Pittsburgh Steelers Ryan Clark Joins Veteran Announcer Rudy Novotny at Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon

PITTSBURGH, May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Announcers Rudy Novotny and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark will work together as the voices of the 2011 Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon. All weekend long, their personalities will keep race participants and their friends and families entertained, informed and inspired.

Race director Patrice Matamoros comments, "This is a winning combination for our runners: Novotny - one of the best voices in the Marathon industry, and Clark - a veteran player from the Pittsburgh Steelers, teaming up to cheer our runners over the finish line."

As honorary coach for the Toyota of Pittsburgh Kids Marathon, Ryan Clark will cheer on children at the 1-Mile Fun Run at 10:00 am on Saturday.  To keep the kids training hard, Clark created a special video message for the Kids of Steel that will be posted on the Pittsburgh Marathon Facebook page on Tuesday, May 3.

Safety Ryan Clark has been with the Steelers since 2006 and is involved with sickle cell disease awareness, programs, treatment, and research in Pittsburgh. Clark signed a 4-year extension to remain with the Steelers in 2009.  During the 2010 season, he registered a career high 90 tackles along with 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery and played in all 16 games for the 12-4 Steelers.  Ryan and his wife Yonka have 3 children (Jordan, Jaden, and Loghan).  

Veteran runner and emcee Rudy Novotny brings 15 years of announcing experience to the finish line festivities. A long-time runner, Novotny has over 300 races and several sub 3:00 marathons to his credit, as well as more than 500 events at the microphone, including the Los Angeles Marathon, The Big Sur Marathon, the Disney World Marathon and many more. While Rudy has had the opportunity to personally witness some of the finest performances in long distance running, the efforts that excite him the most are those he sees every weekend at the middle and the back of the pack. While his enthusiasm helps bring spectators, family and friends to a fever pitch as the winners come in, Rudy's philosophy continues to be: "It's not about the finish time; it's about the finish line."

Joe Taricani, the founder and producer of "The Marathon Show," calls Rudy "The Voice of America's Marathons" and marvels at his ability to maintain the same level of energy for the for the 6:30 marathoner as he does for the winner!

"Bringing talent like Rudy to our event is another important part of our commitment to the quality experience we wish to provide everyone attending and participating in the Dick's Sport Goods Pittsburgh weekend of events," comments Matamoros.

The Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is a nonprofit event funded by runners and sponsors. The inaugural event in 2009 boasted a sold-out field of over 10,000 marathon, half marathon and marathon relay participants. In May of 2011, a combined total of approximately 22,000 are expected to participate in five race weekend events: Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon, FedEx Ground Pittsburgh Marathon Relay, UPMC Health Plan/UPMC Sports Medicine 5K Pittsburgh Run, and Toyota of Pittsburgh Kids Marathon.

SOURCE Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon