Rock ‘n’ Road Trip Caps Off Virtual Tour with Bose Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Diego, Host Location of The Original Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon Series Event

December 9, 2020

- Bose Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Diego offers Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, and Remix Challenge Options for global community - Featured Rock ‘n’ Roller Rakhi Batra of San Diego, California shares how she has used virtual racing to stay motived to run in her home community - Over 9,000 participants from 80 nations join the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip during virtual race weekend in San Antonio, Texas

SAN DIEGO, Calif. / TAMPA, Fla. (Dec. 9, 2020) – Following a four-month virtual running tour across the United States which has brought Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Marathon Series destinations to the global running community, the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip tour bus prepares for its final stop in San Diego where participants can let visions of sun, surf, and cervezas inspire their race activity smack dab in the middle of December. This weekend, the Rock ‘n’ Road trip brings participants back to “The Original” Rock ‘n’ Roll event in America’s Finest City with the Bose Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Diego. As the home of the very first Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon, San Diego is a town with running in its very DNA. The Bose Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Diego will offer participants a Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, and Remix challenge options.

Registration for all distances remains open and available for FREE to the entire global community. The final Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Virtual Running™ (VR™) Series event in the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip will begin on Friday, Dec. 11 at 5 a.m. ET and close Sunday, Dec. 13 at 11:59 p.m. ET with participants being able to compete in the virtual tour stop anywhere, indoors or outdoors, as long as the distance of their choosing is completed in one session.

Born in 1998, Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego changed the face of the running industry by adding live-bands and music at every mile along the course, truly Bringing the Fun to the Run^TM. As the first race to put bands on the course and highlight the fun aspect of running, Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego quickly became known as “everybody’s marathon.” To this day, runners and walkers alike continue to flock to San Diego to race, where the city’s beaches, craft beer, and unique neighborhoods keep them coming back. Participants of the Bose Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Diego will get the unique chance to run their choice of virtual distances inspired by this seaside city.

Featured Rock ‘n’ Roller

Rakhi Batra, San Diego, California

Like has been the case for many, 2020 has been a challenging year for Rakhi Batra. Just when the pandemic began sweeping the country and the world, Batra’s father passed away from myositis at the age of 79. Batra, 41, turned her grief and the other mounting challenges of the year into an opportunity and quickly organized a virtual race to benefit myositis. She organized her own race and runs regularly with people in San Diego who have signed up to support her cause. To keep Batra going, she joined the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Club. “That all combined to get me motivated to run—it helped with everything. I did the races every weekend, and that helped with my mindset, stress, everything. I totally get that runner’s high,” she says. Batra is planning on running either the 5K or the half marathon version of the Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Diego this weekend. The San Diego resident of 19 years started out on her running journey by walking—completing the three-day walk for breast cancer in both 2008 and 2009. She picked up running in 2012 and finished her first half marathon that year in San Diego. The following year, she roped two girlfriends into running it with her, and in 2016 she finished the full marathon. She and her husband completed the half marathon together as a relay in 2018 and were signed up for this year’s relay again. Batra is no stranger to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series having also completed events in Las Vegas and Chicago. Learn more about where Batra loves to run in her home city of San Diego in The Beat.

San Diego Inspired 

Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Club participants are encouraged to be San Diego inspired in their virtual activities and share photos and videos on social media by tagging #RnRVRSanDiego. Don’t live along the Southern California coastline, no problem. Here are several reasons why we love San Diego as well as some Rock ‘n’ Roll Road Trip prep on how runners and walkers can experience the best of the America’s Finest City while participating in in their own communities.

• Everybody’s Marathon: Toni Reaves, sportscaster and running analyst, calls the inaugural Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego Marathon in 1998 a “game-changer” in the sport. “This race opened the sport of running to the activity of running,” Reaves said. “People were intimidated by putting a number on, but once they got the idea there was going to be music out there, and it was going to be supportive of everyone, the intimidation factor for the first time was erased.” As the first race to put bands on the course and highlight the fun aspect of running, Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego quickly became known as “everybody’s marathon.” Runners continue to flock to San Diego to race year after year and the city’s beaches, craft beer, and unique neighborhoods keep them coming back.
• Paradise City Circuit: Axl Rose said it best, let this race take you down to Paradise City (virtually!) where you’ll groove through many different ‘hoods. Relive the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego experience. From the start line location in Balboa Park, to the stylish Hillcrest neighborhood, to San Diego’s first settlement in Old Town, Oceanfront views in Mission Bay and the epic finish line experience at Waterfront Park in Downtown. Check out some of the highlights of the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego route and use them as inspiration for rocking your virtual Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego. Read more here.
• The SoCal Sound: Some of the best bands to come out of the post-2000 punk scene in Southern California included the likes of Bad Religion, Pennywise, The Offspring, and Social Distortion. Each bringing a completely unique take on the genre, the SoCal Punk scene injected an element of excitement and freshness into mainstream culture at the beginning of 21st century. Let those tunes carry you through the week with this playlist – SoCal Punk Essentials
• Exploring the Original: San Diego is known for its amazing year-round weather, extensive beaches along the Pacific Ocean, a thriving arts and culture scene and outdoor activities galore. There is never dull moment in San Diego. Here are 10 things to do and see when you make it there:

1. Explore the cliffs of La Jolla to see Seals, Tide Pools, and the famous La Jolla Cove
2. Take in the view from the Gliderport, atop the breathtaking cliffs of Torrey Pines
3. Stroll through the gardens and majestic Spanish style buildings in Balboa Park
4. Visit the Midway aircraft carrier and take your photo with the statue of the kissing sailor
5. Take a ferry ride to Coronado Island and visit the historic Hotel Del Coronado
6. Snap a selfie from the top of the Cabrillo National Monument
7. Ride one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the world at Belmont Park
8. Take a photo with your favorite mural at Chicano Park
9. Walk along the bar and restaurant lined streets of the historic Gaslamp Quarter
10. Grab an authentic Tijuana style taco at Tacos El Gordo

Getting Started

To register for Rock ‘n’ Road Trip event, runners or walkers only need to sign up through the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Club platform and connect to their tracker app. Runners can then complete their registration by going to the “Events” tab and clicking “Register Now” for free on the virtual race page.

Through the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip, participants will be able to earn exclusive digital event badges for each race and distance they complete; download race bib to personalize the experience; reward themselves for their efforts with cool destination themed finisher medals and T-Shirts; and earn points redeemable for sweet swag and more at www.runrocknrollstore.com/rock-n-roll-vr. Finishers who complete the Remix Challenge also earn access to additional medals.

Looking Back – By the Numbers

Science in Sport Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Antonio

• Science in Sport Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Antonio offered distances of a Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K along with the Remix Challenge
• More than 9,000 people from 80 nations and 47 states stepped up to the virtual start line for the Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Series’ Rock ‘n’ Road Trip in San Antonio, Texas.
• Participants for Science in Sport Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Antonio came from around the world and ranged in age from 19 to 83.
• The United States led the way with over 7,000 walkers and runners followed by United Kingdom (over 350), Canada (over 300), Mexico (over 250), and Portugal (over 100).
• Other nations represented included Austria, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Guatemala, Israel, Morocco, Singapore, and Uruguay, among others.
• Of the 47 U.S. states represented at Science in Sport Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Antonio, the greatest number came from Texas, followed by California, Virginia, Arizona, and Florida.

Giving Back – Rock This Town^®

Rock This Town^® and the IRONMAN Foundation^® have continued their mission of creating positive tangible change in race communities throughout 2020, despite the devastating impact of COVID-19 around the world. To date, over $500,000 in IRONAID COVID-19 Support Fund grants have been distributed to over 160 health-related charitable organizations; including the Las Vegas Kiwanis Young Professionals who provided bags filled with school supplies and hygiene products to middle school students in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas community. An additional 70 organizations received support through Operation IRONAID Face Masks in partnership with Framebridge and Good360; including the Nashville Rescue Mission, which received 8,000 masks for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville community. Through Operation IRONAID Nutrition, 49 food banks located throughout race communities received food donations to feed individuals facing hunger; including America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia Food Bank, which received nearly 250 pounds of food to fulfill nutritional needs of families in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah community. Additionally, in conjunction with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Turkey Trot, $16,000 was distributed to Feeding America. Rock This Town and the IRONMAN Foundation are accepting applications for the fifth round of IRONAID COVID-19 Support Fund grants until 11:59 p.m. ET on December 15, 2020. For more information about IRONAID visit ironmanfoundation.org/ironaid.

Full details and specifics regarding the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Series, Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Club and Challenges are available on www.runrocknrollvr.com. For more information on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, please visit the website at www.runrocknroll.com. Media related inquiries may be directed to press@runrocknroll.com.

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About Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series^® is the world’s largest running series taking part in over 30 destination events around the world every year. Established in 1998, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon 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 Marathon 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 Marathon Series^®, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS^®, ITU World Triathlon 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, 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 (www.advance.com), a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.