Over the past four years, this the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon weekend has had a special place in my heart. Despite living in Atlanta, the first Sunday in May is always reserved for a trip to Pittsburgh. Traveling can obviously be expensive, so I have to be selective on which destination races I travel to. Each year I select some new races or destinations to travel to, and there are ones like Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon weekend that I travel for each year.
To celebrate my special announcement and kick off my blogs leading up to May 4-5, 2019, I wanted to go share a few of my things about the Pittsburgh marathon Weekend that make it so special and why I keep returning year after year.
The view of the three rivers and downtown Pittsburgh is something that I can never get enough of, so be prepared to see quite a number of pictures to be posted this weekend. I promise to try to not overload you too much though.
Pittsburgh knows how to rock a race course! The amount of course support along the way was great. It is always great to have someone there to give you a high-five or ringing cowbells for you just when you need it most. While most of the course has some great cheers and high-fives for you, there are some spots that have the absolute BEST spectators in Pittsburgh!
Even in 2017 when heavy rain was projected (but it didn't), they were out in full force!The bridges usually have a large number of cheers happening on them along with in front of PNC Park and Heinz Field. My favorite spectators (while they are almost all total stranger is on Carson Street at mile 10. Friends, family, total strangers, and even four-legged friends are out in droves on Carson Street.
One of my favorite things about the Pittsburgh Marathon weekend is that there is a distance for everyone in the family. While headline event is the marathon, don't forget about the other great events over the weekend. If 26.2 isn't your thing, go for the half marathon or gather some friends and run the marathon together as a fiver person relay team.
On Saturday there is the 5K, Kids Marathon (1 Mile), Tot Trot, and Pet Walk. The UPMC Health Plan /UPMC Sports Medicine Pittsburgh 5K Run is a great way to kick off the weekend in my opinion. Not only is the 5K itself great, you can get a shakeout run done and earn some extra medals in the meantime. You earn a medal for the 5K, plus if you run any of the Sunday distances you will complete the Steel Challenge and earn an extra medal! Don't worry, if you or your family and friends aren't up for a 5K, check out the other events Saturday, May 4, 2019 to become a fit fam together. It is a great way to get moving as a family and enjoy the weekend.
Don't forget your four-legged fur babies at home because the Pet Walk is always a fun event as well!
Pittsburgh is a city full of history. From the days of it truly being the "steel city" with all the mills, great restaurants, art and architecture galore and of course its history of sports, there is something for everyone to enjoy while in Pittsburgh. The best part? Most of the city's "must see" attractions are all right in the heart of downtown and are easily accessible (even by foot).
Of course I love the bling, I mean, who doesn't love the feeling of some hard earned hardware draped around your neck at the finish line. Trust me when I say that the Pittsburgh Marathon knows how to do medals! Each year's bling was pretty awesome. The past few years the medals have depicted Pittsburgh icons on the medals, however last year they celebrated the 10th running of the Pittsburgh Marathon.
One top of finisher medals for the marathon, 1/2 marathon, and marathon relay, the 5K has finisher medals along with a bonus medal for taking part in the Steel Challenge, so yet again I am running to earn 3 beautiful medals.
What will they look like? We don't know! The medals are kept a secret until much closer to race weekend (or even a secret until race weekend), so it is a really fun surprise to see. I know they won't disappoint though.
Now, who is joining me and becoming a Runner of Steel?