PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It’s still months away, but already this year’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is setting records.

On race day, a record 20,000 runners will participate in the marathon, half marathon and relay.

Marathon director Patrice Matamoros says that makes Pittsburgh a marathon to be reckoned with.

“It’s record for us, and we’re really thrilled,” she said.

Unlike last year’s finish on the North Shore, this year’s race will begin and end downtown.

Today Dave McGillivray, director of the iconic Boston marathon, was in town surveying the new finish line on the Boulevard of the Allies at Stanwix Street.

“I’m sure the runners will be really impressed with this,” he said.

Pittsburgh – like Boston, New York and Chicago – is benefiting from unprecedented marathon participation sweeping the nation.

“The walls of intimidation have crumbled and people are believing in themselves and running has become a way for them to sort of way to raise their self-esteem and self-confidence.”

But if you want to run Pittsburgh act fast — all races are filling up and the half is just about to be capped.

Says Matamoros: “We have very few spaces left, and I can’t emphasize enough that we’re almost sold out.”

And with this record registration, it’s new confirmation that the Dick’s Sporting Good Pittsburgh Marathon is back and here to stay as running in southwestern Pennsylvania becomes ever more popular.

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