Following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series events returned in San Jose, California, over the weekend. This weekend’s event, on Sunday, October 3, 2021 marked the 15th edition of the United Airlines Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Jose, a musically-themed running event.
Nearly 6,000 eager Rock ‘n’ Rollers aged 6 to 83 took on the flat and fast course through streets lined with cheer squads, local bands and entertainment from start to finish.
Nicknamed ‘Speed City’ for the performance of Olympic medalists Tommie Smith and Jon Carlos and the legendary San Jose State track team in the 1960s, the 15th edition of San Jose’s biggest running block party aim to continue the legacy of speed in the city.
Half marathon runners and walkers received a running tour of Santa Clara Valley that started on Market Street, ran past SAP Center, through the Rose Garden District and highlighted downtown San Jose before finishing at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, all backed by the scenic Diablo and Santa Cruz Mountain ranges.
In the half marathon race, Matt Baxter (Flagstaff, Arizona) came home victorious for the men clocking a time of 1:02:38. Laura Thweatt (Superior, Colorado) was the women’s champion with a final time of 1:10:25.
Elite runners and fast times aside, Sunday’s race was all about a party atmosphere. Several local bands, including John Vicino, Mariachi Estelar, DJ Warren, Undercover, Nothin but Fun, Sweet HayaH, DJ Beno, Chubby’s All Stars, Rockin’ Blues Express, and Vital Sign & Bootleg performed live on band stages along the route interspersed with cheerleaders and crowd support.
The party wasn’t only on course – DJ Johnny and the Math Class Band entertained participants at the Health & Fitness Expo while the Super Soul Bros closed out the show as the Encore Entertainment.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series has developed its Safe Return to Racing operating principles prepared in accordance with industry standards for open air participation sporting events including standards from World Health Organization (WHO) and guidance from the IRONMAN Group’s Global Medical Advisory Board.
With attention to density reduction, touchpoint minimization, enhanced hygiene, screening, and education, as well as self-awareness, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series will continue to… ‘deliver a rockin’ participant experience with necessary adjustments so that the participants can race safely, race smart, and race their best.’
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series is scheduled to continue in the United States with the Heineken 0.0 Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Diego on October 23-24, 2021. The series will next return to San Jose on October 8-9, 2022.
