It's been a long race, getting past financial problems, trying to change corporate disinterest, rejecting dead ends and moving on toward a finish line, but after a five-year absence, the Pittsburgh Marathon likely will return next year.

A spokesman for Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato confirmed yesterday that he is "pretty confident" the 20th incarnation of the 26.2-mile race will be in 2009.

"We are currently in the process of looking for sponsors, kind of feeling out different corporations," said the spokesman, Kevin Evanto. "We are hopeful, if not positive, that we can bring the marathon back next year."

The Pittsburgh Marathon began in 1985, and its meandering route through city neighborhoods made it a favorite of the racing crowd.

More than 4,000 runners participated at its zenith, and at one point it was considered one of the country's five top marathons. It drew elite runners and was host to Olympic trials and national championships.

Mr. Evanto said it was originally hoped that the race could return this year, as part of the city's 250th anniversary celebration. That will not happen, however.

He said discussions on bringing back the race have been taking place during the past several months between Mr. Onorato and the office of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

"I think we're pretty confident at this point that we'll be able to bring back the marathon to Pittsburgh," Mr. Evanto said.

No details of the race -- cost, date, route or name -- have been discussed. Discussions more than a year ago were stymied by, among other things, making a decision about whether to move the race from the first Sunday in May to the fall, when conflicts with Steelers games on the North Shore would be a concern.

Larry Kuzmanko, the former race director and now director of special events and cultural programs for Allegheny County, could not be reached for comment. It was Mr. Kuzmanko who first approached the late Mayor Richard Caliguiri with the idea of a marathon.

Before its demise, the marathon had the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as its title sponsor. But UPMC's pulling out of that role following the 2003 event brought an end to the race.