NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TN Tribune) – The Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series events returned to Nashville over the weekend for the 21strunning of the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville event. Music City, USA played host to the musically-themed running event bursting with Nashville spirit. Over 15,000 registered participants took on the Nashville streets lined with cheer squads, local bands and entertainment from start to finish. For the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville Marathon, Will Cadwell (South Haven, Mich.) and Gisela Olalde (Nashville, Tenn.) were crowned champions. Nick French (Nashville, Tenn.) and Meg Murphy (Nashville, Tenn.) topped the podium in the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville Half Marathon.
The 2021 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville participants received a running tour of Nashville and the numerous landmarks including running down Broadway and past the Honky Tonks, Music Row, 12 South and Bicentennial Capitol Mall before the finish line greeted them at Nissan Stadium, the home of the Tennessee Titans.
In the marathon race, Will Cadwell (South Haven, Mich.) came home victorious for the men clocking a time of 2:26:45. Derek Stone (Nashville, Tenn. was second with a time of 2:28:00 and Cody Poskin (Cedar Hill, Mo.) followed in third place finishing in 2:35:43. Gisela Olalde (Nashville, Tenn.) was the women’s champion with a final time of 2:46:11 with Becca Murray (Nashville, Tenn.) behind finishing in second with finishing time of 3:03:17.
In the half marathon race, Nick French (Nashville, Tenn.) was crowned the winner for the men clocking a time of 1:10:18. Andrew Taylor (Hilliard, Ohio) was second with a time of 1:12:15 and Nathan O’Connor (Porter, Ind.) followed in third place finishing in 1:15:30. Meg Murphy (Nashville, Tenn.) was the women’s winner with a final time of 1:23:38 with Rebecca Walter (Nashville, Tenn.) behind finishing in second with finishing time of 1:24:09 and Kimberly Muldowney (Nashville, Tenn.) rounding out the podium in 1:25:06.
Elite runners and fast times aside, Saturday’s race was all about the party atmosphere. Several local bands, including Less Kerr and the Bayou Band, Belmont Church, Suitcase Souls, 2nd Sunset among many other talented artists from the Nashville market performed live on band stages along the route interspersed with cheerleaders and crowd support. The party wasn’t only on course – Yankton closed out the show as the Encore Entertainment at Nissan Stadium.
More than 1,300 of the participants ran as St. Jude Heroes® for the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.® Since the partnership began in 2012, tens of thousands of St. Jude Heroes have raised more than $12 million through the event.
“I am deeply grateful for the compassion of the Nashville community, the collaborative spirit of our IRONMAN Group partners and the commitment of our St. Jude Heroes, who are unwavering in their dedication to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “These amazing people came together today for a shared purpose that began nearly 60 years ago when St. Jude was founded. With every mile, we’re one step closer to realizing the goals of the six-year, $11.5 billion St. Jude strategic plan that’s focused on accelerating research and lifesaving treatment to raise the survival rates worldwide and improve quality of life for pediatric cancer survivors.”
The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville weekend kicked off on Thursday with the KiDSROCK and 1-mile event taking place at Nissan Stadium.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series has developed a series of comprehensive Safe Return to Racing operating principles prepared in accordance with industry standards for open air participation sporting events including standards from World Health Organization (WHO) and guidance from the IRONMAN Group Global Medical Advisory Board. These Ready to Rock: Safe Return to Running Guidelines empower everyone involved to focus on a safe return to running. With attention to density reduction, touchpoint minimization, enhanced hygiene, screening, and education, as well as self-awareness, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series will continue to deliver a rockin’ participant experience with necessary adjustments so that the participants can race safely, race smart, and race their best.
Next Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Events Coming Up:
Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series is scheduled to continue with the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Antonio on Dec. 4-5, 2021. To see the full schedule of Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series events, visit www.runrocknroll.com/all-events.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series will return to Nashville on its traditional date of April 23, 2022. The 2022 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville event is now available at www.runrocknroll.com/nashville-register.
For more information or to register for an event on Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, please visit RunRocknRoll.com. Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series media inquiries may be directed to press@runrocknroll.com.
