Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series Adds Lexington Event

June 26, 2012

Rock ‘n’ Roll Lexington Half Marathon set for March 30, 2013; Event to start and finish at legendary Keeneland Race Course; Registration open at Competitor.com

Lexington, KY – June 26, 2012 – Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI), the leading active lifestyle sports media and event entertainment company, today announced a partnership with the LeXenomics Group and Keeneland Race Course to bring the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series to the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass region in Lexington.

The new Rock ‘n’ Roll Lexington Half Marathon is set for Saturday, March 30, 2013, replacing the Run The Bluegrass Half Marathon, which has been held the last weekend of March since 2011.Registration for the Lexington event is open at Competitor.com, with a special entry fee of $65 for the first 500 runners.

“We are thrilled that the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series is coming to Lexington,” said Mayor Jim Gray, who joined race officials at a press conference in the Keeneland Library to announce the new event. “From basketball to Thoroughbred racing, Lexington has always been a great city for world-class sporting events and because our 13.1-mile course is indeed the prettiest half-marathon in the United States, our city is going to be seen in a whole new light by thousands of new runners each spring.”

“Just as we do with our world-class racing and auction sales, Keeneland is committed to providing a venue for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Lexington Half Marathon that is second to none,” said, Bill Thomason, President Elect of the Keeneland Association. “We want to maximize the opportunity to showcase central Kentucky and the horse industry at the highest level and are honored to be a part of this effort.”

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series started as a single race in 1998, and is now the ‘World’s Largest Running Series’ featuring a global tour schedule of 27 events in 2012. Rock ‘n’ Roll Lexington promises a scenic destination event for runners and walkers of all abilities, showcasing the charm and beauty of the “Thoroughbred City.” The event will utilize the existing course starting and finishing on the impeccable grounds of the Keeneland Race Course, touring the famed Old Frankfort Pike to picturesque Donamire Farm on Rice Road, and feature the exhilarating views along Elkchester Road.

“We are delighted to announce the continued expansion of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series to Bluegrass Country and the hallowed grounds of the Keeneland Race Course,” said Peter Englehart, Chairman of CGI. “March is a great month to be in Kentucky. We were fortunate to connect with Eric Patrick Marr and the LeXenomics Group, who have successfully launched and built a great event we feel is poised for significant growth.”

“Since its earliest inception, one of the foundational cornerstones for LeXenomics has been branding our city of Lexington in a bright light to the rest of the United States, so partnering with Competitor Group and the renowned Rock ‘n Roll Marathon Series was a no-brainer,” said Eric Parker Marr, founder of the LeXenomics Group and Run The Bluegrass race director. “The running tourism industry is exploding all over the world and with Rock ‘n Roll Lexington kicking off in 2013, we’ll be an immediate benefactor of that explosion bringing millions of dollars a year in local economic impact.”

In true Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon fashion, the Lexington event will feature live bands positioned on entertainment stages along every mile of the scenic course, interspersed with cheerleaders and themed water stations, then topping the race experience with a major headliner concert at the finish line. Over the 15-year history of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, charity participants have raised more than $270 million for a variety of worthy causes and nonprofit organizations.

For more information about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, please visit Competitor.com.