Run Rock ‘n Roll Across America: Introducing the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip, a 15-Stop Virtual Running Tour that Celebrates Destinations the Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon Series is Known For

September 2, 2020

- In the absence of in-person Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series events due to COVID-19, the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip provides runners and walkers the opportunity to stay connected and jump on the virtual tour bus to participate in virtual Rock ‘n’ Roll events across the United States for free - New Rock ‘n’ Road Trip hits the virtual road on September 4-6 with Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Virginia Beach

TAMPA, Fla. (September 2, 2020)– The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series^®, a part of The IRONMAN Group, today launched the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip, a 15-stop virtual running tour across the United States that connects the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Virtual Running Series™ (VR™) with the physical event destinations that have made the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series so popular over the years. The new and free virtual tour of races will be available beginning September 4 through the popular Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Virtual Running Club™ (VRC™), bringing many of the much-loved current and historic Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series races to participants’ doorsteps and inspiring runners and walkers across the globe to keep active and connected.

Through the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip and the Rock ‘n’ Roll VRC platform, participants will be celebrated as they enjoy and take part in what makes each Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series event community so appealing. Runners and walkers alike can continue their fitness journey through fun, community-inspired virtual events with distances for everyone. The 15-stop tour will see events virtually held in places like San Diego, Seattle, and Las Vegas, among others. The first stop, Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Virginia Beach, will be open and available to the entire global community from September 4-6 and consist of a Half Marathon, 5K, 1-mile run and Remix challenge. All virtual races will begin weekly on Fridays at 5 a.m. ET and close Sundays at 12 p.m. ET.

Following a successful start to the 2020 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series season with Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona and Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans taking place in early 2020, there was optimism for a great year ahead. The world, however, has since endured drastic and unprecedented impacts from the global COVID-19 pandemic that has created many uncertainties with conditions and circumstances seemingly evolving daily. While a majority of the 2020 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series has been impacted in addition to some traditional Rock ‘n’ Roll events not being able to take place in 2021 (Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio and Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville remain on the 2020 calendar), the addition of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Series through the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Club™ (VRC™), has created new and free opportunities for runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts to remain connected, active, and reach their finish line goals.

“At our core, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series is about finding fun and motivation in the moments that challenge us,” says Andrew Messick, President & CEO for The IRONMAN Group. “While we continue to overcome the effects of COVID-19 in our racing communities, our goals and the positive benefits of physical activity are more important than ever before. We are excited to offer the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip to the global endurance community with a fun and interactive way to stay active, find structure and reach their finish lines in a positive, flexible and safe environment as they come together through a common passion.”

Through the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip, participants will be able to earn exclusive digital event badges for every race they complete; reward their efforts with cool destination themed finisher medals and earn points redeemable for sweet swag and more at the Run Rock ‘n’ Roll online store. For the competitive runners, live leaderboards and age-group rankings will be posted at the end of each race week to see how runners stack up. Participants are encouraged to check and follow their local guidelines.

2020 Rock ’n’ Road Trip Tour Dates:

• 4-6: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Virginia Beach

It’s wheels up in America’s favorite beach town, where we’ll celebrate 20 years of running in the country’s first true “destination” half marathon.

• 11-13: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Los Angeles

Next, we shoot across the country to LA to this retired destination of palms and star-studded boulevards.

• 18-20: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Philadelphia

Before you can say “cheese steak,” the bus darts back east to Philly, a course revered for its rock’n fast times.

• 25-27: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Dallas

From there, it’s over to the land of bigger and better with a bull-riding leap to Dallas, Texas, for more miles in the bank in this retired fan favorite.

• 2- 4: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Jose

Next, we’ve got our GPS set on San Jose for California’s fastest half in Speed City.

• 9-11: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Chicago

Back aboard, lace up for Chi-town where the miles wind through an urban cityscape and Grant Park finish before jazzing things up with some deep dish.

• 16-18: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Denver

Mile High City we go, ready to get our 5280 feet of Rocky Mountain high in Denver, Colorado.

• 23-25: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Clearwater

Just when the weather starts turning, Florida comes through with a sunny stop in Clearwater.

• 30-Nov. 1: St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Seattle

Then it’s up to Emerald City, Seattle, for the biggest race in the Pacific Northwest.

• 6-8: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Savannah

Next, let Savannah inspire your running with its unique Southern charm.

• 6-8: United Airlines Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Washington D.C.

In a weekend double-header, the nation’s capital inspires our running with its monuments and iconic Mall.

• 13-15: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Las Vegas

The. Strip. At. Night! This night affair is the only one of its kind as participants take in the Vegas glow while running along the famous Las Vegas Strip.

• 20-22: St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Nashville

It only makes sense to follow with Nash-Vegas, a landmark-lined city highlighted by the neon lights of the Honky Tonks

• 4-6: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Antonio

Back down to Texas, we pop into San Antonio to say “Olé!” to the biggest fiesta in running.

• 11-13: Rock ‘n’ Roll VR San Diego

We bring it all home in San Diego, where the ORIGINAL Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series event was born, set to the soundtrack of endless sunshine.

Since its launch in April, the Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Serieshas seen thousands of runners and walkers from around the world register for the virtual start line each week. The Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Running Series is offered exclusively through the Rock ‘n’ Roll VRC, an interactive web-based platform allowing runners to race, engage and connect with a new series of weekly races, challenges, and rewards. To date, over 54,000 subscribers from over 140 nations have joinedthe platform.

Full details and specifics regarding the Rock ‘n’ Roll Road Trip, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Series and Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Club are available on www.runrocknrollvr.com. For more information on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, please visit the website at www.runrocknroll.com. Press may contact 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.

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.