– The Finish Line Headliner Concert Featured Matisyahu Performing for Participants at Waterfront Park
-Bonnie Axman (San Diego, Calif.) and Kellen Blumberg (San Diego, Calif.) win Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Diego Marathon
– Jane Bareikis (Crestwood, Ill.) and Reid Buchanan (San Diego, Calif.) victorious in Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Diego Half Marathon
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (June 5, 2022) – The 24th edition of the Heineken 0.0 Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series San Diego returned to its traditional June race date this weekend, taking place only seven months after hosting the 2021 event which was rescheduled due to the pandemic. This year the Original Rock ‘n’ Roll race welcomed 22,000 registered participants who took over iconic San Diego neighborhoods including Downtown, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Old Town, North Park, Normal Heights, and others.
The Heineken 0.0 Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series San Diego had the largest elite field to date for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Elite™ half marathon series, which launched in February and aims to offer world-class runners the opportunity to showcase their talents and profile on a consistent series wide scale. Elite runners from around the world competed for a share of the $12,000 prize purse as well as Elite Beat Rankings (EBR). Contested across the half marathon distance, each of the eight events in the series will offer a prize purse awarded to the top three male and female elite finishers, as well as points toward the Elite Beat Rankings (EBR), earning the opportunity to compete for the bonus pool in the grand finale at the 2023 Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Las Vegas.
In the half marathon race, Reid Buchanan (San Diego, Calif.) came home victorious for the men clocking a time of 1:04:01. Wan Won (San Diego, Calif.) was second with a time of 1:04:57 and Rene Ortiz (Rio Verde, Mexico) followed in third place finishing in 1:05:02. Jane Bareikis (Crestwood, Ill.) was the women’s half marathon winner with a final time of 1:14:48 with Nina Zarina (Arlington, Va.) behind finishing in second with finishing time of 1:15:56 and Valerie Sanchez (Los Angeles, Calif.) rounding out the podium in 1:17:14.
“I live in North Park, so it was fun running through all the neighborhoods that I know, but there are more hills downtown than you’d think until you run it,” said Reid Buchanan, who ran the majority of the half marathon with his competition 1 minute or more behind him. “I’ve also been a spectator of this race and it gets really lively.”
In the marathon race, Kellen Blumberg (San Diego, Calif.) was the overall winner for the men clocking a time of 2:28:19. Ryo Furukawa (Los Angeles, Calif.) was second with a time of 2:28:56 and Benjamin Freeman (New York, N.Y.) followed in third place finishing in 2:36:10. Bonnie Axman (San Diego, Calif.) was the women’s marathon winner with a final time of 2:48:38 with Katya Olivares (Zapopan, Mexico) behind finishing in second with a finishing time of 3:00:32 and Ali Tebbs (Coronado, Calif.) took third place in 3:08:10
“My parents did this race 15 years ago and I always wanted to come back and do it myself,” said Kellen Blumberg, the men’s marathon winner who grew up in San Diego. “This is my first time running Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego and I’m glad I got the win.”
Leading runners through San Diego’s most iconic neighborhoods, Sunday’s events took off from the historic start line at Balboa Park and traveled through Hillcrest, North Park and Normal Heights before the marathon broke off from the half marathon just past mile 8. The marathon route also ran through Mission Hills and Old Town before both distances finished downtown at Waterfront Park.
Bringing Fun to the Run® since 1998, race day brought more than just fast times as several local bands, including Bobby Tunes, Sonic Tonic, The Surf Birdz, Naruwan Taiko’s Japanese drums, and many more, performed live on band stages along the route interspersed with cheerleaders and crowd support. Runners also enjoy on-course entertainment by local Drag Queens as well as Anchorman and Top Gun impersonators. Matisyahu took the stage at Waterfront Park as the headliner of the finish line concert.
Next Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Events Coming Up:
Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series is scheduled to continue with the Asics Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Manila on June 19, 2022. To see the full schedule of Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series events, visit www.runrocknroll.com/all-events.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Diego will continue with its traditional event weekend next year when it celebrates the 25th edition of the event scheduled to take place on June\\ 3-4, 2023. Presale for the 2023 Heineken 0.0 Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Diego event is now available at www.runrocknroll.com/san-diego-register.
For information about the Heineken 0.0 Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Diego visit www.runrocknroll.com/san-diego. For more information on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, please visit www.runrocknroll.com.
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.
