FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon to Be Held May 3rd 2009
PITTSBURGH, May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The 20th running of the
Pittsburgh Marathon, now renamed the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh
Marathon, will be held on Sunday, May 3rd 2009. After starting in 1985
under the leadership of the late Mayor Dick Caliguiri, the Pittsburgh
Marathon grew to be a top five marathon in the United States, hosting
National Championships and Olympic Trials. Following a six-year hiatus, the
event will return to the streets and neighborhoods of the City for the 20th
running.
"We are pleased to invite the world back to America's Most Livable City
to run the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon," said Pittsburgh
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. "We are grateful for the vision and leadership of
Dick's, Respironics and UPMC Sports Medicine in helping to bring this
exciting event back to our City. I look forward to joining the people of
our unique neighborhoods as they line the streets of Pittsburgh to cheer on
the runners."
"For 19 years, the Pittsburgh Marathon brought international
recognition, increased health awareness, and substantial economic benefits
to Southwestern Pennsylvania," said Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.
"The Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is the perfect vehicle to
showcase our region as a great place to live, work, play, and run."
Dick's Sporting Goods is the largest full line sporting goods store in
the nation. With its corporate headquarters located in Pittsburgh, and a
growing focus on running, the company decided to take on title sponsorship
of the Pittsburgh Marathon.
"Since moving our corporate headquarters here in 1994, Dick's Sporting
Goods has grown to more than 340 stores in 36 states," said Jeffrey R.
Hennion, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Dick's
Sporting Goods. "During that time, we have been proud to call Pittsburgh
our home and today we are just as proud to be announcing our title
sponsorship of the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon. This is truly
an event with a great legacy, and, given our focus on being the ultimate
destination for runners, we are very excited to be a part of its return."
In addition to an undisclosed multi-year financial commitment, Dick's
Sporting Goods will also be providing the event with a significant amount
of marketing support and volunteers from its corporate headquarters and 13
Pittsburgh area store locations.
Respironics, a leading provider of innovative products and programs
that serve the global sleep and respiratory markets, will present the Half
Marathon. "Respironics is excited to support the return of the Pittsburgh
Marathon. As in past years, this event is sure to be a highlight for our
city. Our company is proud to show our commitment to this region by
sponsoring the Half Marathon for the 2009 Pittsburgh Marathon," said Donald
J. Spence, President, Respironics Sleep and Home Respiratory Group.
UPMC Sports Medicine will be the medical sponsor for the marathon,
providing all medical support for runners along the course and at the
finish line and coordinating training seminars to be held throughout the
year. "The Pittsburgh Marathon is part of the great sports legacy of this
City," said Freddie Fu, M.D., founding director of UPMC Sports Medicine,
and professor and chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "UPMC Sports Medicine along
with UPMC's Department of Emergency Medicine, is very excited to once again
work with the City's Emergency Medical Services to provide race-day medical
care and pre-race training advice for all runners to safely reap the many
health benefits of participating in such an outstanding athletic and
community event," added Dr. Fu, who also is former chairman of the
Pittsburgh Marathon's Board of Directors.
UPMC has led the medical team for every Pittsburgh Marathon, beginning
with the first race in 1985. "Proudly, during those years our Marathon
medical team had become a model for top races all around the world," said
UPMC emergency medicine physician Ronald Roth, M.D., medical director of
the City's Department of Public Safety, professor of emergency medicine and
chief of the Division of EMS Operations at Pitt's School of Medicine.
The Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon will likely attract
thousands of runners and visitors to the City, and generate millions of
dollars in economic impact while showcasing the region.
The race course is still being finalized, but organizers hope it will
start on Grant Street in front of the City County Building and finish in
the newly renovated Point State Park. The rest of the course will remain
almost identical to the most recent course, running through neighborhoods
including the North and South Side, Oakland, Shadyside, Point Breeze,
Homewood, East Liberty, Bloomfield, Highland Park and the Strip District.
To support the re-launch of the Marathon, the Allegheny Conference on
Community Development is providing office space in the Regional Enterprise
Tower through the event in May 2009.
The Pittsburgh Marathon has a place in U.S. running history as the site
of the 2000 Olympic trials for men, the 1988 Olympic trials for women --
and the three-time host of the U.S. men's national championships. It was
the site of the National Wheelchair Championship in 1986, and the site of
the Olympic Trials for Finland and Denmark in the late 1980s. The race has
welcomed a strong elite field for both men and women and has awarded big
prize money for a city its size.
The marathon distance of 26.2 miles has grown exponentially in the last
several years, with nearly 500,000 people running a marathon last year
(Running USA). The Pittsburgh Marathon will build upon its strong
reputation and strive to attract an international field. Prize money for
the event has not yet been announced. In the past, the Marathon has brought
people from all 50 states and over 20 different countries, including
Belarus, Canada, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, Italy, Ireland
and Israel. They took with them a positive experience of the tremendous
crowds, beautiful neighborhoods and friendly people.
The Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is still seeking sponsors
to support the 20th running celebration, including the Pittsburgh Marathon
Relay, individual Mile Sponsors, Wheelchair Division and the Kids Marathon.
There are many other opportunities to highlight corporate involvement and
partnerships with the planning and running of the 2009 event.
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