Thousands flood downtown for annual Pittsburgh Marathon

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PITTSBURGH — With fireworks overhead, 20,000 runners from 50 states, ten countries and six continents began their 26.2 mile trek for the 2023 Pittsburgh Marathon.

PHOTOS: 2023 Pittsburgh Marathon

An estimated 300,000 spectators lined the marathon route that took runners and hand-cyclists on a tour of the city through 14 city neighborhoods.

This is the 15th year for the marathon.

Four thousand volunteers helped make it happen.

“This is a community event. This is an event that takes a small army to put together. Super excited,” CEO of P3R Troy Scholey said.

At 2 hours, 16 minutes and eight seconds, there was a first-place finisher. The winner of this year’s Pittsburgh Marathon is Tyler McCandless, from Ft Collins, Colorado.

Channel 11 talked to him moments after he crossed the finish line.

“It was awesome. There were so many spectators out there today. It is felt like a hometown race. Super cool,” McCandless said.

McCandless was greeted by his wife and two boys. He told us he ran the Pittsburgh Marathon in 2015 and came in fourth.

“The hills are just really tough. Pretty steep, they beat you up. It’s hard to get moving. But still a great race,” McCandless said.

McCandless will be taking home $7,000 in prize money.

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