The Rock n Roll Marathon Series
The Rock n Roll marathon series takes place in 19 locations in the United States and, as of next year, Europe with Madrid, Spain and Edinburgh, Scotland joining the party. The Rock n Roll series is owned and operated by the Competitor Group, which took over from Elite Racing in 2008.
Rock n Roll marathons are pretty much what you’d expect, marathon and half marathon races with live bands all along the course, a big musical bash at the finish and more Elvis costumes than you can shake a stick at. Most of the races offer a free beer at the end of the race, and some even have actual cheerleading squads in addition to the regular spectators. It all adds up to a big party which is perfect, if that’s what you’re looking for in a race.
Some people love Rock n Roll events, but they’re not for everyone. For one thing, the entry fees are a bit pricey at $100-125 per event. For another, as much as the music’s great, it can be a bit distracting at times, especially if you’re gunning for a fast time. When you’re into the latter part of a marathon and struggling to maintain your pace, sometimes the last thing you want is the sound of screeching electric guitars in your ear.
Thinking of Entering an RnR Marathon?
The Rock n Roll series raises considerable money for charity, but this aspect of the races has endured some controversy in the past. When the Competitor Group took over the series in 2008, an internal audit found that Elite Racing had not contributed as much of the event proceeds to charity as they had claimed.
This put a lot of runners off the events, but in fairness, there have been no such issues since the Competitor Group has been in charge.
Many of the runners who have run Rock n Roll events swear by them and return year after year, sometimes travelling far and wide to enjoy the festivities at different locations. Many of the race locations are tourist-friendly, such as Las Vegas, San Antonio and New York. It seems that particularly newer marathoners love the atmosphere and excitement of the race.
In the end, I suppose, like most things in life, it’s a matter of personal goals and preference. If you’re looking for a party that also includes some running, try a Rock n Roll event. If you’re looking for more of a serious race with some partying afterwards, you might want to try a different racing series.
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