Ten mile run route suggestion for Pittsburgh

September 13, 2011 6:54 AM

Pittsburghers who are runners/joggers, I need your help planning a route for an out of town visitor.

We are expecting a house guest who is in the process of training for a half marathon. During her visit here to Pittsburgh, she will be at a point in her training where she needs to do a ten mile run. I'd like your suggestions as to where it would be best for her to do this, as I am not a runner by any stretch of imagination. Our special issues:

1) Our hills. We live in Mt. Washington, but are open to driving her just about anywhere that has less of a grade. At this point in her training, she's not geared for McArdle Roadway.

2) Near someplace with something else for me to do. Our original plan was for us to go down to the rails-to-trails area on the South Side, and for me to attempt to learn to ride a bike while she runs. In the meantime, I've jacked my ankle to the point that learning to ride this year probably isn't going to happen. So something sort of nearby that I can kill time. Even if this is just a bench where I can read/knit, that's fine.

3) Bonus points if it has interesting scenery, highlights our city in some way, or is just generally awesome. I love Pittsburgh, so it makes me happy when I can show our visitors a little bit of the reason why.

Thank you so much! :)

posted by librarianamy to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

Have you tried looking at the public routes on Walkjogrun.com? There are a lot of running routes you can choose from that locals have programmed. Here is the list for Pittsburgh--use the "custom" link to select only the 10 mile routes.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:57 AM on September 13, 2011

How about the Three Rivers Heritage Trail on the North Shore? It is beautiful and right next to the river. There are a lot of benches as you get closer to PNC Park, and a lovely little sculpture area to hang out in.
posted by amicamentis at 7:04 AM on September 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The full North Shore trail from Alcosan/Penitentiary to Millvale is just about six miles end to end so your friend could easily run 10 miles on that. Park over by PNC park and you could hang out by the river or have lunch at Atrias or check out the Warhol and your friend could run 5 miles up and back to the east and then another five heading west and back. I've run along that trail most days, it's very nice and scenic and very flat.
posted by octothorpe at 7:21 AM on September 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

Loops involved OK ? There are good trails in/around Schenley park, and that's very close to the Phipps conservatory so you can go see plants. (There's also a track at Schenley too). I ran the trails, but forget the miles/routes. There are hills, but not God-Awful hills by any stretch.
posted by k5.user at 7:38 AM on September 13, 2011

Best answer: Runner's World has a wiki just for this, when runners are travelling and looking for a good place to run.

Here is the entry for Pittsburgh:

Three Rivers Heritage Trail System

Running for a nearly complete 21 miles along the three rivers of downtown Pittsburgh, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail system offers public trail access for cyclists, walkers, and runners. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail evolved from five separate trails surrounding downtown Pittsburgh, and runs along both sides of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, crisscrossing bridges into downtown, and continuing down the Ohio River. Some sections are paved with asphalt or concrete, and others with crushed limestone.

Frick Park
Get eight to nine miles of trail at Frick Park.

For an easy run through the park, try the Tranquil Trail. Start at the trailhead in Fern Hollow and enjoy a 1.2-mile wooded path with a gentle slope. Finish at the restored Gatehouse at Reynolds Street.
For a more challenging run, take the Falls Ravine trail. Start at the trailhead near the Open Air Shelter and run all the way to Beechwood Boulevard. This ¾-mile jaunt is shady and uphill.
For a rigorous run that’s nearly 2 miles, take the Lower Riverview Trail. Start at the junction where the Lower Riverview Trail meets with Falls Ravine Trail and Riverview Extension. Follow Lower Riverview Trail as it loops around to the west and take the right-hand fork onto Riverview Trail. Continue past Riverview Extension and stay on Riverview Trail until it meets the Fitness Circuit and continue to the Blue Slide Playground.

North Park
The crown jewel of North Park is two different five-mile paved loops, one of which circles the lake. The second follows a ridge line, which means you'll get your hill work in. If you're looking for dirt, you'll find 43 miles of singletrack easily at your disposal.

posted by I am the Walrus at 10:09 AM on September 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

Combining the Furnace (Jail) Trail and South Side trail will get her six miles; adding the stub from SSWorks to Glenwood Bridge (open weekends only) out and back should get to ten miles; there's access at both ends of South Side and at 18th, which gives you a good three miles of stuff to choose from while she's out.
posted by FlyingMonkey at 6:36 PM on September 13, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks everyone - I ran all of your suggestions past the folks involved, and our first choice is going to be the North Park lake loop and then if we don't have time to head up there, to hit the North Shore. You've all been an incredible help - thank you!
posted by librarianamy at 5:45 AM on September 20, 2011