San Diego, CA – February 23, 2010 –The Competitor Group (CGI) announced today that the 2010 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon to Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will finish at SeaWorld, adjacent to picturesque Mission Bay Park. The much anticipated, newly revamped race route will feature more than 9 miles along San Diego’s scenic waterfront, include a stretch through PETCO Park and, for the first time ever, a 13.1-mile half marathon on Sunday, June 6, 2010.
“We are excited about partnering with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon this year,” said Andy Fichthorn, General Manager of SeaWorld. “Having San Diego’s premier running event finish at SeaWorld, the city’s premier tourist attraction, is a perfect fit.”
The Finish Line Festival at SeaWorld provides runners, their families and spectators with the opportunity to experience San Diego’s original Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon while enjoying a world-class theme park. Friends and families can tour the park, feed the dolphins and catch a Shamu show in time to see their loved ones cross the finish line. As part of the partnership, the two organizations have teamed up to offer an exclusive marathon kickoff party at SeaWorld for Rock ‘n’ Roll runners on Friday night, June 4.
“With over 65% of all event participants traveling from outside the region, we wanted a new course that will showcase San Diego’s worldwide appeal,” said Scott Dickey, President of CGI. “It is only natural that we partner with SeaWorld, San Diego’s most iconic tourist attraction, to develop and organize what has become the city’s largest special event. We believe the unique experience that we're going to deliver with this new course will attract a global audience for this world-class marathon.”
Both the marathon and the new half marathon will begin adjacent to Balboa Park on Sixth Avenue and Palm, starting together at 6:30 am. The entire race course has been enhanced from previous years and will feature a scenic, point-to-point tour of San Diego including the Prado in Balboa Park, Gaslamp Quarter, Fashion Valley, Mission Bay and a marathon stretch inside the ‘Park at the Park’ at PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres.
“The Padres and PETCO Park are proud to partner with an event that annually generates so many dollars for charity and brings so many visitors to San Diego” said Jeff Moorad, Vice-Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of the San Diego Padres. “We are excited that thousands of runners are going to get an up-close look at one of the most beautiful ballparks in America.”
Famous for its live bands, festive water stations and cheerleaders providing entertainment along each mile, the 2010 edition will also feature the return of the popular 4-person relay. The shorter distances have opened up the event, inviting runners and walkers of all abilities to take part in the fun while raising money for charity. Over the 12 year history of the race, more than 41,500 charity runners have crossed the finish line, raising more than $142 million in support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training.
“Since 1998, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego has been one of the signature events of Team In Training and we are thrilled the new course finishes at SeaWorld,” said Donna Grogan, Vice President of Sports Training Programs for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “Combined with the relay, the addition of the half marathon offers a distance anyone can achieve and will enable even more participants to be part of an event that has done so much to support the LLS mission.”
Full course descriptions of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon, including turn-by-turn directions and course maps, are located at online at san-diego.competitor.com. SeaWorld travel packages and other park specials will be announced at a later date. For more information, please visit www.seaworld.com/rocknroll.
