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Old 04-09-2014, 07:10 PM
 
75 posts, read 93,572 times
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For the runners out there -- what are your favorite local 5K's? I'm considering my summer race calendar and want to pick three, maybe four races this summer. I'd love some recommendations.

In my experience, a race can be great for various reasons: interesting course, especially challenging, super-fast, embodies the characteristics of its host neighborhood, good finish line festivities, etc.

Here are some I've enjoyed:

Riverview Park 5K: usually a Friday evening in mid-June. Winds through one of the more underappreciated city parks. Evening race time means cooler temps. The first mile winds around the observatory and back, the second heads downhill, and the third mile is straight uphill. Brutal, but rewarding.

Run Around the Square (Regent Square): I love the idea of this race -- about two miles on Regent Square streets, and a mile on trails through Frick Park. I love the after-race party with free beer. However, I think it's entirely too crowded, especially when a street-wide pack of runners funnels onto the park trails, and I don't love running on brick streets. Late August.

Brentwood Firecracker: great Fourth of July race. Rolling hills on Brownsville Road -- deceptively tough course. Great spectators (though unfortunately a fair number of smokers among them), lots of spirit. Great after-party, again with the free beer.
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Old 04-09-2014, 07:20 PM
 
Location: Brookline, PGH
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Not a runner, but I gotta rep my new 'hood:

Brookline Breeze
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Old 04-09-2014, 07:30 PM
 
Location: Pittsburgh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimboPGH View Post
Seems nice enough, but I'd like to see an elevation chart before I sign-up.
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Old 04-09-2014, 07:44 PM
 
Location: Manchester
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Brookline Breeze is rough, but a good time...a decent amount of community support and a really decent finish line set up and I think it is only like $15...this year the Blvd will be newly paved and the reconstruction will be complete so it should be a great time.

A nice touch of this race is that as you stand at the start line, you can see the funeral home at the top of the first hill...very appropriate given the topography of Brookline....
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Old 04-09-2014, 07:50 PM
 
Location: Manchester
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Total Elevation Gain of the Brookline Breeze is 324ft.

Here is a link that shows the entire elevation chart

Brookline breeze 5k wahoo! in Pittsburgh, PA | MapMyWalk
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Old 04-09-2014, 08:11 PM
 
Location: Pittsburgh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PghYinzer View Post
Total Elevation Gain of the Brookline Breeze is 324ft.
If I'm understanding these charts right, that's more gain than the entire half marathon.

2012 Pittsburgh Half Marathon in Pittsburgh, PA | MapMyRun
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Old 04-09-2014, 08:13 PM
 
Location: Manchester
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Total gain for the entire PGH marathon is only 8 feet....but that is due to the large downhill portion along Liberty Avenue....

It’s a tough start for a 5k, but you do get to enjoy it downhill at the finish...
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Old 04-09-2014, 08:18 PM
 
Location: Pittsburgh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PghYinzer View Post
Total gain for the entire PGH marathon is only 8 feet....but that is due to the large downhill portion along Liberty Avenue....
The total gain for the marathon is 613 feet. Obviously, you go down almost exactly as much as you go up. The finish line and starting line are basically in the same place.

Pittsburgh Marathon 2012 in Pittsburgh, PA | MapMyRun
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Old 04-09-2014, 08:18 PM
 
Location: A coal patch in Pennsyltucky
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I agree with you on the Regent Square and Brentwood races, I've never done the Riverpark 5K. All of the Citiparks races are good and that would include the Greenfield Glide, Brookline Breeze and the Great Race. Also check out the races associated with the Steelers and Pirates on the North Shore. I've run the Gatorade-Steelers 5K.

If you are willing to travel, here are some picks that I have run:

Mt. Summit Challenge April 27th, 2014 Uniontown Fayette Striders, Mt. Summit Challenge This is definitely a unique race since it is almost completely uphill, total elevation gain is 1,200 feet.

Whiskey Rebellion 5K, Canonsburg https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Canons...llion5KRunWalk If you don't run the Brentwood race on the 4th of July, than this is the one to do. It is also a pre-parade race.

John Woodruff 5K, Connellsville - Woodruff Race 2014 run on a Wed. night in July with as many as 700-800 runners and walkers.

Penn State Arts Festival races, State College - Art's Festival Races held on Penn State campus during the Arts Festival. You can go for the races and spend the day.

Charleroi Little Great Race, 9/12/2014 - Charleroi - 28th Annual Charleroi Federal Little Great Race: Saturday, September 13, 2014 - 8:15 am Fast course, good turnout, pleny of food after the race.

Run Shadyside 5K, 10/11/2014 - Shadyside - RUNSHADYSIDE | 2013 Shadyside 5K Never ran this race for some reason but it's in Pgh and I would expect it to be a good course. They had almost a thousand runners last year.


Here are some links to local races:

Race Schedule | Elite Runners Race Management Event Schedule | Elite Runners & Walkers

The Runner's High

iPlayOutside - Your Appalachian Destination for Outdoor Sports

Miles of Smiles Timing Services Homepage
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Old 04-09-2014, 08:23 PM
 
Location: Manchester
3,110 posts, read 2,917,912 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moby Hick View Post
The total gain for the marathon is 613 feet. Obviously, you go down almost exactly as much as you go up. The finish line and starting line are basically in the same place.

Pittsburgh Marathon 2012 in Pittsburgh, PA | MapMyRun
Conflicting evidence....so who knows...


Pittsburgh Marathon photo - Greg Maclin photos at pbase.com
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