The Competitor Group (CGI), the leading media and event company in the endurance sports industry, was joined by the Dodge Brand in Miami today to announce the first-ever Dodge Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon, leaving runners and Latin music enthusiasts running and dancing in excitement. The inaugural half marathon will join CGI’s flagship Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, with the new event scheduled for Sunday, December 11, 2011.
“As the Rock ‘n’ Roll series continues to grow, we take special care in choosing a city we know our runners will love,” said Peter Englehart, CEO of CGI. “We have great respect for the vibrancy and diversity of the Latin music culture and the Miami Beach destination brings a unique flavor to our series as we strive to provide the very best to our participants by creating world-class events nationwide.”
Vice Mayor of Miami Beach Michael Góngora and City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez joined Englehart for the official launch at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, which was also named one of the headquarter hotels for the event. The launch also saw appearances from actress Cindy Taylor, models Las Senadoras from Univision’s “Republica Deportiva,” and two-time Olympian Arturo Barrios, with a live performance from DJ IRIE.
“As the Dodge Brand continues to redefine itself through new ventures like the very unique Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon series, we’re excited to have a new presence in Miami and to reconnect with our Hispanic customers in our marketing and advertising initiatives,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand. “Our new 2011 Dodge product line is more full of life than ever before and nicely matches the vibrancy of the Latin Culture.”
In true Rock ‘n’ Roll fashion, Miami Beach runners will be treated to a post-race finish line concert after the event. All runners receive free entry to the concert, which in 2010 featured headliner acts including Everclear, Five for Fighting, Pat Benatar & REO Speedwagon, Blues Traveler, Neon Trees and Bret Michaels. Registration for the Dodge Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon is open on Competitor.com and the first 500 participants to register will receive a special $55 entry fee.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome the Competitor Group and their new brand to our community,” said Miami Beach City Manager Gonzalez. “This event combines a free health fair, road race and concurrent musical performances culminating with a post-race concert. It’s truly a win-win for both the tourism industry and the residents of Miami Beach. We look forward to welcoming runners from around the world to visit Miami Beach next December.”
The Dodge Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon joins the Country Music Marathon in Nashville as extensions of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series umbrella. The half marathon will be the eighteenth event in the national series of musically themed marathons and half marathons, which are famous for lining race routes with live bands and fanfare at each mile. The series, which started in San Diego in 1998, is held across the United States in major markets such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas and Las Vegas, among others.
“The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon concept was truly the first of its kind,” said Barrios, a two-time Mexican Olympian and the first person to run a half marathon under 1 hour. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the Competitor Group’s effort reaching out to the Latin community and I believe this Miami Beach event will attract new runners to the sport because the series has proven to positively influence people and grow the sport of distance running.”
“We are thrilled to be a headquarter hotel of the Latin Music Half Marathon taking place throughout Miami Beach in December 2011,” said David Siguaw, Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach Director of Sales & Marketing. “Adding the concept of Latin music to a running event here in Miami pays tribute to the strong culture and history that both Miami Beach and the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach are known for.”
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