Posted: October 10, 2005

Athletics: San Jose Ready to Rock 'n' Roll

Premier Sporting Event Debuts in Northern California

SAN DIEGO - 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 Sunday, October 8, 2006. Organizers expect in excess of 15,000 runners for the inaugural 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 & ˝ 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 1998 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego. The company's events draw participants from all 50 states and several foreign countries while routinely selling out 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 race 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 6-7, 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 RnRsj.com or EliteRacing.com. To receive an entry form, contact the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon San Jose, c/o Elite Racing, 5452 Oberlin Dr, San Diego, CA 92121 or call (800) 311-1255.

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.