The Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, the world’s largest running series, announced today with Sports Salt Lake, that Salt Lake City, Utah will become the newest destination for the Series. As part of the announcement the Utah Sports Commission will also come on as the presenting partner for the event. After exploratory conversations with Sports Salt Lake over the years to bring an event to Salt Lake City, the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series Salt Lake City presented by Utah Sports Commission is scheduled to take place on Aug. 17-19, 2023 and will include distances of a half marathon, 5K and KiDS ROCK race. Presale registration will be available from Thursday, April 28 through Thursday, May 5 and features the lowest prices of the year online at www.runrocknroll.com/salt-lake-city.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series is a best-in-class running series Bringing the Fun to the Run® through music, entertainment, and community immersion. The Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series Salt Lake City presented by Utah Sports Commission will treat runners and walkers alike to an elevated event experience surrounded by awe-inspiring mountain views.
“We are excited to expand our Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series by adding beautiful Salt Lake City to the schedule of events for 2023,” said Elizabeth O’Brien, Managing Director of North America for The IRONMAN Group, owners of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series. “We are incredibly grateful to Sports Salt Lake for their instrumental partnership in bringing this event to fruition. We are also thrilled to welcome Utah Sports Commission as a presenting partner for this event, extending our relationship from IRONMAN events hosted in the Greater Zion region. Utah’s track record for being an outdoor destination, in addition to accolades such as the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, made the capital, Salt Lake City, the next bucket list location for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series.”
As the capital and most populated city in the state of Utah, Salt Lake City has become a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Runners will take in the beautiful snowcapped peaks surrounding the Valley and a vibrant downtown culture, with unforgettable on-course entertainment and a Finish Line Festival in the heart of the city.
“I’m thrilled that the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series is coming to Salt Lake County,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. “Runners from around the world will get to enjoy a course that showcases the best of Salt Lake County, county residents will get to experience a great event, and the economic impact is estimated to be $4 million in the first year alone.”
Since 2002, the Utah Sports Commission has partnered on or provided funding to over 900 events throughout the state with a calendar filled throughout the year with amateur, professional, and Olympic-related events, leading Utah to be known as The State of Sport. Utah has attracted some of the world’s largest and most prestigious events particularly in endurance and action sports, inclusive of Tony Hawk’s Vert Alert, Red Bull Rampage, Monster Energy Supercross, as well as IRONMAN Group events like the 2021 and 2022 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and 2021 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN World Championship, all of which are presented by Utah Sports Commission.
“For almost 20 years we have worked with The IRONMAN Group to help make Utah and Southwest Utah a premier destination for triathlon and other endurance events. Having a major destination event like the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series take place in Salt Lake City will strengthen what is an already vibrant running and endurance sport culture that exists in our state,” said Utah Sports Commission President and CEO Jeff Robbins. “We are excited to partner with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series and to welcome runners from around the world to Utah in 2023.”