Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - GNC Holdings, Inc.,the nation’s largest specialty retailer of health, wellness and sports nutrition products, is proud to partner with Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. to host the first annual GNC Liberty Mile – expected to be the third largest competitive, one-mile road race in the U.S, where world-class milers will compete for a $25,000 prize purse with both the male and female winners taking home $4000 each.

“For years, GNC has been the leader in providing the fuel for runners to achieve their goals, and we believe it’s time that we bring the quickly emerging world of one-mile road races to Pittsburgh, our home town. To make that happen, we are proud to sponsor the inaugural GNC Liberty Mile and launch it in a way that we expect will immediately make it one of the nation’s largest,” stated, Jeff Hennion, EVP – Chief Marketing Officer and eCommerce at GNC. “The event will provide a racing venue for a wide spectrum of athletes ranging from highly competitive milers to those running in their first professional race. Whether you run competitively at a world class level or simply run around the block, this race is for you.”

The event will take place on August 17 at 7 p.m. on Liberty Avenue, from 17th street in the strip to 6th street, Downtown. Six one-mile heats will be held offering various opportunities such as raising money and giving corporations the chance to participate in a corporate wellness challenge. The heats include:

One for Fun: Recreational mile for ages 5-100 years old.

Giving Back: Participants register and raise money for a participating charity.

It’s All Business- Participants register and participate with their corporate teammates.

Winning…..at 40+: Masters mile participants for competitors 40 years of age and older.

Unstoppable: Ages 13-39 years old. Open to competitive milers-male and female (6 minute mile or under).

Experts: Qualified participants 18 years of age and older-male (4:17 and under and female 5:00 min miler or under).

The announcement is part of the Bring Back The Mile Campaign, a national movement to return the mile race to prominence on the American sports and cultural landscape. In 2012, there will be almost a half dozen new mile road races across the Country.

“Competitive mile road races are increasing in popularity and we are pleased that Pittsburgh will be a part of this trend with the GNC Liberty Mile,” stated Patrice Matamoros, Race Director for Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. “The mile run is a great entry race for people who are interested in the sport of running and with the competitive heats we are sure to see some of those high-speed crowd pleasing chases as well.”

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