FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Audra Fleming/Susan Reid
858-450-6510
San Jose Ready to Rock 'n' Roll
Premier Sporting Event Debuts in Northern California
SAN DIEGO, CA, September 7, 2005 – Spurred on by the enthusiasm of 3-time
Super Bowl champion and avid runner, Roger Craig, the city of San Jose and
event manager Elite Racing, Inc. have announced the newest ‘musical
marathon' race – the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon – set for October 8, 2006.
Organizers expect in excess of 15,000 runners for the first-time event.
Craig, who made his marathon debut at the 2004 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in
San Diego, carried his new passion back to the Bay Area, laying the ground
work for the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Jose.
Patterned after the popular Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego, Country
Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon in Nashville, Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in
Virginia Beach and P.F. Chang’s Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ½
Marathon, the race will feature an assortment of live music staged
approximately every mile of the 13.1-mile course, providing runners and
spectators with continuous entertainment and motivation.
"What you're going to see here is essentially a 13.1 mile party," said Tim
Murphy, president of Elite Racing, Inc. "This one will sell out early
because of the strong running community in the Bay Area."
The course, which is still being designed, will be flat and fast,
according to Murphy, whose Elite Racing company pioneered the musical
marathon concept with the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego in 1998. The
company’s events draw participants from all 50 states and several foreign
countries while routinely filling to capacity several months in advance of
the races. The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon is tentatively set to start in
front of the HP Pavilion and finish with a spectacular post-race party in
downtown San Jose’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez park.
In addition to rousing music along the course, local high school
cheerleading squads will line the route, cheering on participants
and competing for cash and prizes. The inaugural event concludes
with an evening concert, free to all participants, featuring a major
rock 'n' roll headliner, at the HP Pavilion.
The marathon will draw elite runners from around the world vying for a
large cash purse that will match the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in
Virginia Beach for the largest prize purse of any half marathon. The event
will be televised nationally on FSN (Fox Sports Net).
"We're not testing something new here," said San Jose Mayor, Ron Gonzales.
"This is a proven concept that will be a success."
Founders of the race include: Roger Craig, 3-time Super Bowl champion for
the San Francisco 49ers and Frank Shorter, Olympic gold (1972) and silver
(1976) medalist in the marathon.
A free two-day "Health & Fitness Expo" will be held on October 6 and 7,
2006 at the San Jose Convention Center and will feature the latest health
and nutrition information with a variety of products for sample and sale.
For more information on this event or to register online visit
www.RnRsj.com or www.eliteracing.com. To receive an entry form, contact the
Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, San Jose c/o Elite Racing, 5452 Oberlin Drive,
San Diego, CA 92121 or call 800/311-1255.
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