Pittsfield Highlights Tourism Induced by Steel Rail Races
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Competitive running brings people from more than 20 states to the city, a tourism sector that officials want to enhance.
On Tuesday, Mayor Peter Marchetti gathered with the Berkshire Running Foundation, MountainOne Insurance Agency, and Downtown Pittsfield Inc. to push the upcoming Steel Rail races on May 18, now in its 13th year.
"The Steel Rail marathon attracts visitors from across the country and residents from our community who use this event to qualify for marathons in Boston and New York City. Currently, there are participants signed up from 22 different states and from Canada, all to spend the weekend in Pittsfield and the Berkshires," he said.
"Many of the runners and their families and friends are spending time in our restaurants, staying in our hotels, and visiting all that we have to offer. That's why it's important we create a team of everything that happens in Pittsfield to share Pittsfield and to tap into our visitors when they visit."
Marchetti pointed out that in addition to the economic impact, Berkshire Running Foundation donates a large portion of proceeds back to the community through the 14 events the nonprofit hosts annually. In 2024 alone, $63,200 was donated to organizations including Soldier On, the Elizabeth Freeman Center, the South Community Food Pantry, and Berkshire Pride.
Shiobbean Lemme, co-founder of Berkshire Running Center and executive director of the foundation, reported that they have been able to donate more than $300,000 to community organizations over the last 13 years.
"Getting that combination of outdoor recreation and what we have to offer here in the Berkshires, I think, is a key to bringing outdoor recreation to the next level in Pittsfield and beyond," she said.
"Yesterday was a fantastic example. We all saw what was happening in Boston with the marathon. We're a small part of that, but we do have a Boston Marathon qualifying course here in the Berkshires, and that is what's bringing people here from all over the country."
The 2025 Steel Rail Races include a marathon, half marathon, and 8-kilometer. Leading up to the event, there will be a Mother's Day 5K, a one-mile community run/walk, and a kids run on May 17. The route has to be certified to become a Boston Marathon qualifying course.
This marathon is maxed out at 200 runners, and the field total for the event is 750 runners. Lemme reported they are about 75 percent full.
"It's a daylong process where a certification company comes in and tests the course out at different temperatures during the day, riding it on tangents, assuring that it meets all the specifications to be a Boston-qualifying course," she explained.
"Those are sought out by those who are looking to get the time to go to the most prestigious and oldest race in the world, and where you have a flat course, which is very popular with runners who are wanting to go fast, and we have a beautiful course. So those things put together are kind of a unicorn when it comes to running, to get a flat, fast, beautiful course in a community that's supporting the runners."
MountainOne, the event's corporate sponsor, wants to help put the county on the map as a running destination. The bank's Executive Vice President Jonathan Denmark noted the running foundation's "incredible" support to local organizations.
"We really see this as a great conduit to attract people to the Berkshires, get them to spend their money downtown, fall in love with the Berkshires, and come back for a second and third visit," he said.
"We have many visitors that come to this race year after year from over 20 different states, and it's fantastic to see familiar faces completing the other Massachusetts marathons and other major milestones."
This year, the Downtown Pittsfield app is being promoted as a tool for those in town to attend or compete in the race.
"Whether it's the taking a nice little to warm up on the Saturday by seeing our 30-plus murals, dining on our downtown, seeing a movie, or one of the numerous bars or restaurants that we have, we are really excited to welcome all these runners into our downtown to enjoy," said Rebecca Brien, managing director of Downtown Pittsfield Inc., noting that the passion Lemme has for this organization is contagious.
Brien has seen firsthand the influence that the Berkshire Running Foundation has had in the community and young people, as well as the economic driver that it is by bringing people downtown.
Marchetti said Pittsfield has to think differently about how it promotes itself and how it gets people to come to the community, "and partnering with folks that already bring people to Pittsfield is probably one of the easiest ways that we can."
"We must capitalize on the visitors and runners that they bring to Pittsfield," he said.
Tags: marathon, running,
