May 16, 2024
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☰
Pittsburgh Marathon (defunct: 1985-2003) Runner Comments
Back to Pittsburgh Marathon (defunct: 1985-2003) Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.6
Number of comments: 85 [displaying comments 41 to 51]
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A Runner from pittsburgh
(5/28/2002)
 "A great race, better then I expected" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and it was much better than what I expected it to be. The hills weren't as bad as some people made them out to be. The crowds and music was great, I definitely ran better because of all the support. A lot of people complained about how running through the UPMC parking lot was a cheap advertising ploy. I guess it was, but so what? As a Pitt student I loved running through campus. I've lived in pittsburgh for 3 years and I saw beautiful parts of the city I had never been before. Best part of the race - I stoped and had a beer at mile 20. How many people can say they did that? I highly recomend this marathon, I don't know how you could not enjoy running it. | |
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A Runner from Pittsburgh
(5/26/2002)
 "New course, New finish- I prefer the old!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 The quick glimpse of yourself on the Jumbotron is not worth the ordeal of running through the UPMC facility and winding around outside and inside Heinz Field. Bring back the Point State Park finish! As always, great crowd support for a mid-sized marathon in a mid-sized city, and a good volunteer corps. Music by the mile- not so much, since the musicians in the early part of the course were still setting up as we ran by. Initial finish time errors for some runners is inexcusable, chip-verification machine was inoperable by Saturday afternoon at the expo, and the 5K started 7 or 8 minutes early. Let's look for better in 2003. | |
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A Runner from Arlington, VA
(5/23/2002)
"Boston, here I come!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 First time running Pittsburgh! Lucky 7! The US Airways pacers, Karen and Rich, kept me totally focused and right on target! A huge thank you to both of them! The weather was perfect and I would recommend this marathon if you want to qualify for Boston. Since I was totally focused on qualifying for Boston I wasn't paying that much attention to the other factors that go into the marathon event. Sorry. Big screen hoopla at Heinz Field - my parents never saw me come into the stadium. For that matter - I didn't see myself. | |
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A Runner from Pittsburgh, PA
(5/16/2002)
"Not quite the run I'd hope for from my home city!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my second marathon (first was the inaugural DC marathon...which was incredible!). Even though these were close, I couldn't pass up running at 'home'. I'd heard so many good things about our marathon. The bands were very cool (a little loud in some spots), spectators are always nice to have, some areas were really sparse though. I wanted to read other runner's comments first before I wrote mine, but I'm glad to see others noticed what a commercialized ploy it was to have us run down at the UPMC Sports complex...who cares!really dumb...and then finishing at Heinz. If they take out both of those elements and have us finish at the Point, where it should be, I'll run it again. To finish at the Point with all that beauty, the water, your family can be right there as you finish coming out from the tunnel...that would be the best. So fairly good overall, but not the homecoming type of run I'd hoped for. | |
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A Runner from Wilson, New York
(5/11/2002)
"Less than I expected" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The fans were great. The course was decent enough....I was surprised a bit by the number of small hills, but it wasn't too grueling. I thought course control was spotty...later finishers had to make their way through milling and standing groups of people and one loop, that was designed obviously to bring runners past UPMC's sponsor, was just a seemingly endless and none too pretty stretch. Several runners I met got off course. In fact, the women's division winner, also lost the course once. There was warm water, bananas and dried out bagels for those who came in later. I was starving! The volunteers were friendly and efficient, but I wouldn't run it again. | |
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A Runner from Richmond, Virginia
(5/11/2002)
"Great run." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was a little worried about running the 'hills' of Pittsburgh, but for every little incline there was nice down hill run. The crowd was great. The course seemed fast. The run around the outside and then the inside of Heinz field got to be a bit much. My only regret from the race is that I missed Boston by 1 second. | |
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A Runner from the Pittsburgh area
(5/10/2002)
 "Some organizational problems this year" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 2002 was my third Pittsburgh Marathon in a row. While it was still a good event, there were some organizational problems that may have been attributable to the change in start/finish location. Previous comments about lack of communication with runners at the start are accurate, and can you ever have enough portable toilets? Also, the changes to the course were not necessarily for the better. The Heinz Field start and finish requires two more bridge crossings (which are substantial hills), and the out-and-back to the UPMC parking lot was gratuitous. I know a lot of marathoners who rely on course elevation maps--Pittsburgh's map was deceiving before the course changes, and now is even less representative of the many rolling hills one must navigate. Finally, the finishing loop around and into Heinz Field was awkward and underwhelming. I personally prefer the old finish onto the Point, which is THE symbol of Pittsburgh. Still, this is a nice urban marathon of manageable size. The volunteers are great, the crowds are small but enthusiastic, and the course is challenging but not debilitating. I'm confident the organizers will learn from the few snafus we experienced this year. A highly recommended spring marathon. | |
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A Runner from Philadelphia, PA
(5/9/2002)
 "Not bad but not the best..." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This was my 3rd marathon. The hills were rolling and not too steep but they did take their toll due to the consistent up and downs throughout the course. I ran the entire race surrounded by other runners so it seemed like a larger race than it actually was. The race brags about how well organized they are but I do not agree. They forgot to give me my pasta party tickets in my packet so I had to pay twice. The Expo was tiny. I did not think the host hotel was worth the money. The shuttle buses back to the hotel afterwards were very disorganized and we waited over an hour for one. On the positive side, the pre-race seminar at the hotel was extremely motivating and helpful. Every mile of the course was marked on the street, with a clock and a highly visible sign. The bands were fantastic (wish there were even more) and the spectators did a great job of cheering on the runners, especially in Bloomfield. The finish inside the stadium made it easy for family to enjoy watching the finish. The free massages were awesome, I was extremely sore when I finished and it aided my recovery tremendously. | |
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A Runner from Okemos, Michigan
(5/8/2002)
"Michigan Runner" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Excellent race! I ran my fastest marathon time here. Mile 11 'the big hill' wasn't too steep, however the small hills between 11-20 take their toll. Pretty fast course overall. Heinz Field finish was worth the drive from Michigan. Pittsburgh is the cleanest city I've raced in. My wife and I felt safe walking downtown the night before the race. Highly recommend this race! | |
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A Runner from Redwood City, CA.
(5/8/2002)
"This Marathon was done on the cheap." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 This Marathon did not live up to the billing. In past years I have heard great things, but this year it appeared to be done on the cheap with very poor planning. Here are a few of the problems: 1. No communication with runners before the race.2. No maps that showed elevation changes for runners.3. Clocks not working during the race.4. Bad turn at the 26 mile marker.5. Bad post run shoot (small and no real food besides bananas and a bagel). 6. Staging the post event on a hot black top after running 26 miles is not a good idea. The crowds and most of the course (why did we go out to the UPMC building to run through the parking lot...what a self promotion and waste?) were great. |
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