Hydration is key

After Pittsburgh Marathon runners cross the finish line and accept their medals, they’re told to keep walking along the Boulevard of the Allies.

It’s a safety and crowdcontrol measure, but it also leads them to the Gatorade table, with hundreds of cups that are ripe for plucking by exhausted runners breathing heavily with hands on their hips.

In her seventh year as the Gatorade station coordinator, Cinnamon Faulkner of Homestead sees plenty of familiar faces on the course.

“They look for me now,” Ms. Faulkner said.

Handing a cup to runners walking by, Ms. Faulkner knows those participating in the marathon appreciate the volunteers’ efforts.

“I’ve talked to a few runners that I know that say the volunteers being on the course is what gets them through and they look forward to all the help that the volunteers provide,” she said. “They know it’s not possible without the volunteers.”

Having moved to Pittsburgh a month ago from Washington state, Sarita Wescott, a fellow Gatorade table volunteer, enjoyed getting to know her new home.

“It is so [open] and welcoming, and people are so nice and understanding,” Ms. Wescott said. “I’m excited to be in a city like this where they have events like this to volunteer for and get involved in.”

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The buddy system

Running the half marathon was Deana Boggs’ last long run for a little while, she said.

With surgery to remove her gallbladder coming up,

The question can yield emotional answers, with runners often dedicating their miles to a cause they’re passionate about or to a loved one.

For Brian Collins, his love for his wife, Holly, set his pace during the half marathon. Mr. Collins said his wife is fighting breast cancer.

“She can’t get out of bed today. She can’t leave the house today, so I definitely can’t walk,” he said.

Mr. Collins needed a single word to describe his wife: Strong.

Mother-daughter duo

Dorothy Moxie of Sarver embraced her daughter Mandi yards from the finish line.

It was the first time in years that Mandi was able to attend her mother’s race, and she helped Dorothy finish the last 4.5 miles of the half marathon by running with her. Dorothy, who ran despite two hamstring tears, eventually wants to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Having her daughter there to share in the experience made finishing this race a special one.

“Knowing she was here, the first time in 22 marathons I’ve done that my child has finally made it, so it was a great day,” Dorothy said.

Ice, ice, baby

“Who needs some flavor ice?! It’s sugar in a tube.”

That’s the brief, continuous sales pitch from Jesse Koch to marathon runners near the halfway point of the race at the intersection of South Craig and Filmore streets in Oakland.

“People need a bump near this part of the race,” said Elizabeth Rapoport, Mr. Koch’s co-worker and flavor ice assistant for the day.

The pair have an impressive system. Ms. Rapoport quickly cuts the ends of the tubes and hands them into Mr. Koch’s left hand, while his right hand holds out ready-to-slurp tubes to runners.

This is the fourth year Mr. Koch has supported runners but the first he has distributed flavor ice. The idea is “just the kind of stuff that lives in his head,” Ms. Rapoport said.

“We’ve had a great reception from runners so far,” said Mr. Koch, who ran the half marathon two years ago.

Although they can’t be sure, Mr. Koch and Ms. Rapoport believe they are the only flavor ice stand on the course.