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CBS News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Runners take to the streets for 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon Sunday races
Runners take to the streets for 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon Sunday races Runners take to the streets for 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon Sunday races Runners take to the streets for 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon Sunday races It was race weekend here in the Steel City as hundreds of thousands flooded downtown for the Pittsburgh Marathon. From Downtown to the West End to Homewood and everywhere in between, 23,000 people laced up their sneakers to participate in the Pittsburgh Marathon. Thousands of people lined downtown to cheer on the 23,000 runners who participated in Sunday's marathon, relay, or half marathon. Crossing the finish line first for the half was Dominic Ondoro, who came back to compete in Pittsburgh. "I am so happy to win this race. I'm feeling so awesome," Ondoro said. The women's half-marathon winner says it was at the 10-mile mark when she knew she had won. "I think today was the right time for me. I just want to do well. The goal was to do well, but in the back of my mind, I wanted to win," said winner Everlyn Kemboi. The full marathon elite runners completed the hilly 26.2-mile course in just a few hours, bringing in some cash prizes. "Yes, I was working towards winning. It was in my mind the whole time," said Mulgeta Birhanu Feyissa, winner of the men's race. "It means a lot because last year I came here and won, but I was having a tough time, so I'm happy today because I felt in control," said Jane Bareickis, winner of the women's race. Among the thousands of runners was a group racing for a purpose. Just weeks ago, Don Slusser, a legendary runner, Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduate, and one of only eight men to run every Pittsburgh Marathon since it began in 1985, died before another marathon he was supposed to run. Friends and family honored his memory by carrying his bib number 1226 across the course he loved so much for one last time. "He never missed a marathon, he never missed a Great Race," said Roger McGuire, a friend of Slusser's. "They decided to honor him by having a relay team, and I was honored to be the anchor." If you're feeling up to it, registration for next year's Pittsburgh Marathon will be open by Monday.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 Pittsburgh Marathon weekend draws record-large number of participants
A record-setting 46,000 people came out for the 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon weekend this year. At 7 a.m. Sunday, tens of thousands of runners hit the pavement for the 2025 Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon. Participants came from all 50 states and 24 countries to run the 26.2 miles throughout Pittsburgh's winding and hilly landscape. The male marathon winner, Mulgeta Birhanu Feyissa, crossed the finish line at 2 hours, 14 minutes and 31 seconds. Advertisement 'Yes, it's a little warm it's a little humid and there were a few uphill's. I'm very happy. I'm extremely pleased,' he said. Jane Bareikis took the top spot in the women's division for the second year in a row. 'As they go across the bridges and through our neighborhoods... they're greeted with enthusiastic folks on the sidelines really cheering them on at every turn,' Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said. We spoke to one runner about why he participated in the race. 'I'm from Saint Louis, Missouri. Just happy to be here for the Pittsburgh Marathon. I started in 2015. I started doing this running for Alzheimer's, dementia, cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure,' Christopher Blair said. Advertisement Each person has a different reason for being a part of the race, but there is one thing everyone gets. 'The crowds are out encouraging them, getting them to this finish line, you see everybody starting to cross now - a lot of smiles on their faces, a lot of excitement,' CEO of P3R Troy Schooley said. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
CBS News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Pittsburgh Marathon honors longtime runner who died while kayaking in Tennessee
The Pittsburgh Marathon is honoring a longtime runner who died while kayaking before he could run this weekend. Don Slusser ran in every single Pittsburgh Marathon since it began in 1985, and was a leading member of a group of eight men called the "sole survivors," who are the only ones who have done the same. Saturday's Pittsburgh Marathon Hall of Fame ceremony was meant to celebrate longtime runners like Tom Abbott. "I really am humbled and honored," Abbott said as he took the stage." And I thank you, and especially like to thank a friend of mine of over 50 years. He passed away about a month ago, Donnie Slusser." Slusser, 73, died while kayaking in Tennessee. He helped to organize the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. For years, he was the one helping to make sure things ran smoothly, even if that was just handing out bags to inductees. He helped to organize the committee that voted on new inductees and collected stats on runners for them to review. He's also the one who, months ago, informed inductees like Abbott that they'd made the Hall of Fame. They first raced each other in high school. "I know he's up there, and he's organizing the pearly gates marathon at this minute," Abbott said. "I don't want an entry very soon, but save one." Another "sole survivor," Tim Hewitt, also inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday, said Slusser embodied running in Pittsburgh. "It's sad; you can't be here and not think [Slusser] should be here," Hewitt said. "I'd look at him and say, 'How can he even move,' and then I'd be worried he was going to pass me because he was that determined." Like Hewitt and Abbott are now, Slusser was also a Hall of Famer. He was part of the inaugural class in 2009, a product of his achievements during races and the lifetime more than 200,000 miles he had run. "If you had a bad race, he'd say, 'Come on, come up next week, there's another race,'" Abbott said. Marathon Course Director Melissa Cade, who also helps organize the Hall of Fame ceremony, said Slusser ran with grit, heart, and humility. "He gave advice without ego. He gave support without any condition, and kindness without hesitation," Cade said. She grew emotional as she was close to wrapping up a speech she delivered about Slusser at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. "In a world moving too fast, Don slowed things down by putting one foot in front of the other over and over again for the right reasons," Cade said. "Pittsburgh has lost a true original, but Don Slusser's legacy will echo on every trail, track, and quiet morning sidewalk." A story she said that was not just written in race times, but the lives he touched. "We're going to run with empty hearts and for me this [race] will be in his honor," Hewitt said. On Sunday, five runners will participate in a relay, passing along Slusser's final printed bib and taking it across the finish line one more time. During the ceremony, Louis Kusher was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was part of the group that brought the race back to the city after a six-year absence. He detailed the struggles they faced, saying they lacked credibility. "For us, it was a dream," Kushner said. "Pittsburgh needed to have a marathon. You couldn't be a big league city without a marathon, so we persevered." Kushner can now admit they managed that first marathon on "a wing and a prayer." They were ready to call 2,000 runners a success. Instead, they had thousands more and were forced to cut off registration at 10,000, he said.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Medical professionals ready to care for any injury during possibly rainy 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon
The start of the Pittsburgh Marathon is just a few hours away. It kicks off at 7 a.m. on Sunday. Yiming Gu of Shaler was one of the last runners to pick up his race numbers before doors closed Saturday. Advertisement 'I'm excited and I'm (sic) looking forward to this day for a while,' Gu said. Gu will be one of the anticipated 23,000 runners taking their marks just days after devastating storms rolled through the area. With more rain expected on race day, Gu said it's not ideal, but he's ready. TRACK THE RAIN WITH OUR INTERACTIVE RADAR 'For me, the most difficult part is my feet will get soft because of the moisture, so it's very easy to get blisters,' he said. Pittsburgh Marathon Medical Director Leonard Weiss said the wet weather can also cause slips and falls. That's why more than 300 health care professionals and volunteers will be on standby at a medical tent at the finish line and stationed along the course. Advertisement 'We're ready to take care of anything from the most minor to the most severe illness or injury. We have a critical care area,' Weiss said. 'We have 17 aid stations that are spread out throughout the course. We have medics that are on cycles. We have medics and ambulances, physicians, PAs, nurses. They're all spread out and ready.' Weiss said the best thing to do before the race is to drink plenty of water, eat a healthy meal and rest up. That's what Yiming Gu, 35, plans to do before running the marathon a second time after a 10-year hiatus. 'I just want to finish alive and healthy, and really, I'm getting older,' Gu said. 'I have recently had a new baby, so it's more like being healthy and being there for the baby and role model for the baby.' Advertisement Weiss said during the marathon, they typically treat about 200 to 300 people. Everything is in place for Sunday's race except for the starting line. That is going to be set up overnight starting at 2 a.m. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rain dies down Saturday morning, could return later in the day
Rain from overnight is starting to pull away this morning, at least temporarily. A front is stalling across the area today, which will keep waves of showers going through much of the weekend. The steadiest rain today will move through early this afternoon and then again this evening, with thunderstorms most likely for areas south and east of Pittsburgh toward the Laurel Highlands. Widespread severe weather is not expected, but one or two storms could be strong with damaging winds the primary risk. Steady light rain is expected much of the night before starting to pull away a bit Sunday morning. The Pittsburgh Marathon looks a bit too damp to start, but we may see breaks throughout the race. There will be many dry hours Sunday afternoon before the next round of storms arrives by evening. This unsettled pattern will linger into early next week as an upper-level area of low pressure stalls nearby. Daily chances for showers and thunder are expected Monday and Tuesday before we finally start to dry out by mid-week. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
