Pittsburgh Marathon

Which state swings the hardest in the United States? It's the state that can sway the president. It was also the state where Trump was shot at a rally in 2024. It is both the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and the eye of the storm in the general election. It is Pennsylvania. Hey everyone, this is Asen Man. At this stop, we left Kentucky and headed toward the steel city of Pittsburgh, running a marathon packed with bridges and steep climbs.

Run50 State 19, Pennsylvania – It is not just the state that swings, but so is the course. Pennsylvania's location on the U.S. map is crucial: New York to the east, Ohio to the west, Maryland to the south, and the Great Lakes to the north. It's like a true "cornerstone" - the Cornerstone State. The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, and the Constitution was born here. The history is ridiculously thick.

But in modern times, it is better known as a swing state. Every election, the national media focuses on it—turning red, turning blue, turning red again. In the summer of 2024, Trump was shot in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and a bullet grazed his ear. At that moment, the whole world once again realized that Pennsylvania was not only important, but also sensitive.

However, this time we are not going to Philadelphia, we are going to Pittsburgh. Three rivers intersect and there are more than 400 bridges, so it is nicknamed - Bridge Capital. Once upon a time, chimneys stood tall and steel roared, a microcosm of American industry. Now steel is out, CMU is here, Pitt is here, robotics, medicine, technology. A heart of steel, a brain of wisdom, this is Pittsburgh.

We set out at 4:30 on Saturday morning, while it was still dark, pulling out of the night and driving slowly until dawn. The sky is gray, the road has just rained, and there are large golden rapeseed flowers on the roadside. At that moment, I suddenly thought of Yuan'an, Hubei - where I ran my first half-marathon ten years ago. Ten years later, I was on my way to the 19th state.

Time is like a butcher's knife. Arrive at the Airbnb. On the hillside, you can see the red brick hut looking up and the confluence of three rivers looking down. After eating at the Bangladesh buffet, we went to the expo to pick up equipment. The hall was full of runners and it was very lively. Early the next morning, the sky was already white when we arrived at the starting point of the city center.

The black and yellow color scheme, my outfit for the day, just blended in with the crowd. The starting point was bustling with people, the rain had just washed the streets, and the tall buildings looked like polished iron. In the first two miles, the old warehouse has been turned into a cafe, and the walls are covered with graffiti - steel shell, artistic heart.

Three miles away, the first yellow bridge - the 16th Street Yellow Bridge, the stone tower looks like a gatekeeper, and the wind blows up from the river. Seven Mile, West End Bridge, skyline spreads, Mount Washington in the distance. The bridge is the metronome of Pittsburgh. Ten miles away, in the southern commercial district, there were suddenly more people.

Gummies, oranges, pickle juice, the children held black and yellow flags, and their cheers were particularly sincere. Twelve miles later, we entered the University of Pittsburgh, the palace of learning—a 42-story Gothic tower that was particularly solemn under the cloudy sky. Across the street, Carnegie Mellon is the mecca of computers and the cradle of robots.

Fourteen miles later, the neighborhood became quiet, with green trees, churches, and brick houses. Residents brought out chairs to cheer, another side of the Steel City. The last six miles, back to the city center, high-rise canyons, shouting echoes, the end is just ahead. Crossed the finish line in just over 4 hours - with so many slopes, I was quite satisfied.

The medal is the confluence of three rivers, a cutting-edge state park, and fountains soaring into the sky. Everything is just right. I met a runner who was wearing a Manchester United jersey and I was wearing an Arsenal jersey. We politely took a photo with each other, feeling very arrogant in my heart. On the way back, I took a shower at the gym, put on my finishing clothes, and turned into a local alley.

Blue sky, green grass, and hills, returning from the Steel City to the Bluegrass State is like completing a cycle. Steel is not just metal. It's resilience. This is also my memory of these 42 kilometers. Run50 State 19, Pennsylvania finished, see you in the next state.