Rock up your Running World with Edinburgh's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, Friday January 06 2012

April 15, 2012. 13.1 miles, 7000 runners and a band at each mile marker rocking you on to the finish line in Holyrood Park... It’s the UK’s first Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon and it’s happening in Edinburgh. For those of you who have contemplated running but never quite seen the fun in it (like me!), this could be the event for you.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series began in 1998 and has inspired a transformation in the U.S. running scene by infusing running with music. Now “the World’s Largest Running Series”, more than 500,000 people participate across 26 North American cities each year. For the first time, the Series is venturing off of American soil and the Edinburgh half marathon is its first stop. The course takes in Holyrood Park, Portobello Promenade, the Meadows and the Grassmarket areas of the city and features live bands and DJs, entertaining water stations and cheer teams along the course. Participants can choose to raise money for any of the event’s charity partners:

· Action Duchenne

· Alzheimer Scotland

· Friends of the Earth Scotland

· Make-a-Wish-Foundation UK

· The Stroke Association

If your charity is interested in becoming an event partner, email Red Hot Chilli Pipers Edinburgh rnredinburgh@competitorgroup.com for information. Event organisers Competitor Group, Inc. are also on the lookout for local bands to play at the event; Red Hot Chilli Pipers are the first of 13 live bands to be confirmed with the remaining spots still to be filled. Bands can submit entries at http://uk.competitor.com/edinburgh/entertainment. It’s a great opportunity for local bands to get their music heard by an international audience, as runners are expected from all over the world!

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon replaces the existing ADT Edinburgh Half Marathon which has now been rebranded having run annually for 6 years. Registration costs £43 and is available at http://uk.competitor.com/edinburgh/register. Participants receive a T-shirt, finisher’s medal, swag bag and free admission to the Finish Line Festival and Post Race Concert.

Following the event the series rocks on to Madrid on April 22^nd.

Follow the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series on Twitter: @runrocknroll