The pre-race expo, the race start and finish and the post-race festival will all take place at the Wave Pool area of Boyce Park in Eastern Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Boyce Park is a part of the county's 12,000-acre network of nine parks. The impressive park system, including the expansive North and South Parks, are perfect for hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities. 

The race starts with a short descent, and then goes right into the first of ten climbs on the course. The first four miles travel through Boyce Park. The next ten miles will take you through rolling hills of Allegheny County and into Westmoreland County. The hills lead to a beautiful descent towards a bridge over the Beaver Run Reservoir. This may be one of the most scenic places on the whole course, we’ll make sure to take your picture! From the center of the bridge, you’ll start the longest climb of the day, 1.7-miles long with over 350ft of climbing, maximum incline of 10%, to the highest point of the course, the Cima Coppi of GFNY Pittsburgh-Monroeville.

 

Over the next 15 miles, the significant climbing of the 29-mile loop begins. There are five more significant climbs, each approximately 1 mile long, some gradual and some with steeper sections, with several sections with inclines over 10%. You’ll get some brief moments of rest on the descents. Then you’ll make the left onto Drenen Road and start the most challenging climb of the day. Although only 0.6-mile long, it has a 10.1% average incline, with a max incline over 15%. Once at the top, you can head straight to return to Boyce Park and the finish line, or make the sharp left to start the loop a second time for more climbing fun. This course will demand you to be strong: strong quads and also a strong mind. 

 

Once you arrive back to Boyce Park and the finish festivities, enjoy a post-race meal with friends, photos, music and the awards ceremony.