The Great Race in Pittsburgh is truly a great race….everything about it is phenomenal. The expo, the shuttles, the start, the course, the finish, the environment….I could go on and on. Let’s start from the beginning: the great race is somewhat of a tradition in Pittsburgh. People look forward to this race like no other and people travel to run it, too. Sign up ranges from $30 to $30 and its well worth every penny. The expo occurs at the Convention Center in Pittsburgh the last two days before the race. It’s big but not overwhelming. Everything is laid out very nicely and organized. You get in line for a number, go to another line for a shirt and bag, and then stroll through the plentiful vendors. Typical race expo with lots of samples and goodies! On race morning, I jog into downtown (1 mile from my apartment) to catch a shuttle to the start line. Public transportation buses become packed with runners and it is honestly one of my favorite parts of the day….being jammed into a bus with other people who love to run. The bus makes a 10-15 minute trip to Squirrel Hill, a Pittsburgh neighborhood where the race starts. There are plenty of porta-johns to use and water tables. You may even run into a spectator out on their lawn, offering you a granola bar or a clean place to pee. Ha-ha, this happened to me my first year! I have always been seeded for this race and it’s really a luxury. You get your own set of porta-johns, water table, and lots of room to warm up and stretch. The race starts with a slight uphill and then you battle your way up and down the rolling hills of Pittsburgh. It does level out at some point (around the 5 mark) and this is a great time to pick up some speed. The spectators are great and people are very supportive. You run through a few neighborhoods before you embark on the famous Boulevard of the Allies. I don’t really know if it’s famous but, I do know that it is deceptive. You may look on the map and think this is a flat stretch….however, it actually grades uphill slowly. Be prepared for that. It will quickly wear on you so, pace yourself and know that there is a mile or so to go…. When you make a turn into downtown, you are very close to the finish. This is where you want to start kicking. A lot of people do not kick until they see the finish line in this race so you can actually catch a lot of people. Soon, you will start to hear the announcer saying the names of the runners crossing the finish line. The finish is in Point Park and people literally create a tunnel that you run through. It’s kind of magical, with the city behind you and the famous Pittsburgh fountain ahead of you. Gosh, I love this race so much! When you finish, they hand you some swag (I got a headband in 2015 and a beanie in 2016) and your finisher’s medal. The park has lots of water tables, fruit and snack tables, and back pick up. There are lots of people at this race so, make a plan for where you will meet up with your friends.

Everything about this race is perfect. It has been run for a long time which means that they have perfected everything about it. I never have any complaints. The Great Race welcomes visitors and embraces locals alike. You will finish this race with a smile for sure. In 2016 I ran 40:05 (my goal was 40 flat, so I was pretty excited)! I was the seventh female overall!

xoxo, A