RunRace USA › Pennsylvania › Pittsburgh Marathon

The complete, course-first guide

Pittsburgh Marathon

Sunday, May 2, 2027 · 7:00 a.m. ET
Liberty Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh

Marathon26.2 miles
Register for the 2027 Pittsburgh Marathon →on Race Roster
Aerial course portraitPittsburghPublished course model · 26.2 miles
Gold marks the published course model. Public-domain aerial photography: USGS and USDA.

The race in 60 seconds

Marathon
Sunday, May 2, 20277:00 a.m. ET
Start line
Liberty Avenue, downtown PittsburghPittsburgh, PA
Modeled elevation
About 1152 ft of climbroughly 708 to 984 ft
Course shape
Loop coursestart and finish stay close
Race week weather
50°F to 67°F2016-2025 average, 65% of days wet

The route forms an open loop, finishing in the same part of the city without returning to the exact start point. The modeled line carries about 1152 feet of total climb and ranges from roughly 708 to 984 feet above sea level. The elevation profile calls out the Forbes Avenue hill so the defining work is visible before race morning. Look for PNC Park, Acrisure Stadium, Cathedral of Learning, Saint Paul Cathedral in the flyover, with recognizable forms modeled from architectural records.

Fly the course

The whole course, built from the best available published route trace and an extruded model of Pittsburgh. Scrub it, change the camera, or let it play. Nothing here is a video: it is drawing the city live.

Route statusCurrent community course trace cross-checked against the published route. 2025 race GPX; the official My Maps KML is too coarse to model from

The route line uses the best published course trace available. Public-domain USGS and USDA aerial photography plus USGS 3DEP elevation are baked into RunRace USA, so the flyover makes no paid map API or third-party runtime requests. Buildings, roads, parks and water use OpenStreetMap, ODbL. This is photographic terrain with modeled architecture, not photogrammetry. Bridge approaches, elevations and facade details are approximations; the organizer's published route remains the reference.

The elevation profile

Marathon elevation26.2 miles · about 1152 ft of climb
660 680 700 720 740 760 780 800 820 840 860 880 900 920 940 960 980 1000 1020 Mile 0.0 to 0.2: +0.3% Mile 0.2 to 0.4: +0.2% Mile 0.4 to 0.6: +0.4% Mile 0.6 to 0.8: -0.1% Mile 0.8 to 1.0: -0.1% Mile 1.0 to 1.2: +0.1% Mile 1.2 to 1.4: -0.2% Mile 1.4 to 1.6: -0.6% Mile 1.6 to 1.8: -0.2% Mile 1.8 to 2.0: +0.3% Mile 2.0 to 2.2: +0.2% Mile 2.2 to 2.4: +0.1% Mile 2.4 to 2.6: -0.2% Mile 2.6 to 2.8: +0.9% Mile 2.8 to 3.0: +0.2% Mile 3.0 to 3.2: -0.2% Mile 3.2 to 3.4: +1.2% Mile 3.4 to 3.6: +1.1% Mile 3.6 to 3.8: -2.5% Mile 3.8 to 4.0: -1.0% Mile 4.0 to 4.2: +1.3% Mile 4.2 to 4.4: +1.9% Mile 4.4 to 4.6: -0.4% Mile 4.6 to 4.8: -0.8% Mile 4.8 to 5.0: -1.1% Mile 5.0 to 5.2: -0.5% Mile 5.2 to 5.4: -0.1% Mile 5.4 to 5.6: -0.1% Mile 5.6 to 5.8: +0.1% Mile 5.8 to 6.0: +0.2% Mile 6.0 to 6.2: -0.1% Mile 6.2 to 6.4: +1.6% Mile 6.4 to 6.6: +0.1% Mile 6.6 to 6.8: -1.7% Mile 6.8 to 7.0: +0.0% Mile 7.0 to 7.2: +3.2% Mile 7.2 to 7.4: -0.1% Mile 7.4 to 7.6: -1.6% Mile 7.6 to 7.8: +2.5% Mile 7.8 to 8.0: +0.8% Mile 8.0 to 8.2: -1.4% Mile 8.2 to 8.4: +0.3% Mile 8.4 to 8.6: +1.4% Mile 8.6 to 8.8: -1.3% Mile 8.8 to 9.0: -0.7% Mile 9.0 to 9.2: -0.1% Mile 9.2 to 9.4: +1.0% Mile 9.4 to 9.6: +0.4% Mile 9.6 to 9.8: +0.9% Mile 9.8 to 10.0: -2.1% Mile 10.0 to 10.2: +0.7% Mile 10.2 to 10.4: +0.3% Mile 10.4 to 10.6: -0.1% Mile 10.6 to 10.8: -0.3% Mile 10.8 to 11.0: +0.1% Mile 11.0 to 11.2: -0.3% Mile 11.2 to 11.4: +0.1% Mile 11.4 to 11.6: +5.8% Mile 11.6 to 11.8: +0.2% Mile 11.8 to 12.0: -2.0% Mile 12.0 to 12.2: +1.9% Mile 12.2 to 12.4: +4.1% Mile 12.4 to 12.6: +1.0% Mile 12.6 to 12.8: +0.6% Mile 12.8 to 13.0: -0.6% Mile 13.0 to 13.2: -1.1% Mile 13.2 to 13.4: +1.6% Mile 13.4 to 13.6: -0.1% Mile 13.6 to 13.8: +0.1% Mile 13.8 to 14.0: +2.4% Mile 14.0 to 14.2: +0.4% Mile 14.2 to 14.4: -2.2% Mile 14.4 to 14.6: +0.2% Mile 14.6 to 14.8: -2.2% Mile 14.8 to 15.0: +1.3% Mile 15.0 to 15.2: +2.4% Mile 15.2 to 15.4: +1.1% Mile 15.4 to 15.6: -0.6% Mile 15.6 to 15.8: +1.1% Mile 15.8 to 16.0: +1.0% Mile 16.0 to 16.2: -0.7% Mile 16.2 to 16.4: +0.9% Mile 16.4 to 16.6: -1.3% Mile 16.6 to 16.8: -1.8% Mile 16.8 to 17.0: -1.9% Mile 17.0 to 17.2: +0.5% Mile 17.2 to 17.4: -0.5% Mile 17.4 to 17.6: +0.0% Mile 17.6 to 17.8: +0.4% Mile 17.8 to 18.0: -0.6% Mile 18.0 to 18.2: -1.9% Mile 18.2 to 18.4: +0.8% Mile 18.4 to 18.6: +1.8% Mile 18.6 to 18.8: +0.3% Mile 18.8 to 19.0: -1.2% Mile 19.0 to 19.2: -1.1% Mile 19.2 to 19.4: +1.8% Mile 19.4 to 19.6: +1.5% Mile 19.6 to 19.8: +1.2% Mile 19.8 to 20.0: +1.5% Mile 20.0 to 20.2: -1.4% Mile 20.2 to 20.4: -0.2% Mile 20.4 to 20.6: -1.9% Mile 20.6 to 20.8: -1.8% Mile 20.8 to 21.0: +0.6% Mile 21.0 to 21.2: +1.4% Mile 21.2 to 21.4: -1.0% Mile 21.4 to 21.6: -1.2% Mile 21.6 to 21.8: -1.3% Mile 21.8 to 22.0: +0.1% Mile 22.0 to 22.2: +1.9% Mile 22.2 to 22.4: +1.0% Mile 22.4 to 22.6: +0.7% Mile 22.6 to 22.8: +0.8% Mile 22.8 to 23.0: -3.3% Mile 23.0 to 23.2: -0.2% Mile 23.2 to 23.4: -2.4% Mile 23.4 to 23.6: -4.3% Mile 23.6 to 23.8: -4.1% Mile 23.8 to 24.0: -0.4% Mile 24.0 to 24.2: -0.1% Mile 24.2 to 24.4: +0.3% Mile 24.4 to 24.6: +0.2% Mile 24.6 to 24.8: -0.1% Mile 24.8 to 25.0: +0.4% Mile 25.0 to 25.2: -0.5% Mile 25.2 to 25.4: -0.0% Mile 25.4 to 25.6: +0.3% Mile 25.6 to 25.8: +0.2% Mile 25.8 to 26.0: +0.2% Mile 26.0 to 26.2: -0.9% 5 10 15 20 25 mile the Forbes Avenue hill +225 ft +58 ft
steep up up flat down steep down

This Marathon profile covers 26.2 miles, ranges from roughly 708 to 984 feet, and contains about 1152 feet of modeled climb.

  • the Forbes Avenue hill, mile 11.4 to 16.07: 225 feet up, about 170 ft of gain in mile 12, roughly 3% for most of the mile - more than three times any other mile on the course.
  • , mile 19.12 to 20.01: 58 feet up, 1.2% average.

Open the full course breakdown →

The route at a glance

1 5 10 13 15 20 25 26
Marathon route26.2 miles
course the two climbs start/finish

Gold is the selected modeled course; route provenance is stated beside the flyover.

Race-week weather, measured

At the start line, April 28-May 6 averaged a low of 50°F and a high of 67°F across 2016-2025. The same window reached 84°F at its warmest and 35°F at its coldest. Measurable rain appeared on about 65% of sampled days. Treat the range, not just the average, as the packing list.

Pace it by effort

The profile and grade strip come from the same route currently loaded in the flyover. Use even pace as a baseline, then protect effort on the highlighted climbs and exposed sections.

FinishEven paceHalfway
3:006:52 /mi1:30
3:308:01 /mi1:45
4:009:09 /mi2:00
4:3010:18 /mi2:15
5:0011:27 /mi2:30

Build your race weekend

The course

Live 3D flyover, synchronized elevation, route map, mile-by-mile shape and local landmarks.

Where to stay

33 mapped places to stay, compared by the endpoint that matters.

Expo and logistics

Packet pickup, the published weekend schedule, transit, parking and current entry tiers.

Spectators

Route-aware viewing anchors and a plan that respects the actual course geography.

The weekend

A city guide built around the places modeled beside the course.

Official race site

The organizer's current dates, entry details and late course notices.

Common questions

Can I get a refund or defer to next year if I get injured?

No on both counts. P3R states it is unable to provide refunds for registration fees and unable to offer deferrals to the following year. Your only outs are transferring your bib to another participant, transferring to the virtual event, or buying third-party Refund Protection during registration and submitting a refund request. Transfers carry a fee plus any registration price difference.

How do I hand my bib off to someone else?

Do it through Race Roster, not by swapping shirts. Log into your Race Roster account, open the Event Details page, click Transfer, then Transfer to New Participant. Switching races (marathon to half, for example) uses the same Transfer link but Transfer to New Sub Event. The new participant pays all fees, and a transfer fee plus any price increase applies.

Are the corrals actually enforced, and can I start with a friend?

Corrals are assigned by expected finish time and enforced in one direction only. You may drop back to a later corral, but you cannot move up to an earlier one. If you are in Corral B and your friend is in Corral C, you go back to C; your friend cannot join you in B. You must clearly display your bib to access your corral.

What is the cutoff, and what happens if I fall behind it?

The overall course pace requirement is 16:00 minutes per mile, roughly a 6:59 marathon. Miss it and you may be asked to board a sweep vehicle. Refuse and you must move to the sidewalk so traffic resumes. Continuing after roads reopen means no medical support, no fluid stations, no course marshals at intersections, and an unmarked course, with no guaranteed time or finisher medal.

Can I just bring my own drawstring bag to gear check?

No. Gear check accepts only the race-issued clear bag, picked up at the expo, with the matching gear check tag torn from your bib. Luggage, oversized or overnight items, loose articles, and any non race-issue bag are refused. You must show your bib when dropping off and collecting. Do not check medication, jewelry, phones, cameras, or electronics; the event is not liable for loss.

Can I carry a pack or a cooler to the start line?

No. Runners are not permitted to bring or carry bags into the start line corrals, and everything must be checked into gear check before the start. Backpacks, duffel bags, bags, hard or soft coolers, and purses are barred from the start and finish areas and from the course. Costumes are allowed if safe to run in and your bib stays clearly visible.

Do I have to go to the expo, or can I grab my bib race morning?

The marathon page says all participants are required to pick up bibs at the expo (Friday 11am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center); the FAQ says Sunday-event runners who cannot make expo hours must buy the Will Call add-on during registration or in the post-registration store. Will Call is the only pickup outside expo hours. Bring photo ID and know your bib number.

Is there any qualifying standard, and does Pittsburgh count for Boston?

There is no qualifying time to enter, but the marathon is a Boston Qualifier. Seeded positions require submitting a results URL from a 2025 to 2026 race of half marathon distance or longer: 6:30 per mile or under for seeded male, 7:29 per mile or under for seeded female, with a March 15 seeding deadline and limited spots. The elite field is invitation only via the Elite Athlete Committee.

Are headphones, strollers, and dogs allowed on the course?

Headphones are strongly discouraged because they make race officials harder to hear in an emergency, though they are not banned outright. Wheeled items are banned: bicycles, skateboards, scooters, baby joggers, strollers, roller skates, and roller blades. No animals are permitted on the course. Runners needing mobility assistance such as adaptive strollers, wheelchairs, or walkers should email [email protected] about accommodations.

What else catches first-timers out at Pittsburgh?

Three things. Pace groups run deep, from 3:00 through 7:00 run/walk in the marathon, so there is a group for almost every goal. Cell coverage at the start and finish is unreliable when thousands of phones hit one tower, so agree on a physical meeting spot in advance. And the minimum age is 18 on race day, with no exceptions.

Ready to commit? Registration is open on Race Roster. As of 2026-08-27 the marathon was $109.99, and the price only moves one direction.

Register for the 2027 Pittsburgh Marathon →on Race Roster

Course geometry provenance is stated beside the player; elevation profiles always use the same route loaded there. City geometry is OpenStreetMap, ODbL. Aerial imagery is from USGS and USDA; other images carry their own source credits. Weather figures use Open-Meteo reanalysis for April 28-May 6 across 2016-2025 at the start line. Schedule, prices and expo hours were checked in 2026-08-27 and are the fields most likely to move: confirm them on www.thepittsburghmarathon.com before you book anything. Spot an error? Tell us and we'll fix it fast.