FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Showcases Steel City as One of
America's Top Running Cities
More than 40,000 runners, ages 2 to 87, participated in the 2017 weekend of
events; Run for a Reason Charity Program presented by Bank of America
raises $1.4 million-plus
PITTSBURGH - At the 9th DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, tens of
thousands of runners crossed the finish line, making the May 6 - 7, 2017
weekend of events the most successful to-date. More than 40,000 runners
signed up for the DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, UPMC Health
Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon, FedEx Ground Pittsburgh Marathon Relay, UPMC
Health Plan/UPMC Sports Medicine Pittsburgh 5K Run, Toyota Pittsburgh Kids
Marathon, Sheetz Pittsburgh Toddler Trot and the Rachael Ray Nutrish
Pittsburgh Pet Walk.
"We are proud and thrilled that these runners of steel had the best
experience possible in the City of Champions," said Patrice Matamoros, P3R
CEO and race director of the DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon.
"Also a big thank you to our sponsors, our volunteers, the city, the
spectators and especially the runners for showing the power of this
community event and reinforcing Pittsburgh's position as the 7th best U.S.
running city!"
EVENT SUMMARY
GNC Live Well Pittsburgh Health and Fitness Expo
- This year's GNC Live Well Pittsburgh Health and Fitness Expo showcased
more than 125 vendors and 65,000 visitors.
STEEL Challenge
- More than 1,300 runners earned a special bonus medal for completing the
STEEL Challenge: running the UPMC Health Plan/UPMC Sports Medicine
Pittsburgh 5K Run on Saturday, May 6 and then completing any of the three
races that took place on Sunday, May 7.
Social Media Center
- During race week, Pittsburgh Marathon social content on Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram received more than 6.6 million impressions from more than
200,000 people, an engagement high
- #GameOnPGH trended nationally and locally during race weekend.
- The Pittsburgh Marathon trended nationally during race weekend.
- There were over 36,900 minutes of Facebook video viewed (equivalent to
615 hours or 26.62 days - a marathon of time!)
3rd Annual District Duel
- For the third consecutive year, Councilman Dan Gilman's team "Team
Gilman" won the District Duel title with a FedEx Ground Pittsburgh Marathon
Relay time of 3:14:37.
PARTICIPATION
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon - 4,527 runners
- UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon -15,638 runners
- FedEx Ground Pittsburgh Marathon Relay - 1,045 teams participated
- UPMC Health Plan/UPMC Sports Medicine Pittsburgh 5K Run - 3,670 runners,
an event record
- The Pittsburgh Marathon Handcycle Division presented by PNC had a
record-tying 24 finishers.
- Toyota Pittsburgh Kids Marathon - More than 6,200 kids from 150 schools
and organizations throughout Western Pennsylvania ran the last Mile of a
26.2 mile training plan as part of the Kids of STEEL program; plus several
thousand parents and adults participated.
- The 2nd Sheetz Pittsburgh Toddler Trot had 500 participants, also an
event record.
- The Rachael Ray Nutrish Pittsburgh Pet Walk had 200 dogs/owners.
- 20 countries, 49 states and Washington, DC were represented.
- Since 2009, the DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon weekend of
events has had over 264,500 runners. That is almost the population of
Pittsburgh!
In 2018 and 2019, Pittsburgh will host the USATF Half Marathon
Championships, which will run concurrently with the DICK'S Sporting Goods
Pittsburgh Marathon weekend of events, bringing the best runners in the
country to the City of Champions.
PROFESSIONALS
More than $100,000 in prize money was awarded to elite athletes running the
DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and the UPMC Health Plan
Pittsburgh Half Marathon. P3R's American Development Program (ADP) also
offered $40,500 to the top five U.S. runners, provided time standards were
reached.
Marathon Champions:
- Jacob Chemtai (KEN), 2:15:25, $8000
- Ayantu Dakebo Hailemaryam (ETH), 2:36:20, $8000
Half Marathon Champions:
- Cyrus Korir (KEN), 1:04:14, $6500
- Gladys Kipsoi (KEN), 1:12:09, $6500
COMMUNITY
- 2,800 runners raised more than $1.4 million dollars for charities through
the Run for a Reason Charity Program presented by Bank of America. Since
the marathon was reinstated in 2009, runners have raised more than $10
million for charities.
- 14 neighborhoods participated in race day celebrations along the course.
- City Council District 9, which is home to East Liberty, Homewood,
Friendship, Garfield, Point Breeze North and Larimer had the highest
percentage of participants. One out of every 24 residents ran during race
weekend.
- 10 official #GameOnPGH bloggers documented their training experience
leading up to race day with nearly 200,000 unique impressions.
FUTURE P3R EVENT DATES
- 6th GNC Live Well Liberty Mile - Friday, July 28
- 5th EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler - Sunday, November 5
- 10th DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon - Sunday, May 6, 2018
For more information, including 2018 registration, go to:
ThePittsburghMarathon.com
About the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. (P3R)
P3R is a nonprofit organization that is passionate about promoting the love
of running and enhancing community access to health & fitness education and
activities. Best known for organizing the acclaimed annual DSG Pittsburgh
Marathon, we also run a variety of other high-quality races, events and
health & fitness programs throughout the Pittsburgh region. While many of
our races attract some of the nation's highest-profile professional
athletes, we offer activities for all ages and ability levels. The only
criterion for participation is a desire to be happy, healthy and active!
Learn more at: P3R.org
FACEBOOK: P3Revents TWITTER: @P3REvents
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