Posted: March 21, 2005

Athletics: New Course Unveiled for Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

Sell-Out Race Celebrates Eighth Year with a New Look

SAN DIEGO - (March 16, 2005) - The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon will celebrate its eighth running with a scenic new course and earlier start time when it hits the streets of San Diego on Sunday, June 5, 2005. The original Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, this race launched the musical revolution in the sport of marathon running.

The new course reverses the loop around Mission Bay and spends more time downtown, allowing the runners to not only circle around Petco Park, which wasn't even designed when the race debuted in 1998, but to also tour the growing Gaslamp District, and run by the water on Harbor Drive for the quintessential San Diego view.

In addition, the marathon will start 15 minutes earlier, at 6:30am instead of 6:45am (with the wheelchair start at 6:25am), to further ease traffic and road closure concerns.

"We have been working diligently with local community groups throughout San Diego to notify residents and businesses of the course changes and how they will impact their communities," said Tim Murphy, president and CEO of Elite Racing and mastermind behind the musical marathon theme. "We love being here in San Diego and are pleased that the new course will better showcase the beautiful beach and bay communities, downtown and Gaslamp areas of the city."

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego is a unique event that combines running with entertainment. The largest inaugural marathon ever is the fifth-largest U.S. marathon and ninth largest in the world and annually sells out with 20,000 participants. Televised locally and nationally, over 40 bands play live music on 26 stages and 2,000 cheerleaders compete for the Spirit on the Course award. In addition, the event features a post-race concert at Coors Amphitheatre highlighting a major rock 'n' roll headliner.

This highlight on the San Diego calendar is much more than runners and music as it produces an annual total direct economic impact of $45 million (net) while the marathon's official charity, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, has raised an astounding $84.6 (net) million for research and patient services in the last seven years.

For information on the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, including the new course map and description, race day road closures and alternate access routes to popular weekend destinations, or to register online, visit www.rnrmarathon.com or contact Elite Racing at (800) 311-1255. Registration for the marathon is currently $85 thru April 22.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.