Pittsburgh Marathon course map and elevation.

How I’d run it, stretch by stretch

Miles 1 to 3: Downtown, the Strip District and the 16th Street Bridge

Over these 3.2 miles the course climbs 50 feet and drops 26, 24 feet net up.

The first wave goes at 7:00, and the first three miles are as flat as this course gets: out Liberty Avenue through the Strip District, back down Penn Avenue and over the Allegheny on the 16th Street Bridge. The half marathon runs with you until mile 12, so it’s crowded. Let the field sort itself out and run these miles a few seconds slower than goal. The hard part of this race is in the second half.

Miles 4 to 6: the North Side and the North Shore

Over these 3.1 miles the course climbs 70 feet and drops 92, 24 feet net down. The climb: Up to Allegheny Commons from mile 3.8 (+41 feet over 0.4 mi, 2.0%).

Two short rises, up East Ohio Street and up to Allegheny Commons, about 40 feet each, then a gentle drift back down to the river past PNC Park, Acrisure Stadium and Rivers Casino. There’s more music here than anywhere outside the East End. Enjoy it, and keep the effort even through the bumps.

Miles 7 to 10: the West End Bridge, Carson Street and Station Square

Over these 4.4 miles the course climbs 114 feet and drops 103, 13 feet net up.

Over the Ohio on the West End Bridge, a short loop through the West End, and back along Carson Street under Mount Washington. It looks flat on the profile, but it rolls: a rise on Steuben Street and a couple of bumps on Carson Street, 30 to 40 feet each. The crowds are thin until Station Square, and then East Carson Street through the South Side is loud. Settle into goal pace here and stay patient.

Miles 11 and 12: the Birmingham Bridge and the climb up Forbes Avenue

Over these 1.8 miles the course climbs 161 feet and drops 0, 159 feet net up. The climb: The Birmingham Bridge and Forbes Avenue from mile 10.8 (+162 feet over 1.8 mi, 1.7%).

This is the Pittsburgh Marathon’s hill. The road starts to tilt on East Carson Street, then climbs over the Birmingham Bridge and up Forbes Avenue into Oakland: about 160 feet, steepest on Forbes just past mile 12, at better than 5%. The half marathon peels off at the end of the bridge, so the road empties just as it gets steep. Run it by effort, not pace, and accept a slower mile. There’s a gel station at the top, at 12.5.

Miles 13 to 16: Oakland, Shadyside and Point Breeze

Over these 4 miles the course climbs 174 feet and drops 126, 52 feet net up. The two climbs: Fifth Avenue into Shadyside from mile 13.8 (+41 feet over 0.5 mi, 1.5%); Up South Highland Avenue to Fifth from mile 14.9 (+63 feet over 0.6 mi, 1.9%).

Past the Cathedral of Learning to halfway on Forbes Avenue, then the course keeps climbing in smaller pieces: Fifth Avenue into Shadyside, about 40 feet, and South Highland Avenue back up to Fifth, about 60, to the high point of the course, about 985 feet, on Penn Avenue in Point Breeze. None of these is hard on its own. Right after Forbes, they add up, so give yourself until the top before you go back to goal pace.

Miles 17 to 22: Homewood, East Liberty and Highland Park

Over these 5.3 miles the course climbs 157 feet and drops 229, 75 feet net down. The climb: Up to Highland Park from mile 19.2 (+82 feet over 0.9 mi, 1.7%).

The East End is the loudest part of the race, with bands and neighborhood cheer groups most of the way. It rolls: down Penn Avenue from the high point, a short rise on Frankstown Avenue at 18, then the last long climb, about 80 feet up North Highland Avenue to Highland Park just before mile 20. The gel station at 20.6 comes right after it. Then Negley Avenue takes you down toward Bloomfield.

Miles 23 and 24: Bloomfield and the drop down Liberty Avenue

Over these 2.1 miles the course climbs 61 feet and drops 210, 149 feet net down. The climb: Liberty Avenue into Bloomfield from mile 22.0 (+60 feet over 0.8 mi, 1.5%).

One more rise, about 60 feet up Liberty Avenue into Bloomfield, and then the payoff: the course drops about 210 feet in a little over a mile, down Liberty Avenue through Lawrenceville to the Strip, steepest past Herron Avenue. Shorten your stride and keep your feet under you. It’s tempting to let it fly, but pounding down this hill on tired quads is how the last two miles fall apart.

Miles 25 to the finish: the Strip District to the Boulevard of the Allies

Over these 2.2 miles the course climbs 22 feet and drops 25, about level overall.

The last two miles are flat: back down Liberty Avenue almost to the start line, then Smithfield Street and the Boulevard of the Allies to the finish by Point State Park. If you were patient on Forbes and through the East End, this is where you get it back. Empty the tank.