FELICITY TAYLOR IS HEARING ABOUT THE LAST MINUTE PREPARATIONS. 26,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN FAMILY DAY EVENTS ON SATURDAY, AND 30,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN RACE DAY ON SUNDAY. THAT MEANS SATURDAY NIGHT IS ALL ABOUT SWITCHING EVERYTHING OVER AND SETTING UP THAT COURSE, SWITCHING OUT SOME OF THE VENDOR TENTS, RESTOCKING SOME OF THE ITEMS RIGHT UP THE STREET AT THE FINISH LINE. WE EXTEND OUR FINISH LINE SHOOT FOR TOMORROW, ADDING REPLENISHING OUR WATER, REPLENISHING OUR BANANAS. 4000 PEOPLE ARE WORKING THE MARATHON AND THEY’RE SPLIT INTO ALL DIFFERENT TEAMS. THE FINISH LINE MEDICAL TENT WAS SET UP SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AND THERE’S ALSO MULTIPLE STATIONS ON THE COURSE. WE HAVE A VARIETY OF CARE THAT’S AVAILABLE ANYWHERE FROM BANDAGES TO MUSCULOSKELETAL STRAINS AND SPRAINS, ALL THE WAY TO BEING ABLE TO HANDLE SOMEONE IF THEY HAVE SEVERE RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS OR CARDIAC PROBLEMS, OR IF WE NEED TO ACTUALLY BREATHE OR RESUSCITATE THEM. WE ALSO DEAL WITH TEMPERATURE RELATED CONDITIONS SUCH AS HYPOTHERMIA OR HYPERTHERMIA. THE LAST STEPS ARE BUILDING OUT THE COURSE. BOULEVARD OF THE ALLIES IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FROM COMMONWEALTH TO SMITHFIELD. THEN, AT AROUND 1 A.M., THE START LINE TEAM WILL START SHUTTING DOWN LIBERTY. AFTER THAT, WE’LL SHUT DOWN COMMONWEALTH. THE RAMPS COMING OFF THE FORT PITT BRIDGE TO BEGIN THAT FINAL PARTICIPANT WALK OFF ON COMMONWEALTH BEFORE THEY GET PUSHED HERE INTO THE PARK. SO THAT STARTS ABOUT 4:00 IN THE MORNING AT 6 A.M. THE REST OF THE COURSE WILL CLOSE OFF, AND THE HAND CYCLE DIVISION STARTS AT 650 YELLOW. NO PARKING SIGNS ALONG THE COURSE HAVE BEEN UP ALL WEEK AND THAT NO PARKING WENT INTO EFFECT AT 10 P.M. THERE MIGHT BE OTHER CARS THERE, BUT YOU KNOW, THE POLICE TOW COMPANY WILL BE AROUND TO START TAGGING AND TOWING. THAT WAY WE GET THE RACE ROUTE CLEAR, SAFE, SECURE. AGAIN, THOSE MAIN ROAD CLOSURES AND SET UP BEGIN AT 1 A.M. COVE
A look at Marathon Eve: What it takes to set up the Pittsburgh Marathon
Updated: 4:29 AM EDT May 3, 2026
The Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is set to begin Sunday morning, with organizers finalizing preparations, including road closures, medical stations and course setup. On Saturday, 26,000 people participated in family day events, and organizers expect around 30,000 participants for Sunday’s races. “Switching out some of the vendor tents, restocking some of the items right up the street at the finish line. We extend our finish line shoot for tomorrow, adding, you know, replenishing our water, replenishing our bananas,” said Brian Schmidt, senior vice president of operations at P3R. Four thousand people are working the marathon, divided into different teams. The finish line medical tent was set up Saturday afternoon, along with multiple medical stations throughout the course. “We have a variety of care that’s available. Anywhere from bandages to musculoskeletal strains and sprains, all the way to being able to handle someone if they have severe respiratory problems or cardiac problems. Or if we need to actually breathe or resuscitate them. We also deal with temperature-related conditions such as hypothermia or hyperthermia,” said Leonard Weiss, medical director. The final steps include building out the course. Boulevard of the Allies is currently closed from Commonwealth to Smithfield, and at 1 a.m., the start line team will begin shutting down Liberty Avenue. “We’ll shut down Commonwealth, the ranch coming off the Fort Pitt Bridge to begin that final, participate walk off on Commonwealth before they get pushed here into the, into the park. So that starts about 4 in the morning,” Schmidt said. At 6 a.m., the rest of the course will be closed off, and the hand cycle division starts at 6:50 a.m. Yellow no-parking signs along the course have been up all week, with no parking going into effect at 10 p.m. Saturday. “There might be other cars there, but, you know, the police tow company will be around to start tagging and towing. That way we can get the race route clear, safe, secure,” Schmidt said.
PITTSBURGH —
The Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is set to begin Sunday morning, with organizers finalizing preparations, including road closures, medical stations and course setup.
On Saturday, 26,000 people participated in family day events, and organizers expect around 30,000 participants for Sunday’s races.
“Switching out some of the vendor tents, restocking some of the items right up the street at the finish line. We extend our finish line shoot for tomorrow, adding, you know, replenishing our water, replenishing our bananas,” said Brian Schmidt, senior vice president of operations at P3R.
Four thousand people are working the marathon, divided into different teams. The finish line medical tent was set up Saturday afternoon, along with multiple medical stations throughout the course.
“We have a variety of care that’s available. Anywhere from bandages to musculoskeletal strains and sprains, all the way to being able to handle someone if they have severe respiratory problems or cardiac problems. Or if we need to actually breathe or resuscitate them. We also deal with temperature-related conditions such as hypothermia or hyperthermia,” said Leonard Weiss, medical director.
The final steps include building out the course. Boulevard of the Allies is currently closed from Commonwealth to Smithfield, and at 1 a.m., the start line team will begin shutting down Liberty Avenue.
“We’ll shut down Commonwealth, the ranch coming off the Fort Pitt Bridge to begin that final, participate walk off on Commonwealth before they get pushed here into the, into the park. So that starts about 4 in the morning,” Schmidt said.
At 6 a.m., the rest of the course will be closed off, and the hand cycle division starts at 6:50 a.m. Yellow no-parking signs along the course have been up all week, with no parking going into effect at 10 p.m. Saturday.
“There might be other cars there, but, you know, the police tow company will be around to start tagging and towing. That way we can get the race route clear, safe, secure,” Schmidt said.