FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San Diego Runners Are on the Rise
With More Participating in Race Weekend Year Over Year
- Runners went the distance this year with a 21 percent increase in
marathoners from last year; Over 30,000 registered participants over the
weekend
- Rene Ortiz (Rioverde, Mexico) and Dakota Bliler (Scottsdale, Ariz.) were
winners in the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San Diego Marathon
- Ayrton Ledesma (Azusa, Calif.) and Lisa Goodin (San Diego, Calif.) were
the overall male and female winners of the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Half
Marathon
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (June 2, 2024) - Today, thousands of runners took to the
historic Rock 'n' Roll® Running Series San Diego start line next to Balboa
Park to celebrate with a 26.2- or 13.1-mile journey through America's
Finest City. Over 30,000 registered participants joined in on the ultimate
runner's block party over the weekend, which is an increase of 20 percent
since last year. Runners from 49 states and 48 countries experienced
on-course live bands, cheer teams, entertainment, and festive water
stations, as they toured eight iconic neighborhoods in San Diego.
A large part of the race's growth this year included a 21% increase in
marathoners with nearly 8,000 registered marathon participants. Those who
ran the marathon were able to ring the "163 Highway to Hill” bell after
conquering the steep incline just past mile 22 at SR-163. Among the runners
who took on the 26.2-mile course were over 40 "Legacy Runners,” who have
participated in the marathon distance every year since the inaugural race
in 1998. However, one runner was most notably missing from the start line
as the race held a moment of silence for Legacy Runner and San Diego Track
Club coach Bill Aaron, who passed away three weeks before the race. The
race also held a moment of silence for the passing of local legend and NBA
hall of famer, Bill Walton.
"While the energy of the spectators and entertainment on course were at an
all-time high this morning, it was a game of energy conservation for the
participants who made their way to the finish line,” said Paul Greer, San
Diego Track Club (SDTC) coach, who has trained runners for every Rock 'n'
Roll San Diego race since it started in 1998. "We saw an increase in
marathon participation this year, which would put a smile on the face of
Bill Aaron, our beloved and dearly missed SDTC coach and Rock 'n' Roll
Running Series Legacy Runner who passed away in May.”
Sunday's Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San Diego marathon also saw elite
runners take to the course. It was Rene Ortiz (Rioverde, Mexico) with a
time of 2:28:42 and Dakota Bliler (Scottsdale, Ariz.) winning in a time of
2:52:31 coming home victorious in the men's and women's races,
respectively. Ayrton Ledesma (Azusa, Calif.) with a time of 1:03:42 and
Lisa Goodin (San Diego, Calif.) finishing in 1:15:42 were the male and
female overall winners of the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Half Marathon.
"Rock 'n' Roll San Diego is the only race I've ever repeated because I love
it so much,” said Bliler, who placed second in the women's marathon last
year and returned to try for the win. "I love running here because people
are so kind and encouraging, and always cheering me on along the course. I
train a lot in the heat, living in Scottsdale, so it was also nice weather
out there today, and I didn't even break a sweat until mile 10.”
Race day of course brought more than just fast times as several local
bands, including Bobby Tunes, The Surf Birdz, Naruwan Taiko's Japanese
drums, and many more, performed live on band stages along the route
interspersed with cheerleaders and crowd support. Saved by the 90s and No
Duh took the stage at Waterfront Park as the Encore Entertainment concert.
In 1998, the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series was born in San Diego, drawing
nearly 20,000 marathon participants to the start line of the very first
Rock 'n' Roll Running Series event, setting a record as the largest debut
marathon in U.S. history. With a mission to make running fun, Rock 'n' Roll
San Diego was the race that started it all in transforming both the U.S.
and global running landscape with a combination of music, running, and
community while also removing the pressures that other events carried.
Presale registration for all distances of the 2025 edition of the Rock 'n'
Roll Running Series San Diego, taking place on May 31 - June 1, 2025, is
now open online through 11:59 p.m. PT on June 9, 2024. Future participants
can lock in presale pricing by visiting, www.runrocknroll.com/san-diego.
The same special presale pricing will be offered in celebration of Global
Running Day on Wednesday, June 5, when the Rock 'n' Roll® Running Series
will host a 24-hour sale on all race registrations in the series. Runners
and walkers alike can expect the best prices of the year for the series
beginning June 5 at 12:00 a.m. PT (3:00 a.m. ET) by visiting,
www.runrocknroll.com/global-running-day.
Next Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Events Coming Up:
The Rock 'n' Roll Running Series will continue up the California coast with
its flat and fast, PR-worthy course at Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San
Jose on Oct. 5-6, 2024. The next stop in the series goes international with
the 3rd annual ASICS Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Manila presented by AIA
on Nov. 24, 2024. The Rock 'n' Roll Running Series closes out the calendar
year in Texas on Dec. 7-8, 2024 with the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San
Antonio. To see the full schedule of Rock 'n' Roll Running Series events,
visit www.runrocknroll.com/all-events.
For more information on the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series, please visit
www.runrocknroll.com.
About Rock 'n' Roll Running Series
Established in 1998, the Rock 'n' Roll® Running Series' simple idea of
making running fun has transformed both the U.S. and global running
landscape by infusing the course with live bands, cheer teams, and
entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for
participants and spectators alike. Focused on running, music and community,
race weekends kick off with a free Health & Fitness Expo showcasing the
latest in running gear, sports apparel, health and nutritional information
and much more. Events culminate with an Encore Entertainment experience
featuring eclectic musical artists from a variety of genres. With a goal of
helping participants find the Beat in Their Feet™, the Rock 'n' Roll
Running Series has also featured some of the biggest names in music, with
past performances including the likes of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, O.A.R.,
Aloe Blacc, Pitbull, Flo Rida, The Band Perry, Fitz and the Tantrums, the
Goo Goo Dolls, Bret Michaels, Kesha, The Revivalists, Hunter Hayes, Capital
Cities, and Matt Nathanson. Further information about the Rock 'n' Roll
Running Series can be found online at www.RunRocknRoll.com and follow
@RunRocknRoll on all social platforms.
About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the
IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™
Triathlon Series, the Rock 'n' Roll® Running Series, IRONKIDS®, World
Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the
Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf®, UTMB® World Series
trail-running events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB®,
Tarawera Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB®, Epic
Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling
events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest
operator of mass participation sports in the world, providing participants
the benefits of endurance sports through the company's vast offerings.
Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also
includes FulGaz® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding
experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for
real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its
first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by
crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The
IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of
events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a
private, family-owned business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm
focused on building great brands. For more information,
www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.
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