Rock ‘n’ Roll At The Mardi Gras Marathon, By Leroy & Nick Worley

Just as Mardi Gras celebrations are in full swing in Shreveport, there's still time to catch all the fun in New Orleans. Go ahead and enjoy all the festivities, but don't miss the Mardi Gras Marathon. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Series will add the Mardi Gras Marathon to its schedule of races, hosting the Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras Marathon & ½ Marathon in New Orleans on the last Sunday in February.

“We are grateful for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon to realize the potential New Orleans offers to be a big event town,” said Arnie Fielkow, New Orleans City Council President who joined Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist Frank Shorter at a press conference to announce the event. “This is an important event that will bring economic impact to the city and we are ready to show our southern hospitality to runners from throughout the nation.”

Produced by The Competitor Group, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series is known for lining race routes with live bands, cheerleaders and themed water stations. The original Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego is still recognized for its record setting inaugural event that brought 15,771 participants across the finish line. Today, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series has spread to eleven cities nationwide, creating the first national series of marathons and half-marathons, which annually attract more than 250,000 participants.

Registration for Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras is open on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series website http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/mardigras/. The first 500 participants to register for either the marathon or half marathon will receive a special $50 entry fee. Previously, two inaugural Rock 'n' Roll events in Seattle and Chicago have sold out , so runners are encouraged to register early as space is limited.

“This new partnership will allow our event to showcase its incredibly flat race course, highlight many of our city’s famous attractions, feature local musicians and will provide for continual growth of our local running community,” said Aaron Boudreaux, President of the New Orleans Track Club. “We are looking forward to hosting tens of thousands of runners and walkers from across the country so that everyone can see and experience what we already know – that New Orleans is the greatest running city in the world.”

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon format is an enjoyable experience for both race participants and spectators with live local bands at every mile along the course playing original and cover songs to energize the runners. The races also feature a cheerleading spirit competition, which showcases local cheerleading squads along the sidelines rooting for race participants all the way to the finish line.

Event weekend kicks off on the last Friday in February, with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo where all participants pick up their race packets. The expo will feature more than one hundred running and fitness retailers, exhibits and interactive clinics.

In true Rock ‘n’ Roll fashion, New Orleans runners will be treated to a post-race concert after the event. All participants and volunteers receive free entry to the concert. Past headliners have included the Goo Goo Dolls, Chris Isaak, Martina McBride, Kenny Rogers, Chicago, Sara Evans, Sugar Ray, Ozomatli, INXS, LIVE and Collective Soul.

“Since the inaugural marathon in 1998, the Rock ‘n’ Roll brand has become synonymous with fun, entertaining and fitness-focused community events,” said Bruce Herring, Senior Vice-President of Events for the Competitor Group. “And with charity partners fundraising over $190 million (net) through the Rock ‘n’ Roll series to date, the events have quickly become the most successful charity fundraising platforms in the industry.”

The marathon and half marathon will be the eleventh event in the national series of musically themed marathons and half-marathons. In 2008, three of the four largest combined marathon and half marathon events in the world were part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series.