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

October 24, 2021

- 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) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Following an over two-year hiatus, the 23^rd edition of the Heineken 0.0 Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series San Diego returned this weekend welcoming over 14,000 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.) were crowned champions 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 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 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. Media inquiries may be directed to press@runrocknroll.com.

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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.