Community Corner

Run Around the Square Draws Crowd from Across the Nation

The deadline is fast approaching for this popular neighborhood run, which will be held this year on Aug. 27.

Races in Regent Square don’t have water breaks along the route—they have beer breaks.

The 29th annual begins Aug. 27 with a 1.5 mile fun run throughout the neighborhood at 8:15 a.m., followed by a 5K walk/run at 9 a.m. that winds through the Frick Park trails.

A neighborhood staple, the event brings in runners and participants from across the country.

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This run is set apart from the majority of competitive races because of its character—musicians and entertainment play along the trails as runners pass by and volunteers hand out cups of beer as well. At the finish line, provides hot dogs—and more beer.

, Run Around the Square’s race director, said the board of all-volunteers who handle the event each year are dedicated to making it a success.

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“It was a neighborhood event that started with a few hundred people and people come back and do it year after year,” she said. “It’s a neat course, it’s somewhat challenging and we have entertainment—people love that.”

Registration for the 5K is all online, and will close at midnight Aug. 24, or when the capacity of 1,500 participants is reached. As of Monday, there were about 1,000 participants registered.

The race begins at Milton and Henrietta, then goes through Frick Park. The race is headquartered at this year for storage purposes.

The 5K numbers have grown year after year, with 1,700 registering for last year’s race. That’s one of the reasons the Run Around the Square switched to all-online registration this year to cut back on printing costs and improve management capabilities. Capping the race participant number also was necessary for safety issues, as participants are funneled from the street onto a narrow park trail.

“It’s very well supported in the neighborhood and people come out and cheer,” Bour said. “It’s just a lot of really cool fun things and that’s why people come back.”

Dogs and strollers are strictly only allowed on the 1.5 mile fun run, which is geared towards families.

The 5K is a USA Track and Field sanctioned course, which satisfies the competitive runner who is building a resume during the spring and summer months.

“I think that’s another reason why it draws so widely from other places and not just Pittsburgh,” she said.

Another aspect of the race that makes it special: the people.

“We get hundreds of people to volunteer every year, just about every business in Regent Square sponsors it in some way as well as adjacent businesses, and they have consistently for years and years—people just support this race," she said.

Bour also said another difference this year is a new website. She also said while the race has always given away long sleeved shirts, this year, they will not be taking requests for sizes.

“The size that people request really has no impact because they have been ordered for months,” she said. “There’s no way we can guarantee that.”

Proceeds from the race are given to local organizations, including , Frick Environmental Center, Wilkins School Community Center and others.

“We exist to support organizations that help better the community, and each year those are the ones we traditionally give to,” Bour said.

Bour said she is excited for yet another great community race.

“I am looking forward to good weather, everything going smoothly and efficiently and laying the groundwork for a great 30th anniversary next year,” she said.

For more information, visit the Run Around the Square website here, or email contact@runaroundthesquare.com. Registration for the 1.5 mile fun run will take place Aug. 25 and 26 at the Wilkins School Community Center from 6 to 8 p.m. Participants also can register online—there is no cap for the fun run.

All online registration closes at midnight Aug. 24 for both events. Packets for the entire day of events also can be picked up at WSCC Aug. 25 and 26 at the same time, or, the day of the race. Participants are encouraged to pick them up earlier.


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