Defending champions look to extend their records at annual Great Race

Jennifer Bigham won last year’s Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 10K for her second back-to-back triumph in eight years.

One of the fastest masters runners in the country, she also won in 2016 and 2017 and finished first in 2019.

Bigham’s five Great Race 10K titles are the most of any runner in the event’s history, male or female.

The 2022 USA Masters Half Marathon and USA Masters One Mile champion returns Sunday morning hoping to make it three in a row.

Three-time defending men’s 10K champion Nick Wolk, a Peters Township and Pitt graduate, hopes to fend off a strong field as he attempts to extend his record winning streak.

Wolk also made history in 2021 when he became the first participant to win the 10K and 5K races in the same year and set a 5K record (14 minutes, 10 seconds) by 15 seconds.

Bigham and Wolk will join more than 10,000 runners and walkers throughout the weekend to celebrate the 47th fall classic.

“To be a part of an event that means so much to so many, it is so rewarding,” race director Brian Katze said.

“I go out to the 10K start line every year, and it’s special to see the number of people crossing the start line all excited to get out there and participate and be a part of it. It’s a sight to see thousands of people all running in the same direction. It takes almost nine minutes for everyone to cross the start line. That’s how deep it can go. It is a culmination of a year of work and effort from the City, P3R and so many others.”

Sunday’s races start at 8 a.m. with the 5K run and walk at the intersection of Fifth Avene and Atwood Street in Oakland.

The 10K handcycle division begins at 9:25 at Beechwood Boulevard in Squirrel Hill’s Frick Park.

The 10K run goes off at 9:30 and also starts in Frick Park. All three races will finish with medal ceremonies at Point State Park.

The predominantly downhill course will pass through several East End neighborhoods and will travel past five college campuses.

People who might want to run the 10K or 5K but haven’t registered yet can do so until Sunday morning. To register online, go to rungreatrace.com/register.

The One Great Race Challenge, first run in 2020, continues this year with more than 250 signed up to compete.

Running in person, a participant in the One Great Race Challenge will run the 5K and complete it within 40 minutes. He or she will then jump on a shuttle or another form of transportation to the 10K start line and then run the 10K.

They will earn a bonus medal in addition to the 10K and 5K medals.

Those willing sign up for the challenge are asked to complete a registration forthe 5K and 10K.

Close to a half million people have participated in the Great Race since its beginning. It is the largest 10K race in Pennsylvania.

The Dollar Bank Junior Great Race also returns Saturday morning starting at 9:30, and this year, close to 1,000 kids ages nine months to 12 years and their parents/guardians will take part.

The one-mile family fun run will be at 9:30, 10:00, and 10:30; the Tot Trot at 9:45 and 10:45, and the Diaper Dash at 10:15.

This year’s race welcomes back 18 Perfect Great Racers who have run every Great Race 10K since the beginning in 1977.

Forest Hills’ resident Paul Gaberson has run just 46 races in his life, and all 46 have been the Great Race.

Edgewood’s Dick Monheim is the oldest member of the group at 83, and the youngest is State College’s Marty Klanchar at 66.

Klanchar and Monroeville’s Don Slusser have run every Great Race and also every Pittsburgh Marathon.

The Perfect Great Racers group also includes former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy who turned 80 this year.

For a number of the Perfect Great Racers, the event has become a family affair as their children and grandchildren also will be running on Sunday.

“It is a testament to their desire to want to run this event every year,” Katze said. “They commit themselves to being here and running because it means so much to them. We are excited to celebrate with them on Sunday as they keep their streaks going.”

Katze said race officials are expecting a little weather with the remnant of Helene making its way through.

“It’s calling for hit-or-miss rain, and it will be a little bit warm, so we want to let people know to expect that weather and be prepared and stay hydrated,” he said.

“We have plans in place if it is too much. We know what our limits are, but we don’t anticipate many issues.”

Mayor Caliguiri established the Great Race in 1977 as a community “fun run.”

He died 11 years later from amyloidosis, a rare protein disorder in which one or more organ systems in the body accumulate deposits of abnormal proteins known as amyloid.

Each year, the Great Race supports amyloidosis medical research, donating $1 from every Great Race and Dollar Bank Junior Great Race registration to the Richard S. Caliguiri Amyloidosis Fund.

Again in 2024, $5 from every One Great Challenge registration will be donated.

“People tend to reach out and let us know of their personal stories,” Katze said.

“It is a way for those who are dealing with something like amyloidosis to honor someone who they have lost, to give back to the cause for research, or to support someone they know or may have known. We do hear personal anecdotes, and people are not shy about letting us know they appreciate that we bring the cause to light. With Mayor Caliguri having passed from that and having the race named after him, it was a no-brainer back in the day that this race would highlight his legacy and what he had to deal with.”

For all things Great Race, including race-day info, results and a decade-by-decade history of the event, visit rungreatrace.com.

The Perfect Great Racers – All 47 Years

Tom Abbott, Mars

Ken Balkey, Churchill

Gary Boyd, Butler

John Burnheimer, Shaler

Bob Costello, Connellsville

Philip Ehrman, Pittsburgh/South Side

Paul Gaberson, Forest Hills

Ronald Hannan, Pittsburgh/Morningside

Wayne Jacobs, Shaler

Marty Klanchar, State College

Jack Marszalek, Wilmerding

Roger McGuire, North Huntingdon

Tom Miles, Pittsburgh/Banksville

Dick Monheim, Edgewood

Tom Murphy, Pittsburgh/Perry South

John Richards III, Pine

Rob Ruck, Pittsburgh/Squirrel Hill

Don Slusser, Monroeville