Jane Bareikis loves to run on the streets of Pittsburgh.
Her affinity goes well beyond her top finishes in the Pittsburgh Marathon.
The Kenya native and American citizen returns to Pittsburgh hoping to capture her third consecutive title. She was all smiles Friday morning talking about what Pittsburgh means to her.
“I knew I had to come back,” said Bareikis, who owns a personal marathon-best of 2 hours, 29 minutes.
“I would love to have that three-peat, but I am just so happy to be running here again and running against so many other great runners. There is just something about this city. All of the neighborhoods I am running through are just so beautiful, and the support from the spectators, everyone, cheering me on gives me energy.”
Bareikis joined fellow 26.2-miler and local favorite Will Loevner and half marathon favorites Buze Diriba Kejela and Mohammed El Youssfi at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for a celebration press conference Friday morning not only to kick off the weekend of races and activities throughout the city but also to help open the convention center’s Live Well Expo.
“The Pittsburgh Marathon is one of the most special days of the year for me,” said Loevner, a Winchester Thurston and Penn State graduate, member of the Pittsburgh Track club, and the men’s full marathon runner-up in 2024.
“Competing in my hometown, I get so much support along the course. I know these streets so well. I’ve been running them since high school. It is always an incredible experience.”
Troy Schooley, CEO of P3R, the engine behind all that happens this weekend, said seeing runners make that the final right turn onto the Boulevard of the Allies straightaway to the finish line always gives him chills.
His excitement was captured in his words Friday as he will oversee the largest Pittsburgh Marathon in history. More than 52,000 participants, ranging in age from 9 months to 88 years old, will be a part of 11 events across Saturday and Sunday. All 50 states and 33 countries will be represented.
“People often ask why this event has grown so much,” Schooley said. “I think it is because we have leaned completely into movement. It doesn’t matter how fast you get to the finish line. It is about just getting to the finish line. This weekend, we are going to embrace the last-place finisher just like we are going to embrace the first-place marathoners.”
Sunday’s races, which include a marathon relay division, a master’s division and 11 hand cyclists rolling through the full marathon, will carry a $102,000 total prize purse. Stephanie Bruce, a three-time U.S. national champion and a two-time Pittsburgh half-marathon champion, and defending half-marathon champions Everlyn Kemboi and Dominic Ondoro, will help lead the 13.1-mile elites.
“Everyone has a ‘why’ this weekend,” Schooley said. “Why they put themselves through training through our rough winters to get to that finish line. This event continues to change lives.”
Schooley introduced Bridgeville resident Kathleen Stanley, who has persevered through a myriad of health issues to reset her life and be in position to run this weekend. She competed in the Great Race 5K last September and will run the half marathon Sunday.
Stanley, 60, who has lost 140 pounds during her journey to better health, also will run the 5K Saturday to achieve the Steel Challenge Medal awarded to those who run the 5K and also one of the Sunday races.
“It is never too late,” she said. “I’ve got my life back. I am so excited to be doing this, and I am going to be back for the marathon next year.”
Clairton resident Quinn Kenavey, a 9-year-old Jefferson Hills Intermediate student, will be one of 11,000 at the start line of the kids marathon at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. She also is one of more than 4,700 supporting 50 official charities and 14 contributing charities through the Run For A Reason program, which is expected to raise more than $1.5 million this year.
Schooley spoke of the impact a conversation with Kenavey had on him. She has raised $1,500 for the Alzheimer’s Foundation in honor of her “Pap.”
“Quinn’s grandfather is afflicted with the disease,” Schooley said. “Pap was Quinn’s caregiver and someone she cares about deeply. She has seen the disease take so much away from him at this time. She is such a mature young lady for a fourth grader. I said, ‘Quinn, why are you running?’ She said, ‘I’m running for DeeDee (grandma), who cares for Pap, I’m running for Pap and I am running so someday we can stop Alzheimer’s.’ If you are ever questioning humanity or the power of the Pittsburgh Marathon, talk to this young lady.”
Allegheny County Executive Sarah Innamorato and Pittsburgh Major Corey O’Connor also offered words of excitement to help kick off marathon weekend.
“This is going to be a great weekend, a great event in the City of Pittsburgh,” said O’Connor, who offered a reminder of the additional traffic and people in the area Sunday with the Pirates game at 1:35 at PNC Park and Pitt’s commencement ceremony at 3 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium.
“It is going to be a busy and active city, which is what we love. It creates a vibrancy. Having 52,000 from every state and 34 countries, this is an amazing accomplishment for everyone here. I want to thank our public safety director and everyone at public safety and public works for getting everything squared away.”
No rain is expected for Sunday morning’s races, but temperatures around 7 a.m. will be in the low 40s with possible wind chills dipping into the upper 30s. Dr. Lenny Weiss, medical director for the Pittsburgh Marathon, said temps should rise into the 50s as the morning progresses.
“As in past marathons, we will have a first-class medical team ready to go,” he said.
Mark Rooks, vice president of creative sponsorships and creative at Dick’s Sporting Goods, excited those in attendance with the news that Dick’s Sporting Goods is extending its main sponsorship with the Pittsburgh Marathon for an additional two years.
“At Dick’s, we believe sports have the power to change lives, and every year we see that belief come to life during marathon weekend,” Rooks said.
“This event is about resilience, possibility and community.”
Schooley capped the morning by leading a ribbon cutting to officially open the Live Well Expo.
“This is the first touch point for all of the participants,” he said. “They’ve spent several months training, and we want them to feel welcome, take a lot of pictures, pick up their race bib, and enjoy a lot of our activation pieces, the memory walls and the photos. Friday is the kickoff to the weekend, and we want to make it super special for them as soon as they walk in those doors.”