New Finish Line to Greet Rock ‘n’ Roll Runners in 2014

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Dec. 8, 2013 - PRLog -- Tempe, AZ – December 8, 2013 4,2013 – In the past decade, approximately 300,000 runners of all abilities have crossed the same familiar finish line of the annual P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon. On Sunday, January 19, the thrill of completing the journey will be celebrated in entirely new fashion.

In its 11^th year, the race will debut a new finish line at Tempe Beach Park, moving from its previous location at ASU’s Sun Devil Stadium. After running and rocking through the streets of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, runners will sprint up Mill Avenue, crossing over Tempe Town Lake on the Mill Avenue Bridge into Tempe Beach Park. With its sprawling space and green grass, the new venue will be ideal for accommodating the large crowd attending the finish line festival and post-race concert, just a stone’s throw from downtown Tempe’s great shops and restaurants.

The event will once again feature separate start lines, with the marathon and COLE Bike Tour beginning in downtown Phoenix while the half marathon and 2-person relay start in Tempe near the finish.

“ASU has been such a great host for many years and we will always be grateful for that,” said Alex Bennett, Event Director. “This change will allow the race to grow and accommodate all the folks who come down to celebrate with us, including spectators, families and friends. We’re excited to see our runners enjoying this new space.”

The sounds of The Joy Formidable will greet the 24,000 expected runners and their friends and families at Tempe Beach Park. The Welsh trio will perform songs from their 2^nd album, “Wolf’s Law,” which has gained traction, along with the band’s career. They recently toured with the Foo Fighters and have made a number of appearances at high profile music festivals.

In addition to the marathon, half-marathon, relay and COLE Bike Tour, participants may also choose the Mini Marathon, a 5.4 mile introduction to distance running. The Mini Marathon is a great option for beginners or those without time to train for a longer distance and welcomes participants of all shapes, sizes and abilities.

Tempe Beach Park will also host the annual KiDS ROCK Arizona event, which welcomes children in grades K-6 to experience how much fun running can be. The 1-mile fun run culminates weeks of training through their local schools and kids receive a finisher’s medal, t-shirt and goodie bag. KiDS ROCK Arizona takes place Saturday, January 18, one day before the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon.

Race weekend kicks off with a free Health & Fitness Expo presented by Fox 10 and My 45, where runners can find over 100 vendors, interactive clinics with running experts and elite athletes, and much more. The Expo takes place at the Phoenix Convention Center on Friday, January 17 and Saturday, January 18, which is free and open to the public.

Information and registrations for all distances is available online at Competitor.com (http://www.Competitor.com).

About the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon

The 11^th annual P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon will take place Sunday, January 19, 2014. The fast and scenic courses will give runners a first class tour of the desert cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. Runners can rock to the sounds of live, local bands playing every mile of the Marathon & ½ Marathon courses, along with enthusiastic cheerleaders to keep participants moving. The event concludes with a post-race concert and finish line festival. A two-day Health & Fitness Expo kicks off race week at the Phoenix Convention Center on Friday, January 17^th and Saturday, January 18^th. The expo will feature over 100 vendors featuring the latest in running gear, nutrition and training tips. To register for the race or for more information, visit Competitor.com (http://arizona.competitor.com) or follow us on Twitter @RunRocknRoll.