Over 9,000 Participants From 88 Nations Register to Take Part in Rock ‘N’ Roll VR14

August 3, 2020

- 5,800 participants currently signed up for new Music City Challenge by running 32 miles, the number of Honky Tonks on course at the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon, throughout the month of August - Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Series Featured Rock ‘n’ Roller Andrew Reid of Seattle, Washington shares “Why I VR” - Rock 'n' Roll VR15 kicks off Aug 7-9 offering a 15K, 8K and Remix Challenge

TAMPA, Fla. (August 3, 2020) – More than 9,000 people from 88 nations and 47 states stepped up the virtual start line in the 14th edition of the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Virtual Running™ (VR™) Series. Rock ‘n’ Roll VR14 gave participants the opportunity to challenge themselves with two different race distances that included a half marathon and 5K, as well as the Remix Challenge for participants who wanted to take on both distances. Participants were able to compete anywhere, indoors or outdoors, as long as the distance of their choosing was completed in one session between Friday, July 31 at 5 a.m. ET and event close Sunday, Aug 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Featured Rock ‘n’ Roller Shares “Why I VR”

Andrew Reid – Seattle, Washington

Andrew never thought of himself as a runner. For this Seattle-based 49-year-old, running has always been a means to an end—something he did when he needed to lose weight. The first time Reid said he decided to “run on purpose” was back in 2007, after signing up for a local charity 5K. Just a block from his house on that first run, Reid found himself in severe pain. “It felt like I was having a heart attack. I couldn’t breathe,” he recalls. He was just 37. Reid discovered that he had stage three stomach cancer—ironic, as the race he’d chosen was to benefit cancer research. A few months later, Reid had surgery to remove the part of his stomach affected by the cancer, followed by a long recovery. In 2018, on the 10-year anniversary of being cancer-free, Reid ran the exact same event he had originally signed up for. Reid, who works in real estate financing, kept on running. Earlier this year, at the encouragement of his wife and last weeks featured Rock ‘n’ Roller Shon Crewe, he decided to train for the 2020 Seattle Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon alongside her. Due to COVID-19, the event didn’t happen in June as expected. The husband and wife duo nevertheless kept training and running together on their long run Sundays. On one of those Sundays in June, the two ran the 13.1 miles they’d been training for. It was a huge milestone for Reid, who shares more below on his evolving running journey. Read more about Andrew and Shon in The Beat.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Recap – Rock ‘n’ Roll VR14

Participants for Rock ‘n’ Roll VR14 came from around the world and ranged in age from 20 to 82. The United States led the way with over 6,000 walkers and runners followed by Canada (over 400), United Kingdom (over 350), Mexico (over 300) and Portugal (over 150). Other nations represented included Czech Republic, Barbados, Colombia, Greece, Morocco, Nicaragua and Thailand, among others. Zimbabwe joined the nations represented in a Rock ‘n’ Roll VR event for the first-time during Rock ‘n’ Roll VR14. Of the 48 U.S. states represented this past weekend, the greatest number came from Texas, followed by California, Florida, Virginia, and Tennessee.

More than 5,000 participants took on a Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Club™ Challenge leading up to Rock ‘n’ Roll VR14. Several separate running and workout-based challenges were offered with the opportunity for special prizes such as a Rock ‘n’ Roll Chaser Hat and Chaser Visor, a pair of Rock ‘n’ Roll Launch 7 by Brooks, a Rock ‘n’ Roll Medal Display Hanger, or a Rock ‘n’ Roll by Hydration Backpack. The challenges included the Community Challenge: Allyssa’s Fartlek Workout, St. Jude: 30 Minute Adventure, and Coach Carrie’s Run Up Challenge. To date, over 51,000 people from across the globe have joined the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Club platform, giving them access to the series of weekly races, challenges, and rewards.

Looking Forward – Rock ‘n’ Roll VR15 / Current Challenges

This weekend, Rock ‘n’ Roll VR15 will offer two distances for the global community, including a 15K and 8K, as well as the popular Remix Challenge for participants that want to take on both distances. Race weekend starts on Friday, Aug. 7 at 5 a.m. ET and closes on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

To register for Rock ‘n’ Roll VR15, runners 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” on the virtual race page.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Club™ Challenges for this week are available to participate in now and include:

• Music City Challenge – By the end of August, complete this challenge by running or walking 32 miles — the number of Honky Tonks on course at St. Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon. Participants can complete this challenge in multiple sessions. Over 5,800 participants are currently registered to compete and those who complete the challenge will earn 510 points and become eligible to win a free Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series registration to future physical event.
• United Airlines: The Takeoff – Fly through a marathon this month. Track and complete 26.2 miles of running or walking activity throughout the month of August.
• Coaches Challenge: Speed Play– Kick it into gear with Coach Carrie’s interval & progression workout! Challenge Intensity Rating: 3 out of 5 – Moderate Intensity.
• Excuse To Explore: Get Artistic With Your Running – Take on a fun challenge inspired by running artist Lenny Maughan! Challenge Intensity Rating: 1 out of 5 – Fun.
• Gatorade Endurance: Parker’s Savage Session – Take on one of Parker Stinson’s (25K U.S. Record Holder) favorite workouts! Challenge Intensity Rating: 4 out of 5 – High Intensity

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Series also offers tangible Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Finisher Bundles and other Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Series merchandise at www.runrocknrollstore.com/rock-n-roll-vr. Finishers who complete the Remix Challenge also earn access to additional medals.

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.