FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
America's Finest City Welcomes Back Runners To The Ultimate Running
Block Party At Heineken 0.0 Rock 'N Roll Running Series San Diego,
The Birthplace Of The Series
- Sammi Groce (San Diego, Calif.) and Maj. Jason Brosseau (Colorado
Springs, Colo.) win Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San Diego Marathon
- Spencer Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) and Sylvia Bedford (South Jordan,
Utah) victorious in Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San Diego Half Marathon
- More than 1,000 Health Care Workers started at the front corral as part
of the race's initiative to thank participants from the frontlines of the
pandemic
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2021) - Following an over two-year hiatus, the
23rd edition of the Heineken 0.0 Rock 'n' Roll® Running Series San Diego
returned this weekend welcoming 20,000 registered participants from the
ages 12 to 86. In the birthplace of the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series,
participants took to the scenic course that were lined with cheer squads,
local bands and entertainment.
In the Heineken 0.0 Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San Diego marathon race,
Sammi Groce (San Diego, Calif.) and Maj. Jason Brosseau (Colorado Springs,
Colo.) was crowned overall winners while Spencer Johnson (San Diego,
Calif.) and Sylvia Bedford (South Jordan, Utah) were winners in the half
marathon. Other notable participants included NBC's 'This is Us'
Television-Star Sterling K. Brown who plays Randall Pearson ran the half
marathon with friends.
In the half marathon race, Spencer Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) came home
victorious for the men clocking a time of 1:06:06. Dante Capone (San Diego,
Cali.) was second with a time of 1:07:23 and Roosevelt Cook (Hesperia,
Calif.) followed in third place finishing in 1:07:31. Sylvia Bedford (South
Jordan, Utah) was the women's half marathon winner with a final time of
1:16:43 with Kara Roper (Grand Junction, Colo.) behind finishing in second
with a finishing time of 1:20:24 and Elizabeth Ben-Isha (Pasadena, Calif.)
rounding out the podium in 1:21:17.
"It was really nice weather today, as always. The hills hurt, but I live in
the area, so I was able to train on them," said Spencer Johnson, half
marathon men's winner and San Diego native. "I was running a bunch of
unofficial solo races during the pandemic, so it's great to finally be back
at an organized event. A lot of my San Diego Track Club teammates were
either supporting me on-course or racing, including Dante Capone who placed
second."
In the marathon race, Maj. Jason Brosseau (Colorado Springs, Colo.) came
home victorious for the men clocking a time of 2:46:36. Yong Xu (San Diego,
Cali.) was second with a time of 2:48:34 and Jeff Devlin (Seattle, Wash.)
followed in third place finishing in 2:49:07. Sammi Groce (San Diego,
Calif.) was the women's marathon winner with a final time of 2:56:44 with
Hannah Mcinturff (Salt Lake City, Utah) behind finishing in second with a
finishing time of 3:03:40 and Rochelle Yang (San Diego, Calif.) rounding
out the podium in 3:05:12.
"I ran here two years ago and placed third. It's a really tough marathon
course, so I wanted to come back and get revenge on it," said marathon
women's winner Sammi Groce, who is a San Diego local and Queenstown Public
House server. "It was still hard today but I feel stronger than I was two
years ago since I started lifting weights during the pandemic."
Leading runners through San Diego's most iconic neighborhoods, Sunday's
events took off from the historic start line at Balboa Park and traveled
through Hillcrest, North Park and Normal Heights before the marathon broke
off from the half marathon just past mile 8. The marathon route also ran
through Mission Hills and Old Town before both distances finished downtown
at Waterfront Park.
Heineken 0.0 Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San Diego welcomed more than
1,000 health care workers to the first corrals at today's race. The
initiative was a small way to say 'thank you' to all the health care
workers who supported our country and community throughout the pandemic.
Elite runners and fast times aside, Sunday's events were all about the
party atmosphere. Several local bands, including Bobby Tunes, Come Back
Buddy, Miss Demeanor, Sonic Tonic, 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. Runners also enjoy new
on-course activations this year with entertainment by local Drag Queens as
well as Anchorman and Top Gun impersonators.
Rock 'n' Roll Running Series has developed a series of comprehensive Safe
Return to Running operating principles prepared in accordance with industry
standards for open air participation sporting events including standards
from World Health Organization (WHO) and guidance from the IRONMAN Group
Global Medical Advisory Board. These Ready to Rock: Safe Return to Running
Guidelines empower everyone involved to focus on a safe return to running.
With attention to density reduction, touchpoint minimization, enhanced
hygiene, screening, and education, as well as self-awareness, the Rock 'n'
Roll Running Series will continue to deliver a rockin' participant
experience with necessary adjustments so that the participants can race
safely, race smart, and race their best.
Next Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Events Coming Up:
Rock 'n' Roll Running Series is scheduled to continue in the United States
with the Humana Rock 'n' Roll Savannah on Nov. 6-7, 2021. To see the full
schedule of Rock 'n' Roll Running Series events, visit
www.runrocknroll.com/all-events.
Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San Diego will return to its traditional event
weekend next year, taking place on June 4-5, 2022. Presale for the 2022
Heineken 0.0 Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San Diego event is now available
through October 31 at www.runrocknroll.com/san-diego-register.
For information about the Heineken 0.0 Rock 'n' Roll Running Series San
Diego visit online at www.runrocknroll.com/san-diego. For more information
on the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series, please visit www.runrocknroll.com.
About Rock 'n' Roll Running Series
The Rock 'n' Roll® Running Series is the world's largest running series
taking part in destination locations around the world every year.
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 weekend kicks 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 entertaining finish-line festival featuring some of the biggest
names in music, with past performances including Macklemore & Ryan Lewis,
O.A.R. Aloe Blacc, Pitbull, Flo Rida, The Band Perry, Fitz and the
Tantrums, the Goo Goo Dolls and Bret Michaels. 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, the
IRONMAN® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock 'n'
Roll® Running Series, the Rock 'n' Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS®,
World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the
Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The Sun-Herald City2Surf®,
Ultra-Trail® World Tour events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail
Australia™, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling
events including Haute Route®, and gravel racing like Gravel Epic®, and
other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass
participation sports in the world and provides more than a million
participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the
company's vast offerings. 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. For more information, visit
www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.
About Advance
Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in
companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications,
education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the
value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and
innovation. Advance's portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage
Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders
Group, Turnitin, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies
employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the
largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Discovery and Reddit. For
more information visit www.advance.com.
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