P3R Enhances 2021 Race Weekend Experience with New Virtual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Experience Powered by Brooks Running

April 27, 2021

The digital platform focuses on the race weekend journey and features immersive and shareable content that will help runners and spectators celebrate race weekend

PITTSBURGH (April 27, 2021) – Runners and spectators will be able to experience the 2021 Virtual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon with a new immersive digital platform. The Virtual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Experience powered by Brooks Running brings to life the journey runners experience during race weekend with customizable features and shareable content that includes a pledge to run, cheer cards, music playlist, personal record (PR) bell, photo frames, social media feeds and more.

“With this virtual platform, we wanted to recreate some of the race day excitement, inspiration and jitters that runners experience when they are at a live start line with thousands of other runners,” said Troy Schooley, P3R CEO. “P3R is always looking for new ways to improve the runner experience. Since this is our second year hosting a virtual event, we wanted something extra special that would bring together our runners, spectators and partners to celebrate race weekend.”

The Virtual Race Experience starts pre-race when participants pledge to run one of the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Weekend of Events. Once they choose a date to run their virtual race, they will be able to see how many other people are running their race on that day. Participants can then prepare for their event by visiting the Virtual Pittsburgh Health and Fitness Expo, watching informative running videos from P3R and event partners, and sharing “Why I Run.”

On race day, runners can choose a course, listen to P3R’s Spotify playlist and interact with other runners on social media using the #MOVEPittsburgh hashtag. After crossing the finish line, participants can log their finishing time, ring the official PR bell if they set a new personal record and download a personalized finishers certificate. Friends and family also are encouraged to join in on the fun and send cheer cards with customized messages to motivate their runner all the way to the finish line.

“We have been so inspired by this year’s participants who have committed to keep moving and being part of this event. Our goal with the Virtual Race Experience is to support and cheer them on virtually and keep them motivated all the way to the finish line,” said Mark Rooks, DICK’S Sporting Goods vice president of community marketing.

This year’s Virtual Pittsburgh Health and Fitness Expo will feature products, demos, deals, giveaways and supportive messaging from event partners. Participants will also be able to visit the P3R Store for Pittsburgh-themed gear and purchase the official race poster with training photos from the 2021 participants.

“We are excited to have played a role in creating a digital platform that creates an authentic virtual race experience for participants,” says Sydney Sanders, Event Marketing Specialist at Brooks Running. “We hope it brings a glimpse of in-person racing feelings that we know runners have been missing for the past year.”

“From hosting interactive expo booths to supporting runners on the course and celebrating at the finish line festival, our event partners are a huge part of what makes race weekend so magical for participants,” said Caroline Fitzgerald, P3R’s vice president of partnerships and runner experience. “We are excited that this year’s Virtual Race Experience gives our event partners an opportunity to engage with our runners and celebrate the event in a meaningful way.”

The Virtual Race Experience is available for all for free at  Experience.ThePittsburghMarathon.com. More than 5,000 runners from 44 states and 9 countries are expected to participate in the 2021 Virtual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Weekend of Events. For more information, visit www.ThePittsburghMarathon.com.

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About the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon

The Pittsburgh Marathon was held annually from 1985-2003. After a five-year hiatus, the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon was relaunched in 2009 and debuted with a sold-out field of 10,000 participants. It has grown each year since, evolving from a single race day into a weekend of events for the whole family that annually attracts almost 40,000 runners.   Read more at: ThePittsburghMarathon.com

 FACEBOOK: DSGPM       TWITTER: @PghMarathon        INSTAGRAM: pghmarathon

About P3R
P3R is the engine behind Pittsburgh’s greatest races. We strive to inspire any and all to MOVEwith us. Best known for organizing the acclaimed annual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, P3R runs a variety of other high-quality races, events, and health and 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. Anyone and everyone is invited to #RUNwithP3R! Read more at:P3R.org

FACEBOOK:RUNwithP3R        INSTAGRAM:RUNwithP3R       TWITTER:@RUNwithP3R