Runner's & Triathlete's Web Athletics: Seattle Is Ready To Rock ‘N’ Roll

Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon to be signature event of Seafair in 2009

Seattle, WA _ August 5, 2008 : The Competitor Group, organizers of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series, announced today that Seattle will be the next home of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon. The inaugural race is set to kick off the city’s annual Seafair summer celebration, and will travel from Tukwila to Seattle on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

"The Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle will be staged in conjunction with the city’s annual Seafair festival," said Peter Englehart, Chief Executive Officer of the Competitor Group. "We are excited about hosting an inaugural field of between 15,000 - 20,000 runners, plus we’ll be bringing not only our standard backdrop of having a rock ‘n roll band stationed at every mile along the race course, but also a world-class health and fitness expo as well as a headliner concert."

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & ½ Marathon is now part of a national series of eight musically themed marathons and half-marathons. The 26.2 and 13.1-mile courses will run past many of the city’s notable sites and tourist attractions and feature live bands and cheerleaders along the courses at each mile. Organizers plan to unveil the half and full marathon courses later in 2008.

"The race will begin in suburban Tukwila, proceed along the shores of Lake Washington and offer scenic views of Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier before finishing in downtown Seattle at Qwest field," added Englehart.

The race is expected to draw between 15,000 - 20,000 runners and walkers and feature over 70 live bands along the marathon and half-marathon courses. Online registration is open at .

"King County revels in hosting high-profile events," said Ron Sims, King County executive. "The region’s metropolitan vibe, renowned attractions, friendly community and nationwide reputation as an ideal vacation destination make Seattle a logical choice as the next Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon."

Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, will be the location of both the finish line and the Health & Fitness Expo. The two-day Health & Fitness Expo that precedes each and every musical marathon will host over one hundred running and fitness retailers, exhibits and clinics.

"The 2009 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon will be a great opportunity for us to showcase Seattle in the summer, especially since it will be broadcast nationally on Fox Sports Net," said Beth Knox, Executive Director of Seafair. "We’re excited to show the world what makes Seattle an ideal vacation city, and know that the race will be the perfect kickoff to our annual Seafair."

Its phenomenal number of participants and musical influence combine to make the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon a one-of-a-kind event for the whole family. The Seattle race will begin in Tukwila, a suburb located approximately 10 miles south of the downtown core.

"I'm thrilled that all of the runners and walkers will gather in the streets of Tukwila for the start of the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon next summer," said Jim Haggerton, Mayor of Tukwila. "It’s so exciting to be a part of this historic event. I can’t wait to see everything come together next June."

After crossing the finish line outside of Qwest Field, runners will be treated to a post-race headliner concert Saturday night at Mary Moor Park in honor of the participants’ accomplishments. All runners, walkers and event volunteers receive free entry to the concert with their race number. Past acts at other Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathons include SEAL, INXS, Journey, Chris Isaak, Goo Goo Dolls and Hootie & the Blowfish.

Local bands and high school cheer squads interested in performing along the course may go to www.rnrseattle.com for information about submitting press kits and bios. For more information or to register online for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & ½ Marathon please visit .

About The Competitor Group
Competitor Group, Inc., based in San Diego, California, is a platform media company specializing in the endurance sports sector which primarily includes marathons, cycling, and triathlons. CGI comprises four companies: Elite Racing, Triathlete Magazine, Competitor Publishing, and Inside Communications, which are the leading companies serving endurance sport enthusiasts. Competitor Group owns and operates 16 national branded sports events with more than 150,000 professional and amateur participants. Additionally, the Company has eight fitness expositions. Competitor Group publishes 8 magazine titles with a combined circulation of approximately 500,000 per month. It also produces radio and television content along with the leading new media platform in the sector. Further information about Competitor Group and its media properties can be found at www.competitor.com, www.eliteracing.com, www.triathletemagazine.com and www.insideinc.com.

About Elite Racing
Elite Racing is a division of The Competitor Group, the leader in endurance sports media, marketing and event management. Its signature musical marathon series began in 1998 with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego, Calif., which celebrated its 10th anniversary on Sun., June 3, 2007. Over the past eleven years, the company has grown to manage a total of seven marathons and half marathons including the Country Music Marathon and ½ Marathon in Nashville, Tenn., the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va., the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, the ING Philadelphia Distance Run, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in San Jose, Calif., and the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & ½ Marathon. Each event features live music and cheerleaders along every mile on the course. Events attract between 13,000 and 35,000 participants.

In addition, Elite Racing also produces the Carlsbad 5000. Known as the "world’s fastest 5k," the Carlsbad 5000 is home to 16 world best times at the 3.1-mile distance and welcomes over 10,000 runners and walkers to the streets of Carlsbad, Calif. annually. For more information about Elite Racing’s events visit www.eliteracing.com.

About Seafair
Seafair is an independent, not-for profit organization that serves as the premier summertime celebration for the Greater Seattle area. Seafair depends on corporate sponsorship dollars and ticket purchases to fund its events, and does not receive government funding to offset expenses. Seafair provides numerous free events throughout the calendar year including the Milk Carton Derby, Torchlight Parade, Holiday Cruise for disabled adults, Seafair Scholarship Program for Women and Seafair High School Ambassador Program, in addition to its annual Hydroplane Race and Air Show. For more information about Seafair visit www.seafair.com.