Finish line downtown in 2010Bomb squad dealing with suspected explosive in microwave oven, 2010[b]Water station around the 5 km (3.1 mi) mark on Penn Avenue in 2009Marathoners on Negley Ave. in 2011 between Friendship and East LibertyPassing Strip District warehouses near the 16th Street Bridge in 2010
The Pittsburgh Marathon (also known as Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is an annual roadmarathon usually held on the first Sunday in May in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States, first held in 1985. The hilly course runs through the city center and crosses each of Pittsburgh's three main rivers. Generally, over 3,000 runners finish the marathon each year. The weekend's events also include a half marathon, marathon relay, and 5K.
History
The marathon was first announced on October 3, 1984, with U.S. Steel and PNC Bank as sponsors.[2][3]
The inaugural marathon was held on May 5, 1985.[4]
The Pittsburgh Marathon hosted the United States Olympic Marathon Trials for women in 1988 and for men in 2000.[5][6] The trials used the same course that the main marathon did, but were considered separate events from the main marathon.[4] In addition, Pittsburgh 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.
In 1996, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) became the title sponsor, replacing Giant Eagle, and the race was renamed the UPMC/City of Pittsburgh Marathon (or a variation thereof) for a few years.[7][8] In late 2003, serious financial difficulty within the City of Pittsburgh municipal budget and UPMC's withdraw from the title sponsorship led to the suspension of the race from 2004 to 2008.[7] In 2009, the event was revived with a new title sponsor, Dick's Sporting Goods.[9]
In 2010, a small microwave oven containing a suspected explosive device was found on the sidewalk near the finish line.[10][11] Because a car bombing attempt in New York City had emptied Times Square the previous day, authorities were on high alert and delayed the race for about 10 minutes while a bomb squad robot neutralized the oven's contents by blowing up the microwave.[10][12]Ravioli was found among its contents, and police later believed the oven had never contained any explosives.[10][13]
The 2020 and 2021 editions of the race were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants having the option to either run the race virtually or obtain a refund.[14][15][16]
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 starting time and largely the same course as the marathon.
Participation
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 registered for the 5K.[18][19] Additionally, an estimated 60,000 spectators lined the course, and 4,000 volunteers provided assistance.[20] 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.[19]
Throughout the course, thousands of neighborhood residents show their support by lining the streets of the course and volunteering at aid stations.[21] Neighborhood organizations are awarded financial grants for community-engaging celebrations along the route.[21] Sixty bands, almost all of which are from the Greater Pittsburgh area, line the streets throughout the course, spanning a range of musical genres.[22]
^ abThe Pittsburgh Marathon hosted the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials for the women's marathon.[4] It was run on the same day as the main marathon and on the same course, but was considered a separate event.[4] Nevertheless, the marathon organizers treat the time that Margaret Groos set during the trials to be the "event record".[24]
^The bomb disposal robot is in the middle of the road, while the oven is on the sidewalk at the top right, next to the bicycle and in front of the orange sign. The finish line can be seen beyond the bridge.
^The Pittsburgh Marathon hosted the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials for the men's marathon.[4] It was run on the same day as the main marathon and on the same course, but was considered a separate event.[4]
^Both the first-place finisher, Mary Akor, and the second-place finisher, Hirut Guangul, were disqualified after they were found (in separate situations over the next years) to be taking banned substances.[28]
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