It Keeps You Running: Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego Celebrating 10 Years

San Diego, CA (Vocus) March 28, 2007 -- On Sunday, June 3, 2007, the original Rock 'n' Roll Marathon will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with 20,000 runners and walkers and once again take over the streets of San Diego, Calif., bringing its unique experience of music and running to the marathon masses.

"The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon is 'the original' musical marathon and it holds a special place in our hearts here at Elite Racing," explains Tim Murphy, founder and CEO of Elite Racing, Inc. "This race laid the foundation for all six of the company's current marathons and half-marathons and we are thrilled to celebrate this milestone in race history."

In 1998, with a method behind his marathon madness, Murphy put his musical marathon concept into motion by placing live bands on stages, cheerleaders and themed water stations at each mile along the race course to entertain participants. To date, more than 175,000 people have toed the start line at historic Balboa Park behind some of the world's best professional elite athletes, "high-fived" guitarists and lead singers along the course, and ultimately, crossed the finish line to the cheers and tears of family and friends. This year, the event's post-race concert will move to the Embarcadero, an outdoor, bayside concert venue conveniently located near hotels and dining in downtown San Diego.

The inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Marathon crushed the 13-year-old record formally held by the Los Angeles Marathon by 7,500 participants to become the world's largest inaugural running event. Along with its massive participant numbers and innovative musical style the race had an immediate impact on the running industry by blending running, entertainment, tourism, retail and charity, effectively turning the average road race into a weekend-long event.

"I wanted to change the marathon experience," says Murphy who has completed four marathons. "The marathons I ran in the past lacked support and spectator participation, but with the addition of live music and entertainment, the experience is positive, inspirational and interactive. Today, most running events have a budget for on-course entertainment," he adds. "Ten years ago, that did not exist."

"The Rock and Roll Marathon is truly the first of its kind," says Olympic gold and silver medalist in the marathon, Frank Shorter. "Those of us who have been with Tim Murphy and Elite Racing since the start knew this event would attract more runners to the sport because it made sense and felt right."

"It made sense because the concept aimed at positively influencing people and the sport of running," Shorter says. "It felt right because Elite Racing had people with the management skills to make the event a success."

The alluring mix of music and entertainment together with running in one of America's most attractive coastal communities has proven to be a dynamic recipe for success. Over the past nine years, more than half of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon's participants have traveled from outside California to attend the race. Today, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon formula has spread to six cities nationwide, creating the first national series of marathons and half-marathons, which attract more than 120,000 runners and walkers to Elite Racing's race courses annually.

Marathon Makes for Mega Fundraising
In addition to promoting fun and fitness, a 10-year partnership between the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and Team In Training (TNT) has inspired people to give help and hope to others. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's TNT is the largest endurance sport fundraising program in the world. Its participants, who are committed to fighting blood cancers, have raised more than $109 million (net) at the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon alone to support the Society's research and patient services programs. This year, TNT's fundraising total will reach approximately $125 million (net).

"The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego is one of the country's most outstanding venues and has become one of the signature destinations for the Team In Training program," said Donna Grogan, Senior National Director of TNT. "Our 10 years of involvement with this event has been mutually beneficial. We're thrilled to be able to play a significant role in celebrating this major milestone."

Economic Impact
Including this year's event festivities, the combined 10-year economic impact to the city of San Diego will surpass $400 million. Built on the foundation of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, Elite Racing's series of six national running events generate an annual economic impact of more than $150 million in the cities of San Diego, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Nashville, Virginia Beach, Philadelphia and San Jose combined.

More than an Athletic Event
The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon is a weekend celebration complete with a two-day free Health & Fitness Expo and a post-race concert featuring a headlining act. The San Diego Convention Center is home to the Health & Fitness Expo where all race participants go to pick up their race number and browse through thousands of fitness related products, samples, informational clinics and race souvenirs.

10 Years of Headlining Acts
1998 - Pat Benatar and Huey Lewis and The News
1999 - Hootie & the Blowfish
2000 - Chicago
2001 - Smash Mouth
2002 - Sugar Ray
2003 - Chris Isaak
2004 - Live
2005 - Pinback
2006 - Ozomatli

For more information or to register for the 10th anniversary Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, please visit www.RnRmarathon.com.

Media Credential Request Form
http://www.rnrmarathon.com/press/credential_request_07.html

About Elite Racing
Elite Racing, Inc. is a sports marketing and management company that specializes in producing world-class road racing events for runners and walkers throughout the United States. Its signature musical marathon series began in 1998 with the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego, Calif., which will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Sun., June 3, 2007. Over the past nine years, the company has grown to manage a total of six marathons and half marathons including the Country Music Marathon and ½ Marathon in Nashville, Tenn., the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va., the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, the Philadelphia Distance Run and the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Jose, Calif. Each event features a live band on stage with complete sound systems and cheerleaders at every mile along the course. Events attract between 11,000 and 35,000 participants.

In addition, Elite Racing also produces the Carlsbad 5000. Known as the "world's fastest 5k," the Carlsbad 5000 is home to 16 world best times at the 3.1-mile distance and welcomes over 10,000 runners and walkers to the streets of Carlsbad, Calif. annually.

For more information about Elite Racing's events visit www.eliteracing.com.

To view hi-resolution images, see web links at end of press release.

Rock 'n' Roll Logo
http://www.eliteracing.com/AssetFactory.aspx?vid=13246

Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Start
http://www.eliteracing.com/AssetFactory.aspx?vid=13284

Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Runners and Guitarist
http://www.eliteracing.com/AssetFactory.aspx?vid=13283

Running Elvis and Elite Athletes
http://www.eliteracing.com/AssetFactory.aspx?vid=13285

Contact:
Elite Racing, Inc.
800/311-1255 (Ian Monahan)

Los Angeles
310/231-0444 (Wendy Zocks)

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