As of November 2008, 700 people were already signed up to run the Pittsburgh Marathon. Pittsburgh first hosted the marathon in 1985. 2,500 runners participated. The last year they hosted was 2003, when 6,000 runners participated from all 50 states, and 20 different countries. The six year hiatus occurred because the city lost UPMC as a sponsor. Now, Dick's Sporting Goods has signed on to sponsor the race for the next three years. Thousands of runners are expected again this year. The city is excited about the marathon coming, and so am I!