For Pittsburgh, a city of neighborhoods, one of the most visible symbols of the financial crisis that threatened bankruptcy in recent years was the cancellation of the Pittsburgh Marathon.

Most large cities and more than a few small ones stage a marathon -- it is what places that matter do to benefit their communities and market their image -- and each race has its own characteristics. Pittsburgh's great strength was always its neighborhoods, which turned the 26-mile-plus route into one communal celebration after another.

The last time that happened was 2003. But before the 20th edition of the race could be run in 2004, the Murphy administration decided it had to be cancelled amid the city's financial woes and the loss of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as a major sponsor. Despite subsequent efforts to bring about a revival, the hopes of reviving the city's premier footrace soon faded.

Not so fast. It is a different time. The offices of Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl have been talking about a comeback for the race. The search for new sponsors is on and the news is encouraging. County spokesman Kevan Evanto told the Post-Gazette: "We are hopeful, if not positive, that we can bring the marathon back next year."

Nothing has been decided yet -- not the date, nor the route, nor the name. The marathon is not just a bigger version of the Great Race, and a lot of hard work will need to be done to revive an event that in its heyday was not only a community rallying point but also a magnet for elite runners.

If it can be revived, it will be as a potent symbol of a new era, just as it was a dismal sign of distress when the event had to be cancelled. Whatever sponsors sign on, they are likely to have the thanks of thousands.