In a wine-induced stupor last night, I registered for the May 3, 2009 Pittsburgh Half Marathon, which is finally back after a 6 year hiatus. It will keep me training over the winter, and it will get us back to the city so close to our hearts for a weekend. I predict that it will hurt the Cleveland Marathon turn-out since they are only 2 weeks apart. The buzz at the starting line of Cleveland’s race this year was all about the fact that the Pittsburgh Marathon was going to be back in 2009. Cleveland really needs to work on their race in order to get people to register (I will admit that they were making some strides with tech shirts for half marathon participants and a try at course entertainment…it’s supposed to be a Rock n’ Roll marathon for pete’s sake). Forcing people to run Marginal for 4 miles at the end of a 26.2 mile race is not a way to entice runners back to our fair city, though (having people run Marginal for any race is a bad idea if you ask me). Maybe the Pittsburgh competition will light a fire under the race director’s butt…(insert Browns reference here).

Sorry, I can’t help myself…Go Steelers!