's Sporting Goods |
| Established | May 5, 1985 |
| Course records | Men: 2:10:24 (1995) John KagweWomen: 2:29:50 (1988)  Margaret Groos |
| Participants | 3,418 finishers (2019) |
The Pittsburgh Marathon is a huge running event that happens every year in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It usually takes place on the first Sunday in May. Runners from all over come to race on a challenging, hilly course that goes through the city and crosses Pittsburgh's three famous rivers.
The main event is the marathon, a long-distance race of 26.2 miles. But there are other races too, like a half marathon, a team relay, and a 5K race. This means people of all fitness levels can join in the fun. The event is currently sponsored by Dick's Sporting Goods.
Contents
History of the Race
The Early Years
The first Pittsburgh Marathon was held on May 5, 1985. It quickly became a major event in the running world. The city has even hosted the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, where runners compete to join the Olympic team. This happened for women in 1988 and for men in 2000.
Over the years, the marathon has had different sponsors. In the late 1990s, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) was the main sponsor. However, the city faced money problems, and the race had to be paused from 2004 to 2008.
A Big Comeback
In 2009, the marathon returned, bigger and better than ever, with Dick's Sporting Goods as the new sponsor. Since then, it has grown in popularity every year.
In 2010, there was a brief scare when a suspicious object, an old microwave oven, was found near the finish line. To be safe, the race was delayed for a few minutes while a bomb squad checked it out. It turned out to be harmless, and the race continued safely.
Like many events around the world, the marathon was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Runners were given the option to run the race "virtually" on their own or get a refund.
The Marathon Course
The Pittsburgh Marathon course is known for being both beautiful and tough. Because Pittsburgh is a city of hills and rivers, runners have to be prepared for a challenge. The route crosses five different bridges and goes through many of Pittsburgh's most famous neighborhoods.
Runners get to see areas like the South Side, Oakland, East Liberty, and the Strip District. The start and finish lines have moved over the years but are always in the heart of the city, either Downtown or on the North Shore. The current finish line is near the beautiful Point State Park.
More Than Just a Marathon
The Pittsburgh Marathon is a whole weekend of events. Besides the full marathon, there are several other races for people to enjoy:
- Half Marathon: A 13.1-mile race that follows much of the marathon course.
- Marathon Relay: Teams of two to five people split the marathon distance, with each person running a "leg" of the race.
- 5K Race: A 3.1-mile run that is great for beginners or those who want a shorter challenge.
- Kids Marathon: A special race to get children excited about running and fitness.
A City-Wide Celebration
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The marathon is not just for the runners; it's a huge party for the whole city. Since its return in 2009, the number of people participating has soared. In 2012, a record 25,000 people signed up for all the weekend's races.
An estimated 60,000 fans and spectators line the streets to cheer on the runners. They hold up signs, offer high-fives, and create an amazing atmosphere of support. Many community groups set up "cheer stations" along the route. To add to the fun, about 60 local bands play music all along the course, from rock to jazz, keeping the runners' energy high.
Past Winners
Here is a list of the men and women who have won the Pittsburgh Marathon over the years.
Key:
- Course record (the fastest time ever on this course)
- American championship race
| Ed. | Date | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time | Rf. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1985.05.05 |  Ken Martin (USA) |
2:12:57 |  Lisa Ondieki (AUS) |
2:31:54 | |
| 2 | 1986.05.18 | Dean Matthews (USA) |
2:18:17 |  Laura Fogli (ITA) |
2:37:04 | |
| 3 | 1987.05.03 |  Rodolfo Gómez (MEX) |
2:13:07 |  Silvia Ruegger (CAN) |
2:31:53 | |
| 4 | 1988.05.01 |  Malcolm East (ENG) |
2:19:49 | Mary-Lynn Currier (USA) |
2:51:28 | |
| 1988.05.01 | — | — | Margaret Groos (USA) |
2:29:50 | ||
| 5 | 1989.05.07 | Ken Martin (USA) |
2:15:28 | Margaret Groos (USA) |
2:32:39 | |
| 6 | 1990.05.06 |  Dick Hooper (IRL) |
2:15:49 |  Conceição Ferreira (POR) |
2:30:34 | |
| 7 | 1991.05.05 |  Herbert Steffny (GER) |
2:16:21 | Lynn MacDougall (USA) |
2:42:45 | |
| 8 | 1992.05.03 |  Jorge González (PUR) |
2:17:33 |  Albina Gallyamova (RUS) |
2:32:02 | |
| 9 | 1993.05.02 |  Abel Gisemba (KEN) |
2:16:55 | Lizanne Bussières (CAN) |
2:35:39 | |
| 10 | 1994.05.01 | Abel Gisemba (KEN) |
2:13:51 | Tammy Slusser (USA) |
2:37:14 | |
| 11 | 1995.05.07 | John Kagwe (KEN) |
2:10:24 | Alina Ivanova (RUS) |
2:35:30 | |
| 12 | 1996.05.05 |  Rubén Maza (VEN) |
2:12:01 | Tamara Karlyakova (RUS) |
2:36:12 | |
| 13 | 1997.05.04 | Dave Scudamore (USA) |
2:13:48 | Tatyana Titova (RUS) |
2:37:41 | |
| 14 | 1998.05.03 | Keith Brantly (USA) |
2:12:31 | Albina Gallyamova (RUS) |
2:36:50 | |
| 15 | 1999.05.02 | Alfredo Vigueras (USA) |
2:14:20 | Tatyana Titova (RUS) |
2:40:00 | |
| 16 | 2000.05.07 | Kevin Taylor (USA) |
2:37:53 | Tammy Slusser (USA) |
2:53:30 | |
| 2000.05.07 | Rod DeHaven (USA) |
2:15:30 | — | — | ||
| 17 | 2001.05.06 | Elly Rono (KEN) |
2:17:15 |  Wioletta Kryza (POL) |
2:34:16 | |
| 18 | 2002.05.05 | Reuben Chesang (KEN) |
2:14:53 | Magdalena Lewy (USA) |
2:36:48 | |
| 19 | 2003.05.04 | Juan Camacho (MEX) |
2:12:05 | Lyudmila Korchagina (RUS) |
2:29:53 | |
| — | — | Not held from 2004 to 2008 | ||||
| 20 | 2009.05.03 |  Kassahun Kabiso (ETH) |
2:22:51 | Kristin Price (USA) |
2:36:33 | |
| 21 | 2010.05.02 | Kipyegon Kirui (KEN) |
2:17:12 |  Alena Vinnitskaya (BLR) |
2:42:34 | |
| 22 | 2011.05.15 | Jeffrey Eggleston (USA) |
2:16:40 | Yihunlish Delelecha (ETH) |
2:35:36 | |
| 23 | 2012.05.06 | James Kirwa (KEN) |
2:14:09 |  Malika Mejdoub (MAR) |
2:39:31 | |
| 24 | 2013.05.05 | James Kirwa (KEN) |
2:13:37 | Yihunlish Delelecha (ETH) |
2:41:30 | |
| 25 | 2014.05.04 | Gebo Gameda (ETH) |
2:16:30 | Clara Santucci (USA) |
2:34:06 | |
| 26 | 2015.05.03 | Stephen Njoroge (KEN) |
2:15:19 | Clara Santucci (USA) |
2:32:25 | |
| 27 | 2016.05.01 | Kipkoech Ruto (KEN) |
2:17:26 | Ayantu Dakebo (ETH) |
2:39:17 | |
| 28 | 2017.05.07 | Jacob Chemtai (KEN) |
2:15:25 | Ayantu Dakebo (ETH) |
2:36:20 | |
| 29 | 2018.05.06 | Fikadu Teferi (ETH) |
2:13:47 | Sydney Devore (USA) |
2:32:38 | |
| 30 | 2019.05.05 | Boniface Kongin (KEN) |
2:10:34 | Bizuwork Getahun (ETH) |
2:36:29 | |
| — | — | Not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic | ||||
| 31 | 2022.05.01 |  Álvaro Abreu (DOM) |
2:16:07 | Nicole Hilton (USA) |
2:49:51 | |
| 32 | 2023.05.07 | Tyler McCandless (USA) |
2:16:08 | Margo Malone (USA) |
2:41:56 | |
| 33 | 2024.05.04 | Andrew Bowman (USA) |
2:15:52 | Jennifer Brewer (USA) |
2:49:39 | |
| 34 | 2025.05.03 | Mulgeta Birhanu Feyissa (ETH) |
2:14:31 | Jane Bareikis (USA) |
2:36:01 | |
Images for kids
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For safety, experts check a suspicious item in 2010. It turned out to be harmless.
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Runners on Negley Avenue in 2011.
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Passing warehouses in the Strip District in 2010.
