The Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon has announced a partnership with Iceland’s Íslandsbanki Reykjavík Marathon as “sister marathons”
In an collaborative Instagram post last week, the marathons said the new partnership is “connecting two iconic cities through the shared passion of running.”
The partnership invites runners to “experience two distinctly different, yet equally unforgettable, destinations,” said a release from P3R, citing Pittsburgh’s neighborhood-driven race weekend and Reykjavík’s nature-driven race experience.
“For runners who love to travel, this partnership opens the door to unforgettable, bucket-list experiences, offering two very different races that showcase the heart, character and beauty of their cities,” said Troy Schooley, CEO of P3R, the firm that organizes the Pittsburgh race.
The Pittsburgh Marathon weekend is May 1-3 this year; the Reykjavík Marathon is on Aug. 22. Both places have some statistics nearly in common: The city of Pittsburgh’s population is around 307,000 and Iceland has a population of about 405,000.
As “sister marathons,” the Pittsburgh and Reykjavík marathons will collaborate on destination-driven storytelling, the release said, highlighting travel opportunities between the two destinations. More details about the collaboration will be annouced soon.
“At our core, both marathons are about bringing people together, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and creating moments that stay with runners long after they cross the finish line,” said Hrefna Hlín Sveinbjörnsdóttir, race director of the Íslandsbanki Reykjavík Marathon, in the release.
Icelandair began service at Pittsburgh International Airport in 2024, offering direct flights to Reykjavík and transfers to destinations across Europe. This year, the direct flights run from May 8 to Oct. 18; service is three days a week, with four flights weekly during the summer peak (June 15 to Aug. 30), as reported by the Pittsburgh Business Times.
“This partnership marks a significant milestone in P3R’s efforts to grow the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon’s global footprint and further drive its economic impact on our region,” said Jerad Bachar, president and CEO of VisitPittsbugh. “By leveraging the convenient connectivity of the Icelandair direct flight, we look forward to welcoming more global athletes and spectators to experience the very best of Pittsburgh.”