Those running the first leg of the relay will begin at the official start line, all other team members will start at specific exchange zones. Each relay exchange area has corrals for runners to gather. Volunteers will hold signs with bib numbers aligning with a corral so runners know where to wait for their approaching team member.

As a runner approaches the relay exchange zone, announcers will alert waiting runners by calling out the last three digits of the incoming bib numbers. Team members waiting at the relay exchange should listen and look for their teammate and proceed to the end of their relay corral to await the exchange. The finishing runner will give the baton to the waiting runner minimizing congestion in the relay exchange area. 

Because of the limited space within the corral area, please make note of your relay teammate’s pace so you will know the approximate time to expect them and enter the corral approximately 30 minutes prior to their expected arrival.

Signage will be placed on the course indicating a ½ mile to the relay exchange. As relay runners approach the relay exchanges, cones and caution tape will line the street directing the runner to move into the relay chute. 

All relay exchanges will be equipped with water, bananas, heat sheets and portable restrooms for runners finishing their relay leg. Aid stations will also be positioned near each relay exchange zone.

LEG 1: Relay team members who are running the first leg of the Relay will line up at the start line with Full and Half Marathon participants; the start line is located in Downtown Pittsburgh on Liberty Avenue near 10th Street.  All relay runners completing the first leg will start in corral C. No relay team check-in is necessary at the start line. There are no shuttles to or from the start line.

LEGS 2,3: Because of race day traffic and road closures, it is recommended that participants walk to their exchange zones (one and two) from the Downtown area. There are no shuttles to or from exchange zones one and two.

LEGS 4,5: Shuttle buses will be available on race day for legs four and five ONLY (exchange zones three and four). Because of road closures and limited parking at exchange zones, it is highly recommended that leg four and five participants utilize the shuttle service.

Please note, only the leg 5 participant will enter the finish line chute near Point State Park; relay participants who have already completed their leg should NOT enter the finish line chute near the Finish Line Festival. Marathon Relay participants will be able to join their team members in the Finish Line Festival in Point State Park.

Please note, gear check will NOT be available at relay exchange zones. Gear Check drop-off is only available at the Gateway Center T-Station.

At the Start Line: 

Only the one team member who is running the first leg of the Relay will line up at the start line with Marathon and Half Marathon participants; the start line is located in Downtown Pittsburgh on Liberty Avenue near 10th Street. No relay team check-in is necessary at the start line. There are no shuttles to or from the start line. All relay runners completing the first leg will start in corral C.

After You Finish: 

Leg 1 finishes at Exchange Zone 1 at North Shore Drive & Tony Dorsett Drive. After completing your leg, you can walk back to Point State Park by using the Ft. Duquesne pedestrian bridge.

Start at Exchange Zone 1:

Relay team members who are running the second leg of the Relay will line up at Relay Exchange 1; the exchange zone will be at the corner of North Shore Drive and Tony Dorsett Drive. The finishing runner will give the baton to the waiting runner to complete the relay exchange.

Getting to Exchange Zone 1: 

Option 1: Walking from Point State Park (approximately .5 miles):

• Start on the fountain side of the Portal Bridge
• Cross Ft. Duquesne pedestrian bridge
• Exit onto North Shore Drive and proceed to the exchange zone

Option 2: Walking from the Gateway T Station (approximately 1.1 miles):

• Turn left on Stanwix toward Ft. Duquesne Blvd.
• Turn right on Ft. Duquesne Blvd., walk toward 7th Street, and cross the 7th Street Bridge
• After crossing the bridge, turn left on West General Robinson and continue until you reach Tony Dorsett Drive
• Turn left on Tony Dorsett Drive and walk until you reach the Exchange Zone

After You Finish:

After you finish running Leg 2, you can return to the start/finish areas downtown from Exchange Zone 3.

Start at Exchange Zone 2: The relay team member who is running the third leg of the Relay will line up at Relay Exchange 2; the exchange zone will be at the intersection of East Carson Street and the Smithfield Street Bridge near Station Square in the South Side. The finishing runner will give the baton to the waiting runner to complete the relay exchange.

Getting to Exchange Zone 2:

Option 1: Walking from Point State Park (approximately 1.4 miles):

• Walk toward the start line on Liberty Avenue
• Turn right onto Stanwix Street
• Turn left onto Fourth Avenue
• Turn right onto Grant Street
• Cross the Boulevard of the Allies at Grant Street Turn right onto Fort Pitt Blvd.
• Turn left onto the Smithfield Street Bridge; cross the bridge
• After you cross the bridge, Exchange Zone 2 will be on your left on East Carson Street

Option 2: From the Gateway Center T Station:

• Take the T to Station Square Station (fare will apply)
• Exchange Zone 3 will be across the street from the Station Square T Station

Option 3: From the Gateway Center T Station (free option) (approximately .7 miles):

• Take the T to the First Avenue T Station (fare-free zone)
• After exiting the First Avenue T Station, turn left onto First Avenue
• Turn left onto Grant Street
• Turn right onto Ft. Pitt Blvd.
• Turn left onto the Smithfield Street Bridge and cross the bridge
• After you cross the bridge, Exchange Zone 2 will be on your left along East Carson Street

After You Finish: 

After you finish running Leg 3, you can take the shuttle from Exchange Zone 3 to the DoubleTree Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. Shuttles will run continuously until the Exchange Zone closes.

Start at Exchange Zone 3:

The Relay team member who is running the fourth leg of the Relay will line up at Relay Exchange 3; the exchange zone will be at the intersection of Fifth Ave and Beechwood Blvd in Point Breeze. The finishing runner will give the baton to the waiting runner to complete the relay exchange.

Getting to Exchange Zone 3:

Shuttle service will be available for Relay Exchange 3:

Shuttles will start running at 6:00 AM race morning. Leg four and five participants can load buses on Centre Ave in front of the DoubleTree Hotel, Downtown. Participants should plan on at least a 30-minute bus ride each direction. It is highly recommended that participants plan to arrive at their designated relay exchange zone at least 30 minutes prior to their teammate’s expected arrival. Please note, shuttles will run from the DoubleTree Hotel, to Relay Exchange 4, to Relay Exchange 3, then they will reverse their route and travel from Relay Exchange 3, to Relay Exchange 4, to the DoubleTree Hotel Downtown.

Shuttles will drop off Leg 4 participants along Penn Ave across from Bakery Square, near Mellon Park. Participants will walk down Penn Ave and turn right onto Fifth Ave. The relay exchange zone corrals will be near the intersection of Fifth Ave and Beechwood Blvd.

After You Finish: 

After you finish running Leg 4, you can take the shuttle from Exchange Zone 4 to the DoubleTree Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. Shuttles will run continuously until the Exchange Zone closes.

Start at Exchange Zone 4:

The Relay team members who is running the fifth leg of the Relay will line up at Relay Exchange 4; the exchange zone will be at the intersection of Baum Blvd and S. Aiken Ave in Bloomfield. The finishing runner will give the baton to the waiting runner to complete the relay exchange.

Getting to Exchange Zone 4:

Shuttle service will be available for Relay Exchange 4:

Shuttles will start running at 6:00 AM race morning. Leg four and five participants can load buses on Centre Ave in front of the DoubleTree Hotel, Downtown. Participants should plan on at least a 30-minute bus ride each direction. It is highly recommended that participants plan to arrive at their designated relay exchange zone at least 30 minutes prior to their teammate’s expected arrival. Please note, shuttles will run from the DoubleTree Hotel, to Relay Exchange 4, to Relay Exchange 3, then they will reverse their route and travel from Relay Exchange 3, to Relay Exchange 4, to the DoubleTree Hotel Downtown.

Shuttles will drop off leg 5 participants at the intersection of South Aiken Ave and Centre Ave. Participants will walk down S. Aiken Ave to Baum Blvd. The relay exchange zone corrals will be on Baum Blvd, between South Aiken Ave and Liberty Ave.

After You Finish:

Leg 5 participants will finish at the DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon finish line in Downtown Pittsburgh. You can proceed through the finish line chute to collect your medal and other post-race goodies before entering the Finish Line Festival in Point State Park where you can reunite with your team!

If any of your team members can no longer participate in the event, that individual can transfer their registration to a new runner via Race Roster (please come to Runner Services at the Expo if you have any difficulties). Please note that transfer fees apply when transferring your registration to another participant. If you can’t replace a teammate, team members can run multiple legs of the event.

Additionally, please note that there is a $50 fee to add a team member at the Health & Fitness Expo. We highly encourage you to have your team finalized well before race weekend to avoid this fee!

• No refunds or deferments of entry fees
• Paper/mail-in registrations will not be accepted after January 1, 2026
• Bicycles, skateboards, scooters, baby joggers, strollers, roller skates, and roller blades are not permitted on the course
• Headphones are strongly discouraged
• No wheelchairs are permitted on the marathon relay course
• No animals are permitted on the course
• The DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon have a zero-tolerance drug policy. Athletes who participate in these events may be subject to drug testing conducted by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) or other licensed entity. Athletes with positive drug test results will forfeit any prize money and will be disqualified from the event in which such athlete participated.

The overall course pace requirement is 16:00 minutes per mile. If you are unable to adhere to the permitted pace per mile, you may be asked to board a sweep vehicle. If you refuse to board the vehicle when asked, you must move to the sidewalk so traffic can resume. If you choose to continue after the roads have reopened, there will be no medical support, fluid stations, or course marshals at intersections, and the course will no longer be marked. Participants after that time will not be guaranteed a time or finisher’s medal.

Each individual FedEx Pittsburgh Marathon Relay participant will receive a Marathon Relay bib number that must be worn on the front of the runner’s shirt, as well as a Marathon Relay designation that must be worn on the runner’s back. Please note, each bib is designated with a number 1-5 after the team number. These numbers are assigned at random and do not represent which leg of the race you are running. You do not need to notify us of who is running which leg.

Your team captain will need to register first and pay the registration fee on behalf of the entire team. They will automatically be registered as a team member when they do, and they do not need to register a second time as a team member. After the team captain registers the team, the rest of the team can sign up to join.

Yes, you can register virtually for any Marathon Weekend event. Items for all virtual participants will be mailed 2-4 weeks after Marathon Weekend.

Your race items will not be available for pick up at the Expo.

• Minimum age for marathon relay participants: 14 on May 3, 2026 (no exceptions)
  • Participants aged 14-15 on race day may participate in one relay leg
  • Participants aged 16-17 on race day may participate in up to two relay legs
  • Participants aged 18 and older on race day may participate in up to four relay legs

The FedEx Pittsburgh Marathon Relay use Chronotrack B-tag timing. It is an all-weather disposable tag in the team relay baton and it transmits a unique signal to enable a computer to record the official time.

Teams running the FedEx Pittsburgh Marathon Relay will pass the team timing device from runner to runner using the provided baton. 

Each team’s total elapsed time will be used to determine the winners. In the event of a tie for first place, the time of the runner of the first leg of the relay will determine the winner. Awards will be given to the top three overall Male, Female and Open Division teams.

All results released on race day are unofficial until verified. Official results will be posted online.

Any protests of irregularity or fouls taking place during the competition must be made in writing and received by 5:00 PM Monday, May 11, 2026. We recommend that you email any protest to the P3R office at info@p3r.org. Decisions of the P3R team are final.