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Pittsburgh Marathon race photo

Pittsburgh Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Pittsburgh Marathon race photo
Pittsburgh Marathon race photo
Pittsburgh Marathon race photo
Pittsburgh Marathon race photo
Pittsburgh Marathon race photo
Pittsburgh
US
John Marino · CC0 1.0John Marino / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0Desiree N. Williams / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0VitaleBaby / Wikimedia Commons / Public DomainMocan / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0Mocan / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date in 209 days
May 2, 2027 Sun
City · Distance
Pittsburgh · 42.195km · 4M
Entry fee
$135From the 2026 edition
2027Date May 2, 2027 · Entry Aug 12, 2026 ~
2026Date May 3, 2026 · Entry Aug 13, 2025 ~
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Pittsburgh Marathon — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

An urban marathon that crosses Pittsburgh’s three rivers via several bridges.

It has plenty of hills.

Finish is near Point State Park.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

#PittsburghMarathon#Pittsburgh#Overseas Marathon#May Marathon#Half marathon

Pittsburgh Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

4 race reports
Kyle CashRan in 2025 · Finish time 3:30:33
“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.

JanetRan in 2025 · Finish time 1:44:36
“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.

Ray IngaglioRan in 2024 · Finish time 3:10:52
“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.

BeccaRan in 2017 · Finish time 2:45:35
“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.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Finisher vlog

PittsburghMarathon · Finisher vlog

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Pittsburgh Marathon — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2026 edition
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Pittsburgh Marathon course map and elevation

The 42.195km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 07:00
Time limit16 minutes per mile pace
Show more

16 minutes per mile pace (Boston Marathon Qualifying course)

START

Near Liberty Avenue, 10th Street

Finish: Near Boulevard of the Allies, Point State Park

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Point State Park

on Blvd of the Allies, Pittsburgh

Finish · Google Maps
Original course map · goandrace.com
Show more

The 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.

World Athletics Label
Label Label
Typical race-season temperature: around 16°C (61°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Marathon

Finisher medal

Marathon

Event T-shirt

Marathon

Bag drop

Marathon

Where and when to collect your Pittsburgh Marathon race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

4/30 (Fri) 10:00 (VIP 10~11:00) ~ 20:00, 5/1 (Sat) 09:00 ~ 17:00

David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh

Shakeout run

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.

The Shakeout 2026

P3R

When
Fri, May 1, 2026 17:30
Where
Market Square, Downtown Pittsburgh
Entry fee
Free
How to join
RSVP required
Stations & transport near the venue

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.

Getting to the start

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.

Getting to the finish

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.

More details

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.

More details

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.

IC card

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.

More details

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.

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

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.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
PNC Park
PNC Park

Hotels near the Pittsburgh Marathon start line in

Hotels that make race morning easyHotels to rest in right after the finish

7 places

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.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →
View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

14 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Pittsburgh car rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Pittsburgh Airport Transfers (GetTransfer)

Verified article matching, preliminary quote comparison reservation (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Reservation after price confirmation

View on GetTransfer

Pittsburgh Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Pittsburgh Airport Pickup (Welcome)

Local driver pick-up, flight delay monitoring included (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Book after checking price

View on Welcome Pickups

Pittsburgh Penguins Ice Hockey Game at PPG Paints Arena

$79

View on Klook

Where runners eat in Pittsburgh

Eating well is part of the trip

7 places

A meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.

Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse

Brazilian Restaurant · Pittsburgh 271m

★4.6(5752)
Map

City Works (Market Square - Pittsburgh)

American Restaurant · Pittsburgh 553m

★4.6(9305)
Map

Condado Tacos

Taco Restaurant · Pittsburgh 590m

★4.4(5149)
Map

Ritual House

Restaurant · Pittsburgh 184m

★4.5(907)
Map

Pamela's Diner

Breakfast Restaurant · Pittsburgh 1.9km

★4.7(3366)
Map

DiAnoia's Eatery

Italian Restaurant · Pittsburgh 2.4km

★4.6(2433)
Map

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings - Pittsburgh

Chinese Restaurant · Pittsburgh 3.0km

★4.8(1311)
Map

What to see in Pittsburgh after the race

Seeing Pittsburgh with the medal on

7 places

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Sri Venkateswara Temple

Hindu Temple · Pittsburgh 16.3km

★4.8(6603)
Map

Total cost and budget for Pittsburgh Marathon

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Pittsburgh Marathon

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Pittsburgh runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Pittsburgh Marathon

FAQ
How much is the Pittsburgh Marathon 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about $135.

When does Pittsburgh Marathon 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sun, May 2, 2027 in Pittsburgh, United States.

How do I register for Pittsburgh Marathon 2027?

Entry routes: General entry.

Registration is handled on the official website.

(From the 2026 edition)

What is the time limit for Pittsburgh Marathon 2027?

16 minutes per mile pace (Boston Marathon Qualifying course).

(From the 2026 edition)

What distances does Pittsburgh Marathon 2027 offer?

Half. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Pittsburgh Marathon 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:00. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Pittsburgh Marathon 2027 start?

Near Liberty Avenue, 10th Street. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Pittsburgh Marathon 2027 finish?

Point State Park — on Blvd of the Allies, Pittsburgh. (From the 2026 edition)

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