The road to your own record
Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.





THE DREAM
An urban marathon that crosses Pittsburgh’s three rivers via several bridges.
It has plenty of hills.
Finish is near Point State Park.
Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.
Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.
Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.
From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.
“And finally, I crossed in 3:30:33.”Kyle Cash ran their first full marathon in Pittsburgh in 2025. They went out faster than their early target pace and struggled with late hills and missed fueling, but finished in 3:30:33.
“I loved running across multiple bridges.”The runner entered the half marathon two weeks after the Boston Marathon. Despite the congestion at the start and the humidity, the runner enjoyed the city and bridge views, then used the downhill after the late uphill section to finish in 1 hour 44 minutes 36 seconds.
“I had to weave a bit but finished strong and on my feet.”They rated the convenient baggage storage and start procedures highly. Hill training helped on the mid-course climbs, and encouragement from a friend gave them a boost, allowing them to maintain pace in the latter stages and cut around 10 minutes from their personal best.
“Overall, I had a blast and felt pretty strong.”The runner ran the half marathon together with a friend to help the friend achieve a personal best. They maintained a steady pace through the early congestion and used the final downhill to finish together in 2 hours 45 minutes 35 seconds.
We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.
Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.
PittsburghMarathon · Finisher vlog
This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.
YOUR ENTRY
Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.
The 2027 Pittsburgh Marathon can be entered through the Race Roster registration page linked from the official race website.
Use the 2027 registration button on the official website to check current availability and Entry fee.
Organizer's pageFor the 2027 Pittsburgh Marathon, you can choose a charity through the official Run for a Reason charity program and run on its behalf.
Select an official charity during Race Roster registration and fundraise.
If you meet the minimum fundraising amount for your event by May 15, 2027, you may receive a refund of Entry fee.
RACE WEEK
Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.
From the 2026 edition16 minutes per mile pace (Boston Marathon Qualifying course)
Finish: Near Boulevard of the Allies, Point State Park
Start · Google MapsThe Pittsburgh Marathon starts downtown near 10th Street on Liberty Avenue and finishes on the Boulevard of the Allies next to Point State Park.
As befits a city where three rivers meet, the course crosses bridges many times.
It passes through the Strip District, crosses the Allegheny River on the 16th Street Bridge to loop through the North Side and North Shore,
crosses the West End Bridge to the West End, and then follows Carson Street on the south side of the Monongahela River to the South Side.
The decisive stretch begins with the climb into Oakland after crossing the Birmingham Bridge.
Elevation rises from around 750 feet to over 850 feet, and runners go up and down across the high ground through Shadyside,
Point Breeze, Homewood, East Liberty, Highland Park and Bloomfield.
Near the end, a long downhill along Liberty Avenue lets runners regain speed.
It is a Boston Marathon qualifying race, and the course is certified by USA Track & Field (USATF).
In 2026 it was named one of Runner's World's recommended spring marathons.
Marathon
Marathon
Marathon
Marathon
Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.
4/30 (Fri) 10:00 (VIP 10~11:00) ~ 20:00, 5/1 (Sat) 09:00 ~ 17:00
A relaxed group run to loosen up before race day. No pace pressure — everyone's welcome.
Based on the 2026 race. This year's schedule is usually announced 1–3 weeks before race day.
P3R
Get a free ReadyFare card (or use the Ready2Ride mobile app) rather than expecting to tap your personal foreign bank card directly — PRT's new system is built around its own reloadable card/app, and there's no confirmed open-loop support for foreign contactless bank cards yet.
Liberty Ave, Downtown Pittsburgh (Golden Triangle, near Point State Park)
Start time 7:00am.
Official guide recommends checking the ParkPGH app for real-time downtown garage availability and reviewing road closure info before driving;
alternative transportation suggested is Pittsburgh Regional Transit's T light rail/stations.
Boulevard of the Allies, Downtown Pittsburgh (Finish Line Festival)
Same downtown access guidance as start: use the ParkPGH app for garage parking or PRT T light rail;
check road closures before driving.
Details below are from the official 2026 Spectator Guide (2026-05-03 edition;
2027-05-02 is the same first-Sunday-of-May calendar position).
Recommended spectator viewing spots: Station Square, South Side/E. Carson Street, The Strip District, Oakland, North Shore.
Spectators told to use ParkPGH app for parking and review road closure info to avoid delays.
Official guide only lists a shuttle for the FedEx Pittsburgh Marathon Relay (not general spectators): shuttles start 6:00am,
loading on Centre Ave in front of the DoubleTree Hotel Downtown,
running to Relay Exchange 4 then Exchange 3 (~30 min ride each way), then reversing back through Exchange 4 to the DoubleTree.
No general spectator/finish-line shuttle mentioned.
ReadyFare card (replacing ConnectCard through 2026)
Fare Vending Machines at 36+ stations/stops, the PRT Downtown Service Center (Smithfield St.), or select retail outlets
Not accepted at the gates — get the local card above
Alternative: 1-Day Pass $7 (single ride cash fare is $2.75, unlimited transfers within 3 hours) —
Worth it if you'll take 3+ rides in a day (e.g. shuttling to/from an expo and start line);
otherwise pay per-ride.
PRT is mid-transition from the old ConnectCard to the new ReadyFare system through 2026, so signage/machines may be inconsistent.
Apple/Google/Samsung Pay wallet purchases are supported at the Downtown Service Center and via the Ready2Ride app,
but that's for buying fare, not necessarily an open-loop tap of your own bank card at the vehicle validator.
Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.
The 2027 race starts at 7 AM on Sunday, May 2.
All participants must collect their bib in person at the expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The expo is open on Friday, April 30, from 11 AM to 8 PM and on Saturday, May 1, from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Bags can only be checked in the clear bag handed out at the expo with the tag from your bib attached, and bags cannot be carried into the start corrals.
The required pace is 16 minutes per mile, and runners slower than this may be asked to board the Sweep Vehicle.
In 2026, runners had to pass the 16th Street Bridge by 8:40 AM, the West End Bridge by 9:40 and the Birmingham Bridge by 10:40.
In 2026 there were 19 aid station at intervals of 1 to 2 miles on the course, and every aid station also had toilets.
Gels were handed out at miles 9.8, 12.5 and 20.6.
Runners are strongly advised not to use earphones.
Times are local to Pittsburgh. Check the latest official information before the race.
STAY A LITTLE
From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

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Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.
Distances are straight-line from the finish.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.
The start and finish are 1.1km apart.
Hotel · 596m
View on Booking.comHotel · 277m
View on Booking.comHotel · 613m
View on Booking.comHotel · 175m
View on Booking.comHotel · 740m
View on Booking.comHotel · 550m
View on Booking.comHotel · 661m
View on Booking.comHotel · 779m
View on Booking.comHotel · 874m
View on Booking.comHotel · 469m
View on Booking.comHotel · 285m
View on Booking.comHotel · 789m
View on Booking.comHotel · 451m
View on Booking.comHotel · 536m
View on Booking.comSwipe sideways to see more hotels.
Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.
$387
View on GetYourGuide$74
View on GetYourGuideCompare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price
View on EconomyBookingsVerified article matching, preliminary quote comparison reservation (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Reservation after price confirmation
View on GetTransferCompare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book
View on QeeqLocal driver pick-up, flight delay monitoring included (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Book after checking price
View on Welcome Pickups$30
View on Klook$79
View on Klook$30
View on GetYourGuide$28
View on GetYourGuide$31
View on GetYourGuide$61
View on GetYourGuide$102
View on GetYourGuide$34
View on GetYourGuideA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.
Brazilian Restaurant · Pittsburgh 271m
MapAmerican Restaurant · Pittsburgh 553m
MapTaco Restaurant · Pittsburgh 590m
MapRestaurant · Pittsburgh 184m
MapBreakfast Restaurant · Pittsburgh 1.9km
MapItalian Restaurant · Pittsburgh 2.4km
MapChinese Restaurant · Pittsburgh 3.0km
MapThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.
Stadium · Pittsburgh 1.3km
MapState Park · Pittsburgh 956m
MapScenic Spot · Pittsburgh 1.1km
MapZoo · Pittsburgh 1.9km
MapHistory Museum · Pittsburgh 1.0km
MapHindu Temple · Pittsburgh 16.3km
MapArt museum · Pittsburgh 1.2km
MapOnce saved, you can open this page without an internet connection
Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post
Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about $135.
It takes place on Sun, May 2, 2027 in Pittsburgh, United States.
Entry routes: General entry.
Registration is handled on the official website.
(From the 2026 edition)
16 minutes per mile pace (Boston Marathon Qualifying course).
(From the 2026 edition)
Half. (From the 2026 edition)
The race starts at 07:00. (From the 2026 edition)
Near Liberty Avenue, 10th Street. (From the 2026 edition)
Point State Park — on Blvd of the Allies, Pittsburgh. (From the 2026 edition)