Marathoners are known to push through roadblocks such as blackened toenails, stabbing knee pain and cramped calves.

So when the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon unexpectedly capped and then closed registration in March, some of those shut out of the race didn't take the news lying down.

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"It's amazing," said race director Patrice Matamoros. "We've had people who cry, people who beg, people who yell, people who offer cash."

She received flowers at the office and calls on her personal phone.

One of the most memorable efforts was a man who showed up at the race office bearing medals from every Pittsburgh marathon -- save this one, for which he had registered too late.

And then there was the poem that arrived via e-mail: 10 neat stanzas composed of rhyming couplets:

I do know you're busy and even reading is a chore

And I understand if you can't help anymore

But if there is a way you can help one more person in need

I want to run the half marathon -- I'd be grateful indeed

Ms. Matamoros decided to answer the poet's plea and allow him into the half-marathon field. "I said, 'You know what? You're in,' and I'll take the heat for that one," she said laughing.

Marathons in other cities, such as New York and Chicago, routinely have more runners applying than they are able to accept, but Pittsburgh has traditionally been able to accommodate everyone who wants to run.

This year, however, demand far surpassed organizers' expectations.

"Our initial goal was 3,500," said Michele Fetting, president of the marathon's board. "We were going to be happy with 3,500. When we saw that numbers going through the roof, it was cause for panic."

In 2003, the last year the city held a marathon, the field was about 6,000. Shortly after even that mark was passed, organizers decided to cap the field at 9,000 for safety reasons.

Registration spiked immediately after the announcement of the cap in mid-March. "We had 30 percent of our registration taken in less than 24 hours," said Ms. Matamoros.

Ms. Fetting guessed that the surge of registrants came from both the popularity of the half-marathon, which was added this year, and from pent-up demand from people with fond memories of the marathon in years past.

Eventually, organizers were able to let in another 1,500 runners from their waiting list. But even that caused some problems.

Ms. Matamoros recalled one man who called with a legitimate beef that he should have been allowed entry from the waiting list. But he was so rude to staff members that Ms. Matamoros got on the phone and told him, "In all actuality, you should be in, but I don't want mean runners on the course."

She suggested he call back the next day and try to be nicer. He did and he was, and on Sunday he'll be running the race.