PHOTO COURTESY P3R

The first Pittsburgh Marathon was held on May 5, 1985. About 1,500 men and 221 women competed in that first race, with Lisa and Ken Martin crossing the finish line first.

The pair were the first — and only — husband and wife duo to win the race, which originally started in Highland Park and finished in Point State Park.

Then-mayor Richard Caliguiri announced the event on Oct. 4, 1984, saying Pittsburgh would join New York, Boston, Toronto and Chicago by hosting annual marathon races.

“I have felt all along that anything any other city can do, Pittsburgh can do,” Caliguiri said.

Caliguiri also established the Great Race, now known as the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race, as a “community fun run” in 1977.

The Pittsburgh Marathon went on hiatus in 2004 due to financial issues but was re-established in 2009 as the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon with nonprofit organization P3R taking over the race’s management.

There are eight “Soul Survivors,” men who have run every single Pittsburgh Marathon since 1985, registered to once again run 26.2 miles this year.

Numerous events are held throughout marathon weekend, including a half-marathon, a 5K, a kids marathon and a pet walk.

This content was provided by P3R.