Rock ‘n’ Road Trip heads to the Pacific Northwest for St. Jude Rock ‘N’ Roll VR Seattle, offering participants a Virtual Running Tour of the Emerald City with Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, and Remix Challenge Options

October 27, 2020

- Presale for the 2021 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Half Marathon taking place June 12-13, is now open by visiting www.runrocknroll.com/Events/Seattle/Register. - Featured Rock ‘n’ Roller Sarah Shaw of Seattle, Washington shares why she loves to run her Pacific Northwest community - Over 6,500 participants from 90 nations join the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip during the eighth tour stop in Clearwater, Florida

SEATTLE, Wash. / TAMPA, Fla. (October 28, 2020) – After a run in the sun that included over 6,500 participants hitting the virtual sugar sand beaches and crystal-clear waters of Florida’s Gulf Coast for the Rock ‘n’ Roll VR^® Clearwater, the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip tour bus heads to the beautiful Pacific Northwest for a visit to one of the most popular stops on the Rock ‘n’ Roll circuit in Seattle, Washington. In the first virtual visit to the Emerald City, St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Seattle will offer Rock ‘n’ Rollers a Marathon distance along with Half Marathon, 5K, and Remix challenge options. Registration for the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Seattle remains open and available for FREE to the entire global community from Oct. 30 – Nov. 1. All Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Virtual Running™ (VR™) Series races during the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip begin weekly on Fridays at 5 a.m. ET and close Sundays 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.

Seattle conjures imagery of bustling big city markets on one hand, and remote, windswept coastline off Puget Sound backed by surrounding snowcapped mountains on the other. This port city turned natural playground is the home to a thriving coffee scene (it’s where the original Starbucks first launched), a booming tech industry, world-famous Pike Place Fish Market, and stunning but challenging running terrain.

Known for being a challenging but rewarding race, St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle has always provided both breathtaking scenic views of Cascadia at its best and its fair share of hills. But don’t let the challenging terrain shy you away from this bucket-list destination event that will surely have you reminiscing for years to come. So, pick a good climb or steep road and let St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Seattle inspire you for a grand virtual visit to this Pacific Northwest paradise.

Featured Rock ‘n’ Roller

Sarah Shaw, Seattle, Washington

Sarah Shaw, a Seattle native, says she’s running better this year than she has in a long time. That might surprise those who think physical races are the only way to stay motivated, but Shaw’s story shows a different side of the coin. When both her races for 2020 were cancelled, Shaw, 41, jumped on the virtual bandwagon quickly and hasn’t looked back. “At a time when everything is getting cancelled, Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon Series stepped it up and provided a means to continue racing and staying motivated,” Shaw describes. “In a world of so much uncertainty, it brought back some normalcy to running.” Earlier this year, Shaw hadn’t been running a ton due to the cold, rainy weather Seattle is known for, and instead she had been kickboxing indoors. When the pandemic hit, she went out for a short run, hoping she could finish just a few miles. “My kickboxing had given me so much endurance and strength. I crushed six miles and felt I could do more! Then I saw the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Club and I just started signing up for everything.” For the first few months, Shaw, who works for Amazon in their publishing department, raced every single weekend. “I’m one of those people that needs a race on the books. If I don’t, I’m like ‘maybe I’ll run, maybe I won’t,’” she says. “Having these races keeps me excited and gives me something to work towards—it’s been fun having this new way of doing things. “Shaw has also enjoyed completing her virtual races with friends, sending selfies and sharing times, as the group of friends tries to make this year feel as normal as possible. “I’m also very motivated by swag,” Shaw says. “Medals, shirts, all of it!” Check out The Beat to read on for more about what Shaw loves about her hometown race, and how she’s planning on rocking and running her virtual half with this weekend’s Rock ’n’ Road Trip stop in the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle Inspired Running/Walking Plans

Participants are encouraged to be Seattle inspired in their virtual activities and share photos and videos on social media by tagging #RnRVRSeattle. Don’t live along the seaport, no problem. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Road Trip has some tips on how runners and walkers can experience Seattle’s vibrant culture in their own communities with some insight from featured Rock ‘n’ Roller, Sarah Shaw.

• Hello, hills: “I don’t think you can have a race in Seattle without having hills,” says Seattle runner Sarah Shaw, who has run the event more times than she can count. For the real thing, Shaw recommends including some hill work in your training. For the VR this weekend, use the Seattle VR as motivation to include some stair work or that big hill you’ve been fearing.
• Finish festivities: The Fremont Sunday Market, billed “more than just a farmer’s market,” is one of the most popular things to do on Sundays in Seattle. This European-style, open-air, and year-round street market is known for brunching and browsing, handcrafts, vintage treasures, and one-of-a-kind food. Find your local farmer’s market and plan to end your race at, or near, the (socially distanced) festivities. (It might even…kind of… feel like a finish line.)
• Zen out: Kubota Garden in Rainier Beach is a beautiful Japanese-style garden that Seattleites love for its relaxing, natural ambience. Figure out what blisses you out while running and route your run through forests, parks, or gardens, if they’re still in bloom where you live. Seattle is also known for lakes and parks, so be sure to incorporate one of those in your VR.

Fun Run Prep for the Rock ‘n Rollers

• Grungy soundtrack: The birthplace of 1990’s grunge rock, Seattle is home to iconic bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains among many others. Cue up a grunge playlist for your race, or if you like more contemporary Seattle-inspired tunes, try Fleet Foxes, the Postal Service, or the Head and the Heart.
• “Even Flow”: Few bands have come to define the sound of alternative rock in this era more than Pearl Jam. For those looking for some Seattle inspired music to run or walk to, check out this week’s Apple Music playlist – Pearl Jam Essentials
• Recover with a ‘bucks: The global coffee chain, Starbucks, launched in Seattle in 1971. Visit a Starbucks after your VR to re-caffeinate (or rehydrate!) with your drink of choice. Our local culture hounds recommend a cold brew float, one of Seattleites’ favorite treats at the Reserve Roastery, Starbucks’ flagship store.
• Views for days: Seattle’s 605-ft.-tall Space Needle at the Seattle Center is an icon of the city and the Pacific Northwest. The tower was built for the World’s Fair in 1962 and still attracts thousands annually to its observation deck and rotating restaurant. Once at the top, visitors are rewarded with views of the downtown skyline, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay and the islands of Puget Sound. Find your city’s tallest structure or high point and take in views you don’t normally treat yourself to.
• Cruisin’ through Cascadia: one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., the Seattle metropolitan area offers tons of outdoor adventures to explore, places to visit and food to try in this truly unique seaport destination. If you’re in the Seattle area or planning a future trip, here are 10 things to do and see when you make it there:

1. Take a selfie at the Freemont Troll
2. Explore the Underground City
3. Try a cold brew float at the Starbucks Flagship
4. Cruise to Blake Island
5. Check out Freemont Sunday Market
6. Tour Theo Chocolate
7. See fishmongers at Pike Place Market
8. Stroll through Seattle Center
9. Visit the Kubota Garden in Rainer Beach
10. Snap a photo from Discovery Park

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 every 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.

2021 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & ½ Marathon

Presale for the 2021 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Half Marathon taking place June 12 – 13, is now open by visiting www.runrocknroll.com/Events/Seattle/Register. Presale registration will be open from Monday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 1 featuring the lowest prices of the year. In addition, participants that register during presale will receive a FREE Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle training t-shirt mailed directly to their door.

Looking Back to Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Clearwater – By the Numbers

• Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Clearwater offered distances of a Half Marathon and 5K along with the Remix Challenge
• More than 6,500 people from 90 nations and 45 states stepped up to the virtual start line for the seventh stop on the Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Series’ Rock ‘n’ Road Trip in Clearwater, Florida this past weekend.
• Participants for Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Clearwater came from around the world and ranged in age from 18 to 82.
• The United States led the way with over 5,000 walkers and runners followed by Canada (over 200), United Kingdom (just over 200), Mexico (just under 200), and Portugal (just under 100).
• Other nations represented included Aruba, Brazil, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, India, Jamaica, Morocco, Peru, South Korea, and Venezuela, among others.
• Of the 45 U.S. states represented this past weekend, the greatest number came from Florida, followed by California, Texas, Virginia and Arizona.

Giving Back While Rock’n This Town

Last week, Rock This Town^® and the IRONMAN Foundation^® announced the fourth distribution of its IRONAIDTM COVID-19 Support Fund grants to 40 charitable organizations. To date, over $520,000 has been distributed to 160 health-related charitable organizations through the IRONAID COVID-19 Support Fund grants. An additional 70 organizations have received support through Operation IRONAID Nutrition or Operation IRONAID Face Masks in partnership with Framebridge and Good360, bringing support to 230 organizations and impact to more than 2.5 million people globally through meal distribution, face coverings and grant funding for organizations supporting youth, the homeless, seniors, veterans and other vulnerable populations, as well as groups focused on research and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). In addition, the IRONMAN Foundation provided four Humanitarian Relief grants in response to wildfires in Northern California and Canada. Applications for the fifth round of IRONAID COVID-19 Support Fund grants are also being accepted 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^® presented by Westpac, 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.