Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Offers New 5K Race: UPMC Health Plan/UPMC Sports Medicine 5K Run on Saturday, May 14, 2011

PITTSBURGH, March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the UPMC Health Plan Half Marathon sold out, the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is excited to announce the UPMC Health Plan/UPMC Sports Medicine 5K, scheduled for Saturday, May 14th at 8:00 a.m. Registration opens to the public next Monday, March 7th and is limited to 2,000 runners.

The race will take place on the North Shore and finish at the official Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon finish line on West General Robinson Street, between Heinz Field and PNC Park. For a $30 registration fee, participants will receive an official UPMC Health Plan/UPMC Sports Medicine 5k long-sleeve, technical race shirt and post-race refreshments. The race will be USATF-sanctioned, and age group prizes will be awarded.

Race Director Patrice Matamoros announced, "With runner demand so strong, we're thrilled that UPMC Health Plan and UPMC Sports Medicine have invested in this new race. The shorter distance opens the weekend's events up to a greater range of participants, including first-time racers, and the friends and family of our marathoners and half-marathoners."  Matamoros continued, "Our goal is to involve as much of the community as possible – whether they are running, walking, volunteering, or cheering and entertaining, the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon has something for everyone."

Jeffrey Nelson, Vice President for Marketing and Communications for UPMC Health Plan, stated, "With the overwhelming response to the UPMC Health Plan Half Marathon, sponsoring the 5K was a logical way to open up a great health and fitness event to an even broader audience. As an organization we are always looking to support events that promote a healthier community."

Dr. Brian Hagen, Vice President of Operations and Network Services of UPMC Sports Medicine, the official medical provider of the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, states, "With our historic commitment to providing marathon runners with the highest quality sports medicine care, we are extremely excited to expand our reach by sponsoring the 5K portion of the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon."

The Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is a non-profit organization that promotes the love of long-distance running and enhances community involvement in fitness activities through high quality events for a wide variety of ages and abilities. Sponsors include Dick's Sporting Goods; UPMC Health Plan; FedEx Ground; Toyota; Nike; UPMC Sports Medicine; GNC, Sheetz, Inc.; Cleveland Brothers; PA American Water; Exco Resources; Willis; Pittsburgh Foundation; Arctic Ease; KDKA-TV/WPCW; Trib Total Media; Clear Channel; Gatorade; Eat 'n Park; NuGo Nutrition; Rothman Gordon; Spirit Airlines; McKnight Properties; Blue Water Tavern; Good Apples; Gu; Guardian Storage; Panera Bread; Best Buy; Grable Foundation; Verizon Wireless; Massage Envy; Shearer's; Whirl; LeMont Restaurant; Dole; Cold Cow Ice Cream; Jewish Healthcare Foundation; Monterey Bay; Duquesne Beer; Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; Bob's Maps, Deep Local; and Marriott's Residence Inn and Springhill Suites.

SOURCE Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon