SEATTLE, Wash. (June 9, 2019) – Nearly 14,000 registered runners from age 10 to 81 took to the streets of the Emerald City this weekend to participate in the 11^th running of the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & ½ Marathon. With a focus on the core pillars of Bringing Fun to the Run^TM with great music in a community environment, runners of all athletic levels enjoyed taking in the iconic sights and sounds of Seattle. 

The best-in-class running event kicked off on Saturday morning with a 5K presented by Brooks run in Tukwila starting and finishing at the Museum of Flight just south of Seattle. Runners were treated to a truly unique route that winds through the Aviation Pavilion and onto E Marginal Way running alongside Boeing Field.
 
The main event took place on Sunday, with runners from 48 states and 35 countries taking off on a tour of Seattle. With a brand-new run course, the race started at the Seattle Center (home of the Space Needle) and took runners through some of the city’s feature some of Seattle’s most beautiful vistas, including Downtown Seattle, Fremont, Queen Anne Hill, Kerry Park, Woodland Park, and Green Lake. Runners ran along Lake Union and through the Fremont Google Campus before heading back down south as the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon and ½ Marathon became the first running event to cross the Ballard Bridge. Participants passed through the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood and right by the famous Grey’s Anatomy intern house. Finally, runners were treated to views of the Seattle skyline as they passed by Kerry Park and made their way back to the Seattle Center to cross the finish line.
 
In the marathon Shaun Frandsen (Kirkland, Wash.) broke the tape as the overall champion finishing in 2:36:14. Bennett Grimes (Seattle, Wash.) finished in second with a time of 2:37:40 as Tim Rigby (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) rounded out the podium in third finishing in 2:42:16. Christine Babcock (Seattle, Wash.) was the women’s marathon champion with a final time of 2:59:16. Kristina Randrup (Seattle, Wash.) took the second-place spot in 3:00:40 and Jenna Petersen(Kenmore, Wash.) finish third in 3:16:33. Marathon finishers were treated to a brand-new recovery zone that included massages and catered food.
 
In the half marathon, Kenneth Kosgei (Salem, Ore.) won the race with his first-place effort clocking a time of 1:06:56. Turner Whiley (Seattle, Wash.) was second with a time of 1:09:42. Roosevelt Cook (Hesperia, Calif.) followed in third place finishing in 1:12:38. Danna Herrick (Shelby Township, Mich.) was the women’s champion with a final time of 1:19:45 with Michele Lee (Rochester Hills, Mich.) next behind her at 1:19:52. Alyssa Houtby (Visalia, Calif..) rounded out the podium in 1:25:36.
 
Elite runners and fast times aside, Sunday’s races were all about the party atmosphere. Several local bands, including the likes of Biblioteka, Past Curfew, Mean Beans, Jayomi, Jed Crisologo and the Sun Killers, Seattle Kokon Taiko, DJ Kippy, Navy Band Northwest, Released from Quiet and many more performed live on improved band stages along the route interspersed with cheerleaders, themed water stations and new mile-markers that included speakers to keep the music flowing throughout the event.
 
The musically themed road race celebrated the day’s accomplishments by paying tribute one of Seattle’s most prolific bands, when Washed in Black, A Pearl Jam Tribute took to the main stage of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Concert Series on Fisher Lawn outside the finish line at the Seattle Center.
 
For complete results or for information on 2020 event, visit RunRocknRoll.com/Seattle.
 
For more information on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series^®, please visit www.runrocknroll.com. Media may contact press@runrocknroll.com.

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About Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series^® is the world’s largest running series taking part in over 30 destination events around the world every year. Established in 1998, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon 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 Marathon Series can be found online at www.RunRocknRoll.com and follow @RunRocknRoll on all social platforms.
 
About The IRONMAN Group
As part of Wanda Sports Holdings, The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series^®, Iron Girl^®, IRONKIDS^®, International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the Velothon^® Series, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, premier marathons including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, trail running like Ultra-Trail Australia™, and other multisport races. IRONMAN’s events, together with all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, provide more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. The iconic IRONMAN^® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN^® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Beginning as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 230 events across 53 countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.