Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race
Encyclopedia
The Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race, known most commonly as the Great Race, is a major 10 kilometer foot race
held annually in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in the United States
. It is named after former Mayor of Pittsburgh Richard S. Caliguiri. Established in 1985, the race has been held the last Sunday of September each year except 2003, when the city of Pittsburgh faced financial difficulty.
Since the revival of the Pittsburgh Marathon
in 2009, participation in the Great Race has increased dramatically, meeting registration caps enacted to limit the total number of runners. In 2010, 14,000 runners competed, making the race the largest 10k race in Pennsylvania and tenth largest in the United States. A 5k race immediately precedes the 10k race, which essentially follows the second half of the 10k course. Both races finish at the same location in Point State Park
in downtown Pittsburgh.
Beginning at the foot of Frick Park
, the course of the Great Race leads through some of Pittsburgh's most well-known neighborhoods, including Squirrel Hill, Shadyside
, The Bluff (Uptown)
, and Downtown. Runners pass the three largest universities in Pittsburgh during the race, Carnegie Mellon
, University of Pittsburgh
, and Duquesne
. Finishing roughly 400 feet below the start line, the course is downhill almost in its entirety, enabling a competitive race.
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
held annually in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is named after former Mayor of Pittsburgh Richard S. Caliguiri. Established in 1985, the race has been held the last Sunday of September each year except 2003, when the city of Pittsburgh faced financial difficulty.
Since the revival of the Pittsburgh Marathon
Pittsburgh Marathon
The Pittsburgh Marathon is a foot race covering held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States. The race was held annually from 1985–2003 , and was revived in 2009 as the "Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon."The 1988 and 2000 races were USA Olympic Trials for women and men,...
in 2009, participation in the Great Race has increased dramatically, meeting registration caps enacted to limit the total number of runners. In 2010, 14,000 runners competed, making the race the largest 10k race in Pennsylvania and tenth largest in the United States. A 5k race immediately precedes the 10k race, which essentially follows the second half of the 10k course. Both races finish at the same location in Point State Park
Point State Park
Point State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Downtown Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, forming the Ohio River....
in downtown Pittsburgh.
Beginning at the foot of Frick Park
Frick Park
Frick Park is the largest municipal park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, covering .The park began when Henry Clay Frick, upon his death in 1919, bequeathed south of Clayton, his Point Breeze mansion . He also arranged for a $2 million trust fund for long-term maintenance for the park, which opened on...
, the course of the Great Race leads through some of Pittsburgh's most well-known neighborhoods, including Squirrel Hill, Shadyside
Shadyside (Pittsburgh)
Shadyside is a neighborhood in the East End of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It has zip codes of both 15232 and 15206, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 8...
, The Bluff (Uptown)
Bluff (Pittsburgh)
The Bluff or Uptown is a neighborhood in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the southeast of the city's Central Business District. It is bordered in the north by the Hill District and just a short trip across the Monongahela River is the city's South Side, which is home to a flourishing...
, and Downtown. Runners pass the three largest universities in Pittsburgh during the race, Carnegie Mellon
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
, University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, and Duquesne
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
. Finishing roughly 400 feet below the start line, the course is downhill almost in its entirety, enabling a competitive race.