Silicon Valley Welcomes Back San Jose’s Largest Running Block Party for the 2021 United Airlines Rock ‘N’ Roll Running Series San Jose

October 4, 2021

Laura Thweatt (Superior, Colo.) and Matt Baxter (Flagstaff, Ariz.) crowned champions in Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Jose Half Marathon

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series events returned in San Jose over the weekend commemorating one of northern California’s most celebrated running events. This weekend’s event marked the 15^th edition of the United Airlines Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Jose, a musically-themed running event bursting with San Jose spirit. Nearly 6,000 eager Rock ‘n’ Rollers ages 6 to 83 took on the flat and fast course through streets lined with cheer squads, local bands and entertainment from start to finish. Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Jose Half Marathon, Laura Thweatt (Superior, Colo.) and Matt Baxter (Flagstaff, Ariz.) were crowned champions.

Nicknamed Speed City for the performance of Olympic medalists Tommie Smith and Jon Carlos and the legendary San Jose State track team in the 1960s, the 15^th edition of San Jose’s biggest running block party continued the legacy of speed in this city.

Half marathon runners and walkers received a running tour of Santa Clara Valley that started on Market Street, ran past SAP Center, through the Rose Garden District and highlighted downtown San Jose before finishing at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, all backed by the scenic Diablo and Santa Cruz Mountain ranges.

In the half marathon race, Matt Baxter (Flagstaff, Ariz.) came home victorious for the men clocking a time of 1:02:38. Steven Martinez (San Diego, Calif.) was second with a time of 1:04:39 and Mark Huizar (La Puente, Calif.) followed in third place finishing in 1:05:58. Laura Thweatt (Superior, Colo.) was the women’s champion with a final time of 1:10:25 with Katja Goldring (Flagstaff, Ariz.) behind finishing in second with finishing time of 1:12:20 and Elizabeth Lagoy (Salt Lake City, Utah) rounding out the podium in 1:18:16.

Elite runners and fast times aside, Sunday’s race was all about the party atmosphere. Several local bands, including John Vicino, Mariachi Estelar, DJ Warren, Undercover, Nothin but Fun, Sweet HayaH, DJ Beno, Chubby’s All Stars, Rockin’ Blues Express, and Vital Sign & Bootleg performed live on band stages along the route interspersed with cheerleaders and crowd support. The party wasn’t only on course – DJ Johnny and the Math Class Band entertained participants at the Health & Fitness Expo while the Super Soul Bros closed out the show as the Encore Entertainment.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series has developed a series of comprehensive Safe Return to Racing operating principles prepared in accordance with industry standards for open air participation sporting events including standards from World Health Organization (WHO) and guidance from the IRONMAN Group Global Medical Advisory Board. These Ready to Rock: Safe Return to Running Guidelines empower everyone involved to focus on a safe return to running. With attention to density reduction, touchpoint minimization, enhanced hygiene, screening, and education, as well as self-awareness, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series will continue to deliver a rockin’ participant experience with necessary adjustments so that the participants can race safely, race smart, and race their best.

Next Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Events Coming Up:

Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series is scheduled to continue in the United States with the Heineken 0.0 Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Diego on Oct. 23-24, 2021. To see the full schedule of Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series events, visit www.runrocknroll.com/all-events.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series will return to San Jose on October 8-9, 2022. Presale for the 2022 United Airlines Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Jose event is now available through October 10 at www.runrocknroll.com/san-jose-register.

For more information or to register for an event on Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, please visit RunRocknRoll.com. Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series media inquiries may be directed to press@runrocknroll.com.

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About Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series

The Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series is the world’s largest running series taking part in destination locations around the world every year. Established in 1998, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running 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 Running 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^® Running Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The Sun-Herald City2Surf^®, Ultra-Trail^® World Tour events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events including Haute Route^®, and gravel racing like Gravel Epic^®, 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, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

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.