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Rock ‘n’ Road Trip heads to the Rockies for Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Denver, offering participants a Virtual Tour of the Mile-High City with Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Remix Challenge options

October 13, 2020

- Featured Rock ‘n’ Roller Libby Booton of Denver, Colo. shares why she loves to run in Denver - Over 10,000 participants from 92 nations join the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip during the sixth tour stop in Chicago, Ill.

DENVER, Colo. / TAMPA, Fla. (October 13, 2020) After another weekend of virtual racing that included over 10,000 participants touring the virtual streets of the Windy City for the Rock ‘n’ Roll VR® Chicago, the Rock ‘n’ Road Trip tour bus packs up and heads west taking Rock ‘n’ Rollers to Denver, Colorado for a recently retired classic on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series circuit. With picturesque views of the Rocky Mountains towering over this Colorado Capital, Denver offers runners a truly unique tour of the modern metropolis with Old West appeal. Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Denver will offer Rock ‘n’ Rollers the opportunity to virtually run on the streets of the Mile High City. Registration for the Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Denver remains open and available for FREE to the entire global community from October 16-18, with options of a Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Remix challenge. 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.

For years, the Mile High City played host to an old favorite on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series tour, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver Half Marathon. This diverse city offers the very best in big-city excitement, such as all four major league sports and a world-class theatre scene. It’s also the gateway to the Rocky Mountains, that vast expanse of the American West where skiing, hiking, and wilderness excursions draw adventurous souls from all over the world.

Featured Rock ‘n’ Roller

Libby Booton, Denver, Colo.

Libby Booton, 26, credits botched brunch plans for getting her into running. “My roommate one day was like ‘oh hey, can’t do brunch tomorrow I’m running a half marathon. I was like, ‘what?’” Booton recalls. “My mom had just done her first half marathon, too. She told me that when you go further, you run a lot slower!” The 2014 Rock ’n’ Roll Denver Half Marathon was Booton’s first half. Since then, the Denver-based engineer has run Denver every single year—not to mention Rock ’n’ Roll races in Dallas, Nashville, Seattle, Montreal, Savannah, and Vegas. “I like that a lot of it was downtown,” she says of the Denver race. “It’s very flat, and with music at every mile, you never get bored. But it created a monster! My 50th half marathon was this past January—my last official race. I had no idea what was coming.” When COVID hit, Booton changed her usual approach to training, which was to use races as her training. “I tried to schedule one every weekend to stay in shape,” she recalls. “COVID has made me have to learn to run on my own, rather than with a bunch of friends.” Booton now goes out with her boyfriend to find new parks they can run in together and has started running during the week. She’s also discovered the convenience and motivation of virtual racing, and recently finished an event where she and five friends ran the length of the Colorado trail (486 miles) in 90 days. “I would’ve never had that opportunity if I was just racing every weekend,” she adds. Check out the The Beat to read on for more about what Booton loves about her home city, and how she’s been running this year.

Denver Inspired Running/Walking Plans

Participants are encouraged to be Denver inspired in their virtual activities and share photos and videos on social media by tagging #RnRVRDenver. Don’t live in-or-around Rockies, no problem. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Road Trip has some tips on how runners and walkers can experience the Rocky Mountain high in their own communities with some insight from featured Rock ‘n’ Roller, Libby Booton.

  • Urban greenery: Locals simply love the running paths that weave through Washington Park, an urban park that sits just south of downtown. Hit up your city’s best urban plot of greenery and complete your run among ducks, picnickers, and other runners.
  • Trail time: Find your city’s version of one of two of the Denver area’s best recreational trails. The Big Dry Creek Trail north of Denver follows an east-west course for 12 miles between Interstate 25 and Standley Lake in Westminster, one of Denver’s northern suburbs. The Platte River Trail is a flat and fast, multi-use trail stretching from just north and west of Englewood and heading north toward Henderson. The 28.5-mile trail follows the winding Platte River, coursing through Denver’s urban landscape—including its industrial face—and incorporating high plains grassland landscapes with the Rockies as a backdrop.
  • Get elevated: Denver sits at 5,690 ft., or almost exactly a mile high. Find your city’s best hill, ridge, or mountain and complete your virtual runs with a little dose of altitude.

Fun Run Prep for the Rock ‘n Rollers

  • Soak it up: Indian Hot Springs, just a 40-minute drive straight west of the city, offers the perfect place for runners to recover from their race-day efforts. If you’re not lucky enough to have hot springs near you, hit up your local spa or the nearest hot tub you can find. Just don’t forget to socially distance!
  • Rock It: The Denver music and nightlife scene is scorching. On any given night, you’ll find local and national artists playing a vast array of genres in clubs throughout the metro area. From the chic lounges and happening hotspots in Larimer Square and LoDo to the pulsating dance floors of the South of Colfax Nightlife District, The Mile High City knows how to let its hair down and party in style. Denver offers a little bit of everything with big name tours continuously passing through Denver. Runners are encouraged to turn up the beat and explore this City’s constantly evolving music scene. For those looking for some Denver inspired music to run or walk to, check out this week’s Apple Music playlist – Nature Awaits
  • Hops are the word: Denver is home to dozens of amazing breweries, and we all know beer is the perfect post-run recovery beverage. Try Chain Reaction or New Terrain, or find a taphouse where you can find a selection of local hops on tap. Wherever you are, celebrate your race by branching out from name brands and support one of your city’s best local breweries.
  • Specialty spectrum: Denver is known for its questionable delicacy, “Rocky Mountain oysters,” a.k.a the reproductive glands of a bull. Feeling bold? Try them at The Buckhorn, Denver’s oldest restaurant. Nowhere near Denver—or feeling a bit queasy at the thought? Green chile is another, more approachable local specialty. Get a breakfast burrito smothered in the stuff and consider your post-race brunch nailed.
  • Rocky Mountain Tour: Colorado is a hub for outdoors and beer-loving runners. If you’re in the Denver area or planning a future trip, here are 10 things to do and see when you make it there:
  1. Enjoy a run through downtown
  2. Browse the Botanic Gardens
  3. Visit one of Colorado’s most majestic places, Garden of the Gods
  4. Go for a hike at Red Rock’s Park and Amphitheater
  5. Shop the 16th Street Mall
  6. Drive the Mount Evans Scenic Byway to experience the Rock Mountains
  7. Test your legs on the jogging paths of Washington Park
  8. Try Rocky Mountain Oysters
  9. Take a dip at Indian Hot Springs
  10. Check out my Brother’s Bar

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.

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

  • Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Chicago offered distances of a Half Marathon,12K and 5K along with the Remix Challenge
  • More than 10,000 people from 92 nations and 48 states stepped up to the virtual start line for the sixth stop on the Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Series’ Rock ‘n’ Road Trip in Chicago, Illinois this past weekend.
  • Participants for Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Chicago came from around the world and ranged in age from 19 to 82.
  • The United States led the way with over 7,500 walkers and runners followed by Canada (just over 400), Mexico (over 350), United Kingdom (over 300), and Portugal (over 100).
  • Other nations represented included Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Nicaragua, Panama, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan and Venezuela, among others.
  • Of the 48 U.S. states represented this past weekend, the greatest number came from Illinois, followed by California, Texas, Virginia and Florida.

Giving Back While Rock’n This Town

Last week, Rock This Town Ambassadors, Nashville Singer/Songwriter, Ryan Kinder and Mrs. Tennessee America 2019-2020, Heather Kinder joined members of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon and ½ Marathon staff to deliver 8,100 non-sterile face masks to the Nashville Rescue Mission. To date, over $300,000 in funds have been distributed to 120 health-related charitable organizations around the world through Rock This Town’s IRONAID COVID-19 Support Fund. Additionally, through IRONAID COVID-19 Support Fund grants, Operation IRONAID Nutrition, and Operation IRONAID Face Masks in partnership with Framebridge and supported by Good360, over 2.5 million people around the world have been supported since March. Applications for the fifth round of IRONAID COVID-19 Support Fund grants are currently being accepted. For more information about IRONAID 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.