It isn’t easy, but with a little planning, you can both watch and run the Pittsburgh Marathon.

After a year of sitting out participation in the Pittsburgh Marathon events, I jumped at the chance to run a leg of a friend’s relay team for the 10th annual marathon. But I didn’t want to miss the fun of handing out beer with Pittsburgh Hash House Harriers at their stop in Bloomfield.

I developed a vague plan of how to get to the relay start on Pittsburgh’s Southside by 8:30, run my relay leg and end up at the hash beer stop to catch a ride home. The plan also included a route for Dave, my driver, to avoid rolling road closures.

We reached the North Shore to see the first runners speed around the turn from the 16th Street Bridge. As we parked on a side street and walked toward the river, the starter’s announcements and the roar of the crowd in the distance echoed from across the Allegheny River.

We marveled at how the front runners seemed to barely skim the ground with their quick, light cadence. Soon the occasional runner became a trickle, then a small stream. Then we realized that we needed to be on the other side of that stream to reach our destination.

We had to act quickly before the stream of runners became a torrent. I merged into a group and ran with them for a few meters, gradually easing my way toward the other side and out. Dave spied a break in the surge and sprinted across.

By the time we reached the downtown transit station, the corrals which surged with runners only an hour ago were empty. Family and friends toting jackets and sweatshirts along with relay runners bound for Station Square boarded the T for a quick ride across the Mon River.

The sea of runners hadn’t yet reached Relay Exchange 2. I easily crossed Carson Street and took my place in the throng of waiting runners. After a stretch and warm up, I took my place on the curb, cheering on friends who run by, occasionally texting Dave, who had taken his spectator position on T Station side of the street, and checking my teammate’s progress on a race tracking app.

The exchange zone had thinned out considerably when my teammate finally arrived to celebrate a run that marked her perseverance in the face of cancer, treatment and surgeries. I gave her a hug, her finisher’s medal and my sweatshirt and took off.

It felt good to be finally running. I felt fresh and fast, especially being surrounded by back-of-the-pack half marathoners who had already completed nine miles and mid-pack marathoners conserving energy for the upcoming miles.

I relaxed and enjoyed the scenery crossing the Birmingham Bridge, then focused on holding my pace on the uphill into Oakland. I felt a little guilty accepting encouragement from spectators since I hadn’t put in the miles to deserve it.

As I ran toward Shadyside, I recalled my last Pittsburgh Marathon effort. In 2011, I dropped out of the race there, my only DNF. It felt good to cruise through the place where I had met my defeat years earlier.

Too soon, I saw the relay exchange ahead. I ran to my waiting teammate who placed my medal around my neck and gave me my farewell hug.

After a walk and a stretch, I plotted a course for the hash beer stop on Liberty Avenue. I short-cutted from mile 13 to mile 20, then jogged to meet friends and my relay teammates at mile 22. Along the way, I met Dave and a group of local runners recovering from this year’s Boston Marathon with bicycle support for friends on the course. We stopped for a quick pizza and beer before joining the hashers in the next block.

The event that had begun with admiration for swift front runners ended with support for runners who would finish in more than six hours. Some were grateful for the diversion of the beer stop. Others were locked in their personal world of determination or pain.

Upcoming events

Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.: Run Club Group Run, Cranberry Township. Run from Mojo Running Store. 724-772-2808 or www.mojorunningpittsburgh.com

Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.: Shoes ‘n’ Brews, Valencia. Fun run or walk followed by social BYOB at Up’N’Running store. 724-898-2505

Saturday, 6:30 a.m.: Glacier Ridge Ultra (30k, 50k and 50 Miles), Moraine State Park. Starts at Pavilion 7, Daniels Boat Launch on North Shore. tamsuemcg@embarqumail.com

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Love your Library 5k Race and Walk-a-Thon, Saegertown. 814-763-5203 or Saegertown.ccfls.org

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Mud on the Mountain, Champion. Run at Seven Springs Resort. 814-352-7777 or mudonthemountain.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: John Thompson Memorial 5k, New Castle. 723-263-2171 or whutchison4973@yahoo.com

Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: GLOW 5k and 1 Mile, Zelienople. Kids in strollers welcome. Ericseaman1986@gmail.com

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.: ERC Mothers Day 5k, Erie. Starts on Lake Road at Beach 1. No dogs or strollers. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Erie/

Sunday, 8:35 p.m.: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5k, Pittsburgh. Also 5k Walk and One Mile Fun Walk. www.komenpittsburgh.org

May 18, 6:30 p.m.: Mighty Moraine Man Spring Sprint Triathlon, Portersville. Starts at Moraine State Pak South Shore. www.mightymoraineman.com

May 18, 7 p.m.: Elderton 5k, Elderton. rfrailey@windstream.net

May 19, 8:55 a.m.: Mars Band on the Run 5k/ 10k and Kids Fun Run, Mars. Tenth annual event to benefit Mars Band. www.marsband5k.com

May 20, 8 a.m.: Pocono Mountains Run for the Red Marathon, Pocono Summit. Choice of full or half marathon. info@poconomarathon.org

May 20, 9 a.m.: UPMC St. Margaret 5k, Aspinwall. Wilsonb2@upmc.edu or www.stmargaretfoundation.org/5K

May 27, 9 a.m.: Dahoga Dash 5k, Wilcox. 814-512-1374 or randylindberg@hotmail.com

May 28, 9 a.m.: Miracle Mountain Ranch Run, Spring Creek. Choice of 5k road or 4.6 mile trail races or untimed 1.5 mile run. 814-964-8548 or mmrm.org/retreats-and-events/5krace/

June 2, 7 a.m.: Rotary District 7280 5k Race for a Cause 5k and 1 Mile, Cranberry Township. mlord@ruppfiore.com

June 2, 9 a.m.: Freeport Flash 5k Run/walk, Freeport. Run on Butler-Freeport Trail starts at Monroe Road. 724-353-1945 or www.freeportcrosscountry.com

June 9, 9 a.m.: Fueled by Fire 5k Race/Walk, Mars. Held at Adams Township Community Park. 724-316-1173 or hgeyer@adamstwp.org

June 9, 9 a.m.: Move to Make a Difference 5k, 10k and Half Marathon, Kittanning. briggle@rgsymca.org

Race results

Pittsburgh Pirates Charities 5k, April 14: Matthew Puleio, 1st Overall M, 16:42; Brittany Leuenberger, 1st Overall W, 19:21; Daniel Pollock, 1st 60+ M, 22:14; Olivia Schoppen, 3rd 15 & Under W, 26:14; Robert Sands, 2nd 70+ M, 28:42; Valerie Sands, 1st 70+ W, 37:59; Brandon Domenick, 19:37; Joseph Hudeck, 21:29; Donald Donatelli, 21:35; Gary Valkavitch, 21:44; Hunter Berry, 22:55; Evan Sargo, 23:39; Colby Eldredge, 23:54; Ben Shumate, 24:43; Jacob Bonnar, 24:51; Riley Gillis, 25:58; Henry May, 26:07; Jake McCune, 26:11; George Reynolds, 27:07; Karen Callihan, 27:49; Lauren L’Herbier, 27:55; Kathryn Marley, 28:03; Megan Marley, 28:03; Rachel Rutkoski, 28:07; Dane Benko, 28:31; Mike Faller, 29:05; Tara Quinn, 29:07; Kayla Albert, 29:13; Alexa Headley, 29:13; Charles Headley, 29:16; Braeden Croop, 29:30; Alex Lipke, 29:35; Vinnie Santoro, 29:48; Heather Bonnar, 30:02; Jeff Eldredge, 30:20; Jennifer Allen, 30:22; Lori Yaw, 30:32; Ciarra Robinson, 30:34; Todd Pindroh, 30:40; Leigha Pindroh, 30:42; Richard Honsaker, 30:48; Janet Long, 31:22; Kristy Keller, 31:36; Jeffrey DeBaldo, 31:41; Brett Hugo, 32:06; Michael Tibolet, 32:17; Heather Byrom, 32:29; Donna Eshenbaugh, 32:53; Mark Straub, 33:09; Renee Schmitzer, 33:15; Joe Mulqueen, 33:20; Erin Shea, 33:24; Richard Cook, 33:38; Krista Geagan, 33:50; Lindsay Shumate, 33:53; Danielle Sheran, 33:53; Carly Brunner, 34:08; Jaime Foose, 34:28; Caitlin Brunner, 34:51; Cody Geagan, 35:14; Mallorie Shanholtzer, 35:16; Rachel Lawler, 35:27; Tara Dean, 35:33; Michael Dean, 35:34; Charleen Michaels, 35:40; Monica Stipanovich, 35:43; Meghan Villegas, 35:44; Tara Savage, 35:58; Travis Rogan, 36:06; Richard Lipke, 36:22; Grace Roda, 36:44; Deb Miller, 36:44, Alexandra Kerr, 36:53; Michael Kerr, 36:55; Diane Hanchosky, 37:00; Samantha Hill, 37:20; Crystal Albert, 37:21; Melissa Berry, 37:26; Voni Woods, 37:37; Karina Bonnar, 38:17; Brian Bonnar, 38:18; Eng Tan, 38:21; Owen Tan, 38:21; Bill Sucic, 38:46; Dalton Jones, 39:30; Joseph Mielecki, 39:38; Nathan Rossman, 40:14; Charles Hufnagle, 40:38; Cayden Mohler, 40:39; Gabriella DiFrangia, 40:48; Nazli Dum, 40:49; Erica DiFrangia, 41:21; Blake Kennedy, 42:38; Bryce Kennedy, 42:54; Brad Kennedy, 42:55; Kalynn Callihan, 43:30; Mike Singer, 44:25; Braden Croll, 44:44; Sarah Russ, 44:57; Kirsten Garczynski, 44:57; Amanda Blair, 45:20; Hayden Sukits, 45:35; Shirley Stine, 45:35; Keenan Sukits, 45:36; Steve Cox, 45:56; Annabelle Cox, 45:57; Turner Cox, 46:00; Landon Yourish, 46:00; Jay Yourish, 46:01; Casey Shea, 46:30; Glenn Woods, 46:50; Ashley Mikulan, 47:15; Gary Brunner, 48:44; Bethany Bowen, 49:39; Jennifer Schmidt, 49:44; Thomas Turner, 49:46; Kathleen Vinay, 50:10; Laura Ankrom, 50:32; Jean Cook, 51:27; Bobby DePasquale, 52:37; Diane Pelusi, 54:30; Amy Jackson, 54:30; Nancy Zattiero, 55:12; Kathy McCaffrey, 55:49; Jim Pappas, 56:05; Holli Peters, 56:12; Jeremy Burden, 56:24; Carla Cox, 57:34; Miriam Cox, 57:34; Dan Mitchell, 58:08; Sheena Van Dyke, 58:22; Lisa Marcellus, 1:02:25; Janet Kirkwood, 1:04:23; Kathy Baum, 1:06:31

Flying Pig 5k, April 21: Nathan Kraus, 1st Overall M, 17:21; Ashley Henshaw, 1st Overall W, 25:31; Zach Kraus, 1st 20-29 M, 17:55; Connor Casted, 15 & Under M, 18:38; Debbie Courtney, 1st 50-59 W, 25:40; Jack Wells, 2nd 15 & Under M, 26:21; Marisa Guriel, 2nd 30-39 W, 26:30; Harrison Saltrick, 3rd 15 & Under M, 26:31; Keith Saltrick, 1st 40-49 M, 26:35; Michael Poff, 1st 70+ M, 27:02; Ryan Wells, 2nd 40-49 M, 28:05; Amy Lockwood, 1st 40-49 W, 28:57; David Valenz, 1st 50-59 M, 31:29; Nicole Grove, 1st 20-29 W, 31:55; Kara Shuty, 2nd 40-49 W, 32:21; Stephanie McCreary, 3rd 40-49 W, 32:21; Michele Carson, 3rd 50-59 W, 33:32; Pamela DeGroff, 2nd 60-69 W, 45:05; Sonni Zambino, 3rd 60-69 M, 45:10; Nicholas Savolski, 28:54; Mike Peck, 31:29; Andrew Kraus, 32:02; Lucas Savolski, 33:19; Audrey Weber, 36:24; Chad Lords, 36:24; Heather Lords, 36:24; Bev Bell, 50:04; Gillian Caramanno, 53:57; Constance Stembal, 1:01:11; Joan Montgomery, 1:01:19

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.netS

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler EagleSend comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.netS