25,000 runners and walkers prepare for sold-out Rock n'Roll Chicago Half Marathon
CHICAGO - (July 28, 2010) - Chicago's hottest concert ticket this summer comes in the form of a running event. On Sunday, August 1, more than 25,000 runners, walkers and spectators will celebrate the second Rock 'n'Roll Chicago Half Marathon benefiting the American Cancer Society.
Among the public figures expected to join the field will be Giuliana Rancic ("E! News"); Kelly Killoren Bensimon of "'Real Housewives of New York"; Andrea Powell ("The Gates"); Jake Pavelka, Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney ("The Bachelor"), plus Five for Fighting, who will perform at the finish line, with the event hosted by NBC's Maria Menounos of "Access Hollywood".
Local bands including Hello Dave, Party Freak, The Chicago Mob Dixieland Jazz Band, M&R Rush, Drench, Molehill, Tryst and the Windy City Rev Ups will be stationed at every mile along the course with music genres spanning from big band, soul, country and R&B.
"After witnessing the event first hand last year, we are thrilled to be playing in front of 25,000 runners on the course this year," said Marty Mardirosian, drummer for M&R Rush, who's single 'Rock 'n'Roll Chicago'was #45 as the most requested song on Chicago's WLUP radio station in 1980. "Like it says in our song 'Chicago rock n rollers are the best there are around', and there is nothing like playing in this beautiful city by the lake."
Last year, two-time USA 5000m champion and 2008 Olympian Kara Goucher won the inaugural Rock 'n'Roll Chicago outright, beating all of the 14,459 other finishers in the race, including all of the men. Her time of 1:08:05 was the second fastest half-marathon ever run by an American woman, just 31 seconds slower than Deena Kastor's record 1:07:34 set in Berlin in 2006.
On Sunday, a local elite field will compete for a U.S.-only prize purse, lead by former Illinois high school star Tera Moody. Moody was Goucher's teammate at the World Championships in Berlin last year, representing the U.S. in the marathon. In January, she finished sixth overall at the USA Half-Marathon Championships in Houston. Her time of 1:12:52 was a personal best and one of the ten fastest times by an American this year.
The men's field is lead by Schaumburg, IL native Patrick Rizzo, who recently finished second at the Rock 'n'Roll Seattle Half Marathon in June. The 26-year-old has set his personal bests this year over 10,000 meters and 30K. He's had success in his home state, finishing 10th overall at the 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
Event weekend kicks off on Friday with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place. The free expo is open to the public and will showcase the latest in running products, free samples and interactive clinics hosted by Kara Goucher and Josh Cox, who will be making his first Rock 'n'Roll appearance as part of Nissan's 'Master the Shift'program. ING New York City Marathon champion Meb Keflezighi will also be signing autographs at the SONY booth on Friday from 1:00pm - 3:00pm.
The race begins on Columbus, south of Congress at 6:30am. The course takes runners past several Chicago landmarks including Buckingham Fountain, the Chicago Theatre, Soldier Field finishing at Columbus and Balbo. The post race party and concert begin at 10:30am on an outdoor stage inside Grant Park, at Lower Hutchinson field. The post-race festivities are free and open to the public.
For more information, go to: chicago.competitor.com or call (800) 311-1255.
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