Runners of Steel Converge at the Pittsburgh Marathon

Benjamin and I are not alone in our enthusiasm for running. Indeed, the marathon last Sunday featured thousands of runners from across the globe all congregated in Pittsburgh to beat their personal bests. And in an era marked and blemished by COVID-19, 2022 marked the first time in three years this once-annual event has taken place in person. While my brother boasted of completing marathons at home during virtual events held in 2020 and 2021, he would face a different beast this year, thanks in part to the uncooperative weather faced by runners on Sunday, and the shape and contour of Pittsburgh’s roads.

Considering all this, it’s worth wondering what it takes to get out there and start running in the first place. According to Benjamin, it takes “wanting to do it.”

“If I didn’t want to do it as much as I wanted to, it wouldn’t have happened… I’ve been running shorter distances for years and wanted to run a marathon for the past three years. It took about four intense months of training to get myself ready for the marathon itself.”

Resplendent in running gear on both the day of the 5K and the marathon, it was clear that Benjamin was ready to run. Cue the national anthem and a series of stretches on important muscle groups just before the starting gun, and they’re off.

Thanks to modern technology, I and other family members on the sidelines could keep track of Benjamin’s progress through our iPhones and the tracking technology used on each runner’s racing bib. On the opposite side of the bib, a small strip of metal identified every participant to measure their pace and even assist them in case of a medical emergency. At certain intervals, I would check my brother’s progress as he approached Shadyside, traversed through Homewood, and even as he trotted over the final mile downtown before crossing the finish line.

While every runner is greeted at the finish line by boxes of bananas, bottles of water, a gift bag and medals to show appreciation for every last participant, it’s the worth of knowing they can do it that is most valuable.

In the end, my brother finished middle-of-the-pack on Sunday’s marathon, number 1,206 out of 2,619 overall. In photos taken after the event, my brother can be seen donning a nasal strip, a sweatband, a pair of calf sleeves and even a hydrophobic solution over his clothing to whisk away raindrops. Certainly, my brother was more well-prepared than other participants, some of whom could be spotted wearing tutus or dressed as Waldo.

At the top of the pack on Sunday’s marathon was Alvaro Abreu, who finished the marathon in two hours, sixteen minutes. But no matter how they finished or how far they travelled to get here, every participant could delight in knowing they were part of this great city and community for a day.

Upon the sidewalks of the streets the runners traversed, helpful hands extended cups of water - sometimes even beer - to the thirsty and dehydrated marathoners. Even Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky was in town to encourage participants in the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon. It was all a reminder of what the pandemic had taken away. No matter which stretch of the marathon, there were people gathered outside to loudly cheer on these Runners of Steel. And now that the marathon has returned, race weekend has the potential to draw in more participants and expand further next year. With good luck and good training, my family and I will be there once again.