2027 Pittsburgh Marathon - May 2 Countdown

Q: When is the 2027 Pittsburgh Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2027 DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is on Sunday, May 2, 2027, as the centerpiece of the Marathon Weekend (May 1-2). The full marathon starts at 7:00 a.m. ET on Liberty Avenue downtown, with corrals opening around 5:30 a.m. Runners in later corrals may cross the start line closer to 7:30 a.m.

Q: How hard is the Pittsburgh Marathon course? Is it hilly?

Yes — Pittsburgh is a deceptively challenging, rolling course, not a flat PR track. Net elevation is essentially zero, but you climb about 933 ft (284 m) total. The first 11 miles are manageable, then the climb from Forbes Avenue into Oakland near mile 11 packs almost 200 ft of gain in half a mile, with rolling hills continuing through mile 20. Run the front half conservatively and save your legs for the back-half climbs.

Q: Is the Pittsburgh Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The Pittsburgh Marathon is USATF-certified and a Boston-qualifying course, so a qualifying time here counts for Boston Marathon registration. It isn't the easiest course to run a BQ on given the back-half hills, but a well-paced effort absolutely qualifies. You can check your target with our Boston qualifying calculator.

Q: What is the time limit for the Pittsburgh Marathon?

The course has a 7-hour time limit. Pace requirements are enforced at checkpoints: you must reach the Birmingham Bridge by 10:40 a.m., roughly a 20:00/mile pace for the first half, then a 16:00/mile pace for the second half. Runners who fall off pace may be asked to board a sweep vehicle. Plan your splits with our finish time calculator.

Q: Which bridges does the Pittsburgh Marathon cross?

The course is built around Pittsburgh's signature yellow steel bridges and its three rivers. Runners cross the Birmingham Bridge, West End Bridge, and 16th Street Bridge over the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers. The bridges double as official checkpoint cutoffs, and several come with a short climb on the approach — part of what gives the race its rolling character.

Q: How do I register for the Pittsburgh Marathon and does it sell out?

Registration opens through the official site at thepittsburghmarathon.com, with tiered pricing that rises as race day approaches. The full marathon is popular and has sold out in recent years, so register early once entries open. All participants pick up bibs in person at the GNC Pittsburgh Live Well Expo during marathon weekend — there is no race-day packet pickup.

Q: What should I wear for the Pittsburgh Marathon?

Dress for a cool, humid start around 53°F / 12°C that warms into the 60s°F by late morning. A throwaway long-sleeve or gloves you can shed in the first few miles work well, but avoid overdressing — the climb into Oakland heats you up fast. Spring weather in Pittsburgh is changeable, so check the forecast for rain and bring a light layer for the start corral.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Pittsburgh Marathon - May 2
City	Pittsburgh
Date	2027-05-02 at 07:00
Field Size	~5,024 runners
Time Limit	7 hours
Cutoff pace	9:57/km
Timezone	America/New_York
Official Site	P3R (Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc.)
Registration	Register

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	13°C / 55°F
Humidity	78%
Wind	11.1 km/h
Rain Chance	46%
Typical Conditions	Cool, often overcast early-May Pittsburgh morning — comfortable for racing but can warm quickly

What to Prepare: Early May in Pittsburgh usually delivers a start around 53°F / 12°C with high humidity, climbing toward the low-to-mid 60s°F by late morning. Spring here is changeable — a clear sky and a passing shower are both on the table. Dress for the start with a throwaway top you can shed, and don't overdress: the climb into Oakland around mile 11 will heat you up fast.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 11.1 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	7.4°C	12.6°C	19.3°C
Dew point	1.8°C	8.7°C	15.8°C

Wet-day chance: 46% Runnability: 75/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	City point-to-loop through neighborhoods
Elevation Gain	284m
Terrain	Road (city streets, neighborhood climbs, and several bridge crossings)
Profile	Don't let the near-zero net change fool you — Pittsburgh is a genuinely tough, rolling course with about +933 ft (284 m) of total climbing across 26.2 miles. It starts on Liberty Avenue downtown near the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and immediately puts you on the city's iconic yellow steel bridges, crossing the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio over the course of the day. The first 11 miles are relatively forgiving as you roll through the Strip District, North Side, and South Side. Then the race turns: the climb from Forbes Avenue up into Oakland around mile 11 packs almost 200 ft of gain in roughly half a mile — right where the half-marathoners peel off to finish — and the rolling grind continues through miles 12 to 20 before one last climb near mile 20. It's USATF-certified and a legitimate Boston qualifier, but it rewards runners who bank nothing early and save their legs for the back-half hills, not a pancake-flat PR play.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Pittsburgh Marathon - May 2

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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Grade Adjusted Pace (GAP) Calculator — Hills & Strava

Convert uphill or downhill running pace to flat-equivalent GAP in one click. Free grade adjusted pac...

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Pittsburgh Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2027 DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is on Sunday, May 2, 2027, as the centerpiece of the Marathon Weekend (May 1-2). The full marathon starts at 7:00 a.m. ET on Liberty Avenue downtown, with corrals opening around 5:30 a.m. Runners in later corrals may cross the start line closer to 7:30 a.m.

How hard is the Pittsburgh Marathon course? Is it hilly?

Yes — Pittsburgh is a deceptively challenging, rolling course, not a flat PR track. Net elevation is essentially zero, but you climb about 933 ft (284 m) total. The first 11 miles are manageable, then the climb from Forbes Avenue into Oakland near mile 11 packs almost 200 ft of gain in half a mile, with rolling hills continuing through mile 20. Run the front half conservatively and save your legs for the back-half climbs.

Is the Pittsburgh Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The Pittsburgh Marathon is USATF-certified and a Boston-qualifying course, so a qualifying time here counts for Boston Marathon registration. It isn't the easiest course to run a BQ on given the back-half hills, but a well-paced effort absolutely qualifies. You can check your target with our Boston qualifying calculator.

What is the time limit for the Pittsburgh Marathon?

The course has a 7-hour time limit. Pace requirements are enforced at checkpoints: you must reach the Birmingham Bridge by 10:40 a.m., roughly a 20:00/mile pace for the first half, then a 16:00/mile pace for the second half. Runners who fall off pace may be asked to board a sweep vehicle. Plan your splits with our finish time calculator.

Which bridges does the Pittsburgh Marathon cross?

The course is built around Pittsburgh's signature yellow steel bridges and its three rivers. Runners cross the Birmingham Bridge, West End Bridge, and 16th Street Bridge over the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers. The bridges double as official checkpoint cutoffs, and several come with a short climb on the approach — part of what gives the race its rolling character.

How do I register for the Pittsburgh Marathon and does it sell out?

Registration opens through the official site at thepittsburghmarathon.com, with tiered pricing that rises as race day approaches. The full marathon is popular and has sold out in recent years, so register early once entries open. All participants pick up bibs in person at the GNC Pittsburgh Live Well Expo during marathon weekend — there is no race-day packet pickup.

What should I wear for the Pittsburgh Marathon?

Dress for a cool, humid start around 53°F / 12°C that warms into the 60s°F by late morning. A throwaway long-sleeve or gloves you can shed in the first few miles work well, but avoid overdressing — the climb into Oakland heats you up fast. Spring weather in Pittsburgh is changeable, so check the forecast for rain and bring a light layer for the start corral.