Pittsburgh Half Marathon

Sunday, May 5, 2019 • 7:05 AM
Downtown Pittsburgh
Liberty Avenue and 10th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Starting line: 2019 Pittsburgh Marathon and Half Marathon. The race began and ended in the heart of downtown. (Photo credit: Pittsburgh Marathon)

The UPMC Healthplan Pittsburgh Marathon includes a full marathon, a half marathon and 5K. There are relay options for the full marathon. The 5K is held on Saturday. The half and full are on Sunday. You can run a 5K plus a half/full as the Steel Challenge and earn a third medal. It's also possible to be part of a marathon relay team, and also run the full marathon. A marathon team can have 2-5 members. 

Registration Prices

Keep an eye on registration dates. On opening day (early August) there are some great deals. There are steady increases as the race approaches. 

Race options include: 5K, Half, Full, Relay, Steel Challenge, Toddler Trot, and Pet Walk.

Packet Pick Up + EXPO

The race expo was at the Pittsburgh Convention Center downtown. It was open 11 am to 8 pm on Friday; 9 am to 6 pm on Saturday. We attempted to go on Friday morning, but parking was scarce and we didn't have much time. So, we returned early on Saturday morning and it was easy. The expo was a good size with plenty of vendors, samples, running gear, fuel, and shoes.

The race expo was open on Friday and Saturday before the race. It was at the convention center downtown. (Photo credit: This Old Runner)

Just inside the expo entrance were bib lookup stations. (Photo credit: This Old Runner)

Plenty of volunteers to help runners get their bibs, bags, and shirts. (Photo credit: Pittsburgh Marathon)

#WhyIMove wall fit in with this year's theme of #MOVEPittsburgh. (Photo credit: This Old Runner)

Runners could write down why they move and stick it to this wall. (Photo credit: This Old Runner)

This race had plenty of picture spots before, during, and after the races. (Photo credit: This Old Runner)

SWAG 

(Photo credit: This Old Runner)

NuGo sponsored the pacers; Honey Stinger gels were on course fuel. Nuun provided plenty of electrolytes at every aid station — that was appreciated on such a humid day.
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(Photo credit: This Old Runner)

(Photo credit: This Old Runner)

(Photo credit: This Old Runner)

Swag included a plastic gear bag with a $10 coupon for Dick's Sporting Goods, NuGo Bar, Honey Stinger Waffle + coupon, and $10 GNC coupon. There was info on medal engraving, too. Runners also received a Virtual Goodie bag full of discounts and deals.

The long sleeve race shirt is lightweight tech material. Full marathoners received a free pair of Pittsburgh Goodr glasses with the city skyline on them. Half marathoners could buy before race day at a discount. Anyone could buy them at full price at the expo.

​The half marathon course isn't as hilly as the full, but it was a challenge for people who usually run in the flat lands of Florida.
​Mile 11 signage declared it was the flattest mile on the course. (Photo credit: Pittsburgh Marathon)

Seen While Running Around Town

(Photo credit: This Old Runner)

Finish Line Fun!

This was the first half marathon where I didn't care about my time. But, that didn't mean I was going to skip my finish line sprint.

I was all in for a fast finish after an easy going 13 miles. There were crowds of people lining both sides of the street. The tall buildings created an echo chamber which added excitement.

It was energizing to run past so many cheering spectators. The finish line was awesome! ​
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Finisher Chute

After crossing the finish line you received your medal, bottles of water, and  lots of food. Bananas. Bagels. Fruit Cups. Smiley Sugar Cookies. Salty Chips. Cheese Doodles.

There were lots of picture spots and pro photographers. Plus, heat sheets for everyone. It began to rain hard right after we finished, so we appreciated those heat sheets.

The Half Marathon Bling! (Photo credit: This Old Runner)

Bananas. (Photo credit: Pittsburgh Marathon)

EatnPark Smiley Cookies. (Photo credit: Pittsburgh Marathon)

The finisher chute funneled runners down to Point State Park, Restrooms, and Gear Check. Great signage at this race. (Photo credit: This Old Runner)

Weather Report

55 degrees. 96% humidity. Light showers off and on before the race. As we were crossing our last bridge there was steady rain. It felt like the temperature dropped 10 degrees. Clouds and fog throughout the race. More rain after the race. Point State Park was muddy.

Pre-race drizzle meant everyone was wet before we started. (Photo credit: This Old Runner). 

A little rain didn't bother us. (Photo credit: This Old Runner). 

Post Race Festivities

After the race, people could meet in Point State Park. There were merchandise tents, vendors, free samples, etc. Gear check was nearby on the street. Plenty of porta potties, too.

Marathon finishers received a free beer. The beer tent was in a small park near the subway entrance. You could buy a beer for $5 if you weren't a marathon finisher.

Runners make their way out of the finisher chute. (Photo credit: This Old Runner)

There was some rain as you can see by the gutter and sign. (Photo credit: unknown)

The chute exit took runners to the family meet up areas, gear check, and the entrance to Point State Park. (Photo credit: This Old Runner)

We took shelter under the arch in Point State Park. There were plenty of vendors and samples in the park. (Photo credit: This Old Runner)

​My View of the Pittsburgh Half Marathon

I'd heard horror stories about the hills, but didn't think they were too bad. I suspect the marathon course has more difficult elevations. The course was so much fun because it showed me how Pittsburgh has changed since I lived there.

Race management did a fantastic job of moving so many people around the city. The weather was wet, but that's okay. I'd rather run on a cool, cloudy day than a hot, sunny one.  

This race was especially fun since I ran with my daughter and saw lots of family on the course. We took our time and enjoyed each distraction (spectators, scenery, and fellow racers). I'd run this race again tomorrow!

Official Race Photos

The Pittsburgh Marathon uses MarathonFoto so expect to pay for your official race photos. Some photos were online the next day. More photos appeared by Thursday after the race.

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Strip District, Pittsburgh. (Photo credit: This Old Runner)

#SeenOnARun #SceneOnARun —
I'm still giggling about the mom and two kids wearing crying baby face masks. They were in the Strip District early in the race. 

There was plenty of on course entertainment — some planned and some unexpected. I wish I had a photo of the man pushing his wife up the hills. We don't think she wanted to run, but he was determined to get her to the finish line. 

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