Pittsburgh Marathon

2001 UPMC HEALTH SYSTEM/CITY OF PITTSBURGH MARATHON GETTING READY TO WELCOME
INTERNATIONAL AND U.S. ELITE RUNNERS MAY 6
Mellon Relay Team Competition and UPMC Health Plan 5K Run/Walk Follows Marathon

PITTSBURGH, March 27 - After hosting the U.S. Men's Marathon Championship the past four years, including last year's U.S. Men's Olympic Team Trials, the UPMC Health System/City of Pittsburgh Marathon this year will offer prize money to international as well as U.S. elite runners.

The seventeenth annual marathon day is set for Sunday, May 6, and will include the 26.2-mile runner and wheelchair marathons, the Mellon Relay Team Competition and the UPMC Health Plan 5K Run/Walk. The day's events, which will begin at 7:35 a.m., in front of the City/County Building on Grant Street, downtown Pittsburgh, will start earlier than in past years. In addition, officials will keep the marathon race course open for seven hours, instead of the traditional six hours, to accommodate those who may want to walk the marathon course.

To receive an entry form for any of the marathon day events, please call (412) 647-RUNN (7866) or register on-line at http://www.upmc.edu/pghmarathon.

International Marathon Competition

"We welcome back to the men's marathon the international elites, who have outstanding records in Pittsburgh," said marathon race director Larry Grollman. "But, we also are maintaining our special relationship with the Americans who have supported our marathon and put the national spotlight on us the past four years." Grollman has structured the prize money to provide incentives to world-class international runners while providing special awards to U.S. men and women.

A total of $59,250 in prize money will be guaranteed for the marathon, but the total payout could increase to $64,250 if certain conditions are met. The winning man and woman will be awarded at least $7,500, but the winners' checks will be increased to $10,000 if they run under 2:14:00 and 2:35:00, respectively. Male and female second place finishers will be awarded $5,000 while third place finishers will receive $2,500, down to $500 for seventh place.

In addition to open prize money, the top four U.S. men and women are eligible to earn separate awards. Thanks to the Chrysler-Plymouth/Jeep Dealers of Western Pennsylvania, an incentive pool of $14,000 has been created to help provide additional support for American marathoners. The first U.S. male and female citizens to cross the finish line will receive $2,500 in addition to any open awards they may have earned. The second, third and fourth U.S. male and female finishers will receive $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.

Prize Money for Top Pittsburgh, Top Pennsylvania and Top Masters Marathon Finishers

The top-finishing Pennsylvania and City of Pittsburgh residents, both male and female, in the marathon will receive $500. Second place finishers will earn $250, and third place will get $125. This special prize money will not be cumulative with any other prize category.

The same prize structure will be arranged for top-finishing male and female marathon runners in the master's age group (age 40 and over). This can be cumulative with other categories.

Earlier Start Times This Year

Each of the day's races will start earlier than in past years because the marathon course will remain open for seven hours, instead of the traditional six hours, to accommodate those who may want to walk the marathon course. All races start in front of the City/County Building on Grant Street and finish in Point State Park. Event start times are as follows:

7:35 a.m. - Wheelchair marathon
7:45 a.m. - UPMC Health System/City of Pittsburgh Marathon
8:00 a.m. - Mellon Relay Team Competition
8:10 a.m. - Wheelchair 5K
8:15 a.m. - UPMC Health Plan 5K Run/Walk

Weekend Events and Neighborhood Festivals

Marathon-related events open to the public throughout the weekend will include:

· The Marathon & Fitness Expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Friday, May 4 and 9 a.m.
-- 7 p.m., Saturday, May 5;

· Children's Mini-Marathon at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex indoor practice field, 9 a.m. -- noon, Saturday, May 5;

· Pre-race Preparation Seminar for runners at the Omni William Penn Hotel, 2 - 4 p.m., Saturday, May 5;

· Pre-race Pasta Party at the Omni William Penn, 5 -- 8:30 p.m., Saturday, May 5.

On race day, spectators can watch all the marathon events and cheer on their favorite runners at the traditional 13 neighborhood festivals planned all along the marathon race course, including those in Lawrenceville, North Side, South Side, Oakland, Shadyside, Point Breeze, Homewood-Brushton, Highland Park, Bloomfield, Strip District and downtown. As part of the annual Neighborhood Festival Program, SFX Inc. is planning its third annual "Music By The Mile," providing numerous live bands and disc jockeys all along the course.

WPXI-TV will broadcast the marathon live continuously throughout the morning and 3WS Radio will provide several live reports from the marathon. WPXI and 3WS are official sponsors of the UPMC Health System/City of Pittsburgh Marathon.

Other sponsors include Mellon, UPMC Health Plan, United Airlines, Chrysler-Plymouth/Jeep, UPS, GNC, Heinz, Pepsi/All-Sport, The Home Depot, New Balance, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and AT&T.

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