US running craze, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon is set to return to the capital on 14 April 2013 as over 5000 rocked up runners take to the streets of the capital for an exhilarating race set to an explosive live soundtrack from 13 of Scotland’s top up and coming acts.
With just under a month to go until race day, Glasgow band Franco has just been announced as the headline act for the main stage in Holyrood Park at the FREE festival finish line party while a host of exciting acts from around the country will line the race route keeping runners and supporters entertained throughout the race.
Organisers are encouraging music lovers to come along to soak up the festival like atmosphere while checking out some of the country’s most promising up and coming live acts including Campbell’s Wild, Hello Frisco, Madison, Jim Black & Mark Patterson, Rab Burns, Pirate Sons, Gonzo a Go Go, Size Queen, Rolled Up 20s, The Boston Tea Party, Vantage Point and DJ Iain Waugh.
From indie rock from Campbell’s Wild and country rock ‘n’ roll from Hello Frisco through to heavy metal from Vantage Point and dirty garage rock ‘n’ roll from the Pirate Sons, the band line up has something for everyone and is guaranteed to keep runners in high spirits as they tread the streets of Edinburgh.
Event Director, Shannon Davis, said: “We set the bar really high last year showcasing performances from some amazing local bands and we’re sure this year’s acts are going to absolutely smash it on race day.
“We were overwhelmed by the number of bands who got in touch with us expressing their interested in getting involved in Rock ‘n’ Roll; we had a really difficult job in narrowing it down to just 13 but we’re really excited to have these amazing bands on board.
“There is still time to sign up to take part in the race and be part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll experience but if you don’t fancy getting your running shoes on, we definitely encourage people to come down to cheer on the runners and enjoy the brilliant live line up we have planned.”
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon offers a fun alternative to fitness by fusing music and running to create an event that is perfect for both competitive runners and people who are looking to experience the festival-like atmosphere whether they’re running, walking, jogging, dancing or just coming along to cheer participants on.
In addition to the amazing line up of bands performing on the day, sponsors of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon will also be on-site including Official Footwear sponsor Brooks which will be offering runners and spectators free Gait Analysis to ensure new and seasoned runners alike are fitted in the proper running shoes ahead of their next run.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon will start and finish in Holyrood Park, making a loop around the city centre taking in some of its most beautiful views including the Meadows, the Mound, the Queen’s Palace at Holyrood, and the Scottish Parliament building. The final stretch travels down the Royal Mile with a glimpse of Arthur’s Seat in the background. Runners will also enjoy views of Edinburgh Castle while running throughout the city centre, and the Firth of Forth as they pass along the seaside stretch on Portobello Promenade.
Entry is now open for the 2013 Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon with registration available for £39 The registration fee also includes an official Brooks Technical t-shirt, course support, finish line snacks, live course and finish line entertainment and one of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s highly coveted finishers medals.
The Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon Series was founded in San Diego in 1998 and is the world’s largest running series. The race concept fuses music with running to create a high energy series of events that annually attracts more than 500,000 runners a year, both serious and those looking to have fun, and has raised over $267m for charity since its launch.
Submitted by Elisa Dunn
