Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. (P3R) announced that Fleet Feet Pittsburgh is the new title partner of the Liberty Mile, Pittsburgh’s only nighttime downtown road race. The race, scheduled for Friday, Aug. 9, has been consistently recognized as one of the “The 35 Most Iconic American Races” by Runner’s World.
Fleet Feet is an established fixture of the Pittsburgh running community, and was named one of the “10 Best Running Stores in America” in 2018. The specialty running store has previously served as the presenting sponsor for the event’s Unstoppable & One For Fun heats, so Fleet Feet Pittsburgh owners Bob Shooer and Deb Doyle were excited to expand their existing partnership with this event and with P3R.
“Both Fleet Feet and P3R share a passion for promoting a love of running, and the Liberty Mile enables us to connect with the community by bringing runners of all ages and abilities to downtown Pittsburgh in celebration of our sport,” said Shooer. “We are committed to helping to provide a premium experience for both spectators and runners.”
This “night at the races” brings friends and families together to celebrate fitness through one-mile races for recreational, competitive and professional runners. Launched in 2012, the race is consistently praised for its entertaining vibe, inclusivity and views. It also offers one of the largest prize purses for a road mile and has hosted some of America’s best track and field athletes, including Olympic medalists and American record holders.
The USATF-certified, U-shaped course starts on Penn Avenue in the heart of the Cultural District. Racers then make a turn onto 11th Street, and another quick turn onto Liberty Street for the final stretch. The start and finish lines are only a block apart, so spectators can catch both the beginning and the end. Some of the fastest American milers battle it out for the $25,000 prize purse.
“This one-mile road race gives participants the unique opportunity to feel the excitement of running down Liberty Avenue at nighttime and then watching the country’s top milers race to the finish line,” said Troy Schooley, P3R SVP of sales and partnerships. “We’re ecstatic to work with Fleet Feet to continue to develop and grow this one-of-a-kind experience. No matter one’s age or ability, this race is an ideal distance for everybody.”
