Is the Pittsburgh Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the Pittsburgh Marathon is a certified Boston qualifier. The course is USATF certified, so any qualifying time you run here is accepted by the BAA.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course has around 933 feet of cumulative gain and is essentially net neutral, with gain and loss nearly equal. The terrain is rolling throughout, with the most significant climbing concentrated in the middle miles. It is not a flat PR course, so plan your pacing accordingly.

What is the typical race-day weather in Pittsburgh in May?

Race-day temperatures typically range from the mid-40s°F in the morning to the mid-60s°F by midday. Conditions are generally mild with moderate humidity, though rain is possible. Most runners find May in Pittsburgh pleasant for racing.

How large is the Pittsburgh Marathon field?

Recent editions have seen around 5,000 marathon finishers. The mid-sized field gives the race a competitive atmosphere without the logistical complexity of the largest marathons.

Is the Pittsburgh Marathon course USATF certified?

Yes, the course is USATF certified, which means finishing times are eligible for use as Boston qualifying times and other official time standards.

Sun, May 2 · 2027Pittsburgh, PASince 1985

Pittsburgh Marathon

Pittsburgh's loop course takes you through the city's neighborhoods, bridges, and hills under mild May skies. It rewards honest preparation and punishes anyone who goes out too fast.

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PITTSBURGH · US

Pittsburgh

SUN, MAY 2

2027

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Race Overview

EST. 1985

Pittsburgh is a hilly city and this race makes no attempt to hide that. The course is a loop that moves through the city's neighborhoods and crosses its rivers, and the terrain is honest from early on. The middle miles have the most climbing, and if you go out with the crowd and feel great in the first half, you'll pay for it. Be patient in the first 10 miles. The payoff is that the course brings you back through the city for the finish, and the crowd support through the neighborhoods is genuine and loud.

This is a Boston qualifier, and the open registration makes it easy to get into. Just sign up before it fills. The May weather is usually cooperative, with cool mornings that warm up as the race goes on, so dress in layers you can shed and hydrate from mile one. The field is mid-sized, which means you get a real race atmosphere without the chaos of the massive majors. If you're chasing a BQ, the course can deliver it, but you'll need to respect the hills rather than fight them. Run smart and it's very much doable.

Field size

~5k

5,024 finishers

BQ rate

5%

Below national average

Time limit

7:00

Generous cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:10:24

John Kagwe

1995

Women

2:29:50

Margaret Groos

1988

The Course

933 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑933 ft

Total descent

↓939 ft

Net elevation

↓6 ft

Highest point

985 ft

Lowest point

724 ft

Course shape

Loop

Start and finish in one place

The Pittsburgh Marathon is a loop course with roughly 933 feet of gain spread across the full distance, making it a net-neutral but legitimately hilly run. Expect rolling terrain throughout rather than one concentrated climb. The hills stack up across the middle miles, so runners who bank early pace typically regret it by mile 18. The lowest stretches near the river offer brief recovery, but the course rises again before the finish. Surface is standard road. The near-neutral net elevation qualifies this as a Boston qualifier, though the cumulative gain makes a PR feel harder than that figure suggests. Pacing conservatively through the first half is the most important tactical decision on this course.

DIFFICULTYHILLYPR-FRIENDLYNO

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

44°F

High

66°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

May in Pittsburgh means you could get almost anything. The typical morning start is cool, probably jacket weather in the corral, but by the time you're deep into the back half the temperature has usually climbed into the mid-60s. That swing matters on a hilly course where you're already working harder than your pace suggests. Don't overdress for the gun. And if it's a warm year, treat hydration seriously from the first aid station, not just when you feel it.

Entry

OPEN

The Pittsburgh Marathon offers open registration on a first-come, first-served basis until the race sells out. Charity spots are available through partner organizations including the American Cancer Society and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The race also accepts seeded runners based on recent race results.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

PIT

13 mi

from the start

≈ 21 min transferOn the doorstep

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into PIT, about 13 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 21-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Pittsburgh, PA so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.

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