Rock ‘N’ Roll VR8 Sees Nearly 16,000 Registered Participants from 99 Nations Take on 12K, 5K or Remix Challenge

June 15, 2020

- The Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Club has now welcomed nearly 50,000 subscribers to the platform - This week, Rock 'n' Roll VR9 offers a 10K, 6K and Remix Challenge, with extended hours returning, starting Friday, June 19 at 5 a.m. ET and closing on Sunday, June 21 at 11:59 p.m. ET

TAMPA, Fla. (June 15, 2020) – Nearly 16,000 people from 99 nations and 45 states registered to take on the eighth edition of the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Virtual Running™ (VR™) Series. Rock ‘n’ Roll VR8 gave participants the opportunity to challenge themselves with two different race distances that included a 12K and 5K. In addition, the Remix Challenge was offered for participants to take on both distances, with finishers earning access to three medals through the Rock ‘n’ Roll VR Finisher Bundles. Participants were able to compete anywhere, indoors or outdoors, as long as the distance of their choosing was completed in one session between Friday, June 12 at 5 a.m. ET and event close Sunday, June 14 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Highlights of Rock ‘n’ Roll VR8 can be found here.

Participants for Rock ‘n’ Roll VR8 came from around the world and ranged in age from 19 to 82. The United States led the way with over 11,000 walkers and runners followed by the United Kingdom (over 800), Canada (over 800), Mexico (over 600) and Portugal (over 250). Other nations represented included Ireland, Singapore, Peru, Hong Kong, Paraguay, Bangladesh, and Nicaragua, among others. Nations joining a Rock ‘n’ Roll VR event for the first time were Cambodia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Of the 45 U.S. states represented, the greatest number came from California, followed by Texas, Virginia, Florida, and Arizona.

To date, nearly 50,000 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.

Nearly 6,400 participants took on a Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running Club™ Challenge leading up to Rock ‘n’ Roll VR8. Several separate running and workout-based challenges were offered with the opportunity for special prizes such as a Rock ‘n’ Roll by Brooks Running Company Dash ½ Zip, a pair of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Launch 7 by Brooks Running Company sneakers, or Rock ‘n’ Roll by Brooks Running Company Canopy Jacket. The challenges included the Brooks: Reverse Run, Jeremy’s Burpee Run, and Coach Carrie’s Progression Training Series: Week 3.

Featured Rock ‘n’ Roller

Janelle Perrin is an Adapted Physical Education teacher who specializes in working with students with cognitive and physical disabilities. When her school shut down on March 16, she came up with a creative way to help her students stay active, using the Rock & Roll Marathon Series. Perrin posted the route for Rock ’n’ Roll Arizona in her Google classroom, and gave each student a color to represent the miles they completed along the route, virtually. Each week, the class would check in on their progress via Zoom. After they had completed all 26.2 miles for Phoenix, they moved on to San Diego. When the kids had completed their marathons, Perrin mailed medals and T-shirts donated by Rock ’n’ Roll to her students. “It was a way to keep them moving and connect with the community,” Read more about Janelle’s amazing creative activity here.

Looking Forward

This weekend, Rock ‘n’ Roll VR9 will offer two distances for the global community, including a 10K and 6K, as well as the popular Remix Challenge for participants that want to take on both distances. Continuing this week, Rock ‘n’ Rollers will have extended hours to complete their distances with racing starting Friday, June 19 at 5 a.m. ET and close on Sunday, June 21 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

To register for Rock ‘n’ Roll VR9, 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.

Challenges for this week are available to participate in now and include:

• Jude: All 50 States? Check. – Track and complete 50 minutes of running in one session. This past year, the St. Jude team had Heroes represent all 50 U.S. states which is why we’re challenging you to a 50-minute run or walk
• Sam’s Start Line Challenge – Complete a 31-minute run in one session, as Coach Sam states, “This is great for warming up the day before your Rock ‘n’ Roll VR event or for a short middle-of-the-week workout to wake-up the legs!”
• Coach Carrie’s Progression Training Series: Week 4 – Track and complete 150 minutes of running or walking in three 50-minute workout sessions

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.

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 more than 235 events across 55+ countries. On March 26, 2020, Wanda Sports Group (Nasdaq: WSG) entered into an agreement to sell The IRONMAN Group to Advance; closing is anticipated in mid-2020. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.