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Neighborhoods gear up to cheer marathoners on their way
Monday, May 01, 2000 By Ellen Mazo, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
When runners reach mile 17.6 of the marathon on Sunday, they will know they are in Homewood when they see the familiar arch of red-and-blue balloons.
Scudamore's success just what doctor ordered,
In deference to the neighborhood filled with so many churches, Homewood keeps the marathon festivities low-key each year.
"We still enjoy watching the runners," said Glenn Freeman at Operation Better Block. "We like it that they know when they see the balloons that they're nearing the finish line."
One thing is for sure. There will be a lot of pounding feet racing the circuitous 26.2 miles through Pittsburgh's neighborhoods this year during the UPMC Health System City of Pittsburgh Marathon.
The number of expected competitors -- including the 114 men who have qualified to compete in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trails for the Men's Marathon -- is the highest since the 1980s, said race director Larry Grollman.
And there will be no lack of festivities to cheer on the runners, including lots of music.
The marathon has enlisted 20 bands and disc jockeys at key spots to fill the air with lively music for both runners and bystanders.
"Music by the Mile!" is being organized by SFX Inc., starting with Mojo Filter near the starting line on Grant Street, Downtown.
Grollman noted that the race already has " a great thing going with the activities and music in the neighborhoods," and the new musical attractions will add to the fun.
Businesses in neighborhoods including Lawrenceville, the North Side, South Side, Oakland, Shadyside and Bloomfield will display signs and banners and sell food and drinks to bystanders. Clowns, face painters, musicians and other performers will liven up the crowds.
"And this year, Oakland will be clean," declared Lori Kumar of the Oakland Business Improvement District, promising that a crew will be out to pick up any debris.
Kumar promised a hearty group of people to cheer on the runners at the almost-half-way point of the race, as well as a good supply of bananas that Oakland traditionally distributes to runners.
AT&T volunteers will join Highland Park residents at the 20-mile mark on Bryant Street to cheer on the runners at the point in the race referred to as "the wall" -- the spot where runners seem to run out of whatever energy they may have left.
The AT&T volunteers will be carrying cell phones so runners can call anyone in the United States for the encouragement they may need before running the last six miles.
One of the biggest attractions again promises to be Bloomfield, the last residential neighborhood before runners descend into the Strip District for the last few miles of the race.
Bloomfield's Liberty Avenue promises to be a lively spot, starting Friday, when the Bloomfield Citizens Council/Bloomfield Business Association hosts its three-day music festival.
Those wanting to cheer on racers in the last several miles in the Strip District will be accompanied by bands and disc jockeys from miles 22 to 25, including Six Musical Acts, Ros Chambeaux, Erratic, Snowborne, Crop Circle and Mojo Filter (which will have moved from the starting line).
Meanwhile, marathon organizers wanted to remind onlookers to take along their Sunday Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which will include the registered names and bib numbers of runners. That way, they'll be able to call out the names of the runners as they go by.
"We're always trying to add features to make the race more attractive for everyone, runners and bystanders," said Grollman. "We think this year will be one of our most fun yet."
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