General Information
Course Information
Registration Information
Expo Information
After The Race
What is the date for the 2008 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
What are the dates of future races?
The 2009 race will be held September 6th.
How do I register for the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon?
You can register online.
How do I know if I am registered?
Please allow 3-4 weeks for your registration to complete the processing cycle. Your cancelled check or credit card statement will be confirmation until you receive an official race confirmation by mail. Final race confirmation/information will be mailed approximately one month prior to race day.
Refund/Transfer Policies
Unfortunately, all entries are non-refundable and non-transferable. Once we receive and accept your entry, you will not receive a refund if you cannot participate, you may not give or sell your number to anyone else and entry fees will not be transferred from year to year. To send in a written cancellation and recieve a race T-Shirt, email rnrhalf@eliteracing.com
What is the minimum age to participate in the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon?
You must be a minimum of 12 years of age on race day in order to participate in the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.
Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon start times and location
The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon will start on 19th street adjacent to the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
- Invitational Wheelchair: 6:40 am
- Elite Women's Start: 6:45 am
- Race Start: 7:00 am
Please plan to arrive at least one hour before race start time. At the starting area, you will find water, medical, gear check and 200 portable toilets.
How long will the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon course remain open?
The course will remain open for 4 hours.
Where will the port-a- potties be located?
There will be port-a-potties located approximately every 1-2 miles throughout the course as well as at the start and finish line area.
Do all participants have to run?
No. The speed of participants ranges from a sprint to a brisk walk. You are welcome to move at whatever pace is comfortable as long as you start in the appropriate wave based on your correct estimated finishing time and you finish within the required time of 4 hours.
What is a Wave Start?
The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, presented by SunTrust, implemented a wave start in 2007. The wave start alleviated crowded running conditions on the course and at the finish line while allowing participants to run more comfortably.
- All runners will be staged in corrals at the start based on projected finishing time, just as they have been in the past.
- When the gun fires, the first corral will be released. The rest of the participants will be held at the start line.
- At pre-determined intervals (approximately every 45-60 seconds) the next corral will be released.
When and where will the Health & Fitness Expo be held?
The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Health & Fitness Expo will be held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th St., Friday, August 29th and Saturday, August 30th.
When and where is packet pickup?
Packet pickup will be available at the Health & Fitness Expo. Packets will not be mailed, and there is no packet pickup on race day.
Does the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon have a Pasta Party?
No, the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon does not have a carbo-loading pasta party. Team In Training holds their own pasta party for their participants.
Post-Race Concert event:
The 2008 headliner concert act is TBD. In conjunction with the Verizon Wireless American Music Festival (AMF), thousands of runners, walkers and rock 'n' roll fans will celebrate the final night of a weekend filled with music and sport hosted by the City of Virginia Beach.
Tickets are available for purchase from our online store at the special Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon participant price of $25 until August 24th. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the two-day Health & Fitness Expo for $30.
Please note: All participants will receive complimentary entry into the post race concert. Your race number is your concert ticket. Simply show your race number at the gate for entry. You do not need to surrender your race number.
*Children under 12 get in free.
Can I get into all the concerts over Labor Day weekend?
Yes! Your race number will give you access to all concerts over Labor Day weekend at the Verizon Wireless American Music Festival. If you purchased extra concert tickets, you will receive a Passport Pin, which also allows access into all the concerts.
Gear Check
All participants may check their gear at the Start in the Runners' Gear Check Area, located in the Virginia Beach Convention Center parking lot, adjacent to the Start Line. Gear check will be open from 5:15 to 6:15 am.
Please Note: In order for the Gear Bags to be transported to the Finish Line, UPS trucks must use the race course roads. For that reason, all bags MUST be checked by 6:15 am so the trucks can leave prior to the race start.
See the Start Line page for more information.
Where can I park?
Participants who are staying within walking distance of the Race Start are strongly encouraged to walk to the Start race morning. Please note that the Start is located less than a mile from the oceanfront and less than two miles from the Finish. A very limited amount of parking is available in resort area lots as well as on streets near the racecourse, but these parking spaces will be taken very early. There will be no parking at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on race morning!
Shuttle Service to the Start
If you are staying or live near the Virginia Beach resort area along the ocean, please take advantage of our free shuttle bus service to the Start. Shuttles will run from Pacific Ave. and Atlantic Ave. to the Start from 4:30 am to 6:00 am. There will be three shuttle pick up spots on Pacific Ave., located at 28th Street, 33rd Street and 40th Street. There are three shuttle pick up locations on Atlantic Ave. at 10th Street, 16th Street and 57th Street. This shuttle service will be for participants only. You must have a race number to board the bus. Click here for additional parking and shuttle information.
Shuttle Service at the Finish
Return shuttle buses will run operate at the Finish area from 11:00 AM to 1 PM. There will be two shuttle routes, one back to the Virginia Beach Amphitheatre and one back up Atlantic Ave. to the resort hotel stops used on the early morning route. There will be no shuttle bus service back to the Start. Both return shuttle routes are available to participants and spectators. The return shuttle boarding location for the Amphitheatre will be on Atlantic Ave. at 10th Street, west side. The return shuttle boarding location for Atlantic Ave. & Pacific Ave. hotels will be on Atlantic Ave. at 10th Street, east side.
Do you offer ChampionChip timing?
The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon is pleased to offer ChampionChip timing. Computer chip timing is the most advanced method of timing available today so you receive the most exact race time possible. Your time will start when you cross the Start Line and stop when you cross the Finish Line. You will receive a 5K, 10K, and 10-mile split. For more information about how ChampionChip timing works, please visit www.championchip.com
What do I do if I have my own ChampionChip?
Please bring your personal ChampionChip to the Health & Fitness Expo packet pick-up area. You will need to scan your chip along with your race number in order to activate it for the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.
How do I change my predicted finishing time once I am registered?
If your predicted finishing time has changed since the time you registered and you would like to start in a different corral, please visit the corral change booth located in the packet pick-up area of the Health & Fitness Expo.
What if I did not receive a confirmation card?
Please bring a photo I.D. and proof of payment (cancelled check or credit card statement) to the Health & Fitness Expo. We will have blank confirmation cards available for you to complete. Confirmation cards are mandatory in order to claim your race number and timing chip.
What do I receive when I register?
Each registered participant and finisher will receive the following:
- Half Marathon entry
- Race number, loaner timing chip, T-shirt and goodie bag to be picked up at the Expo
- Water and Lemonade-flavored sports drink along the course
- PowerBar Gel at mile 10.2
- Food, sports drink and water at the start and finish lines
- 14 Entertainment stages with live rock 'n' roll and 16 cheer squads along the course
- Finisher's medal when you cross the finish line
- Complimentary beer at the finish line Beach Party
- Entrance to all Verizon Wireless American Music Festival concerts with race number
- Finisher's certificate sent to you post race
- Last but not least, a rockin' experience to prove why This Beach Rocks!
Can someone else pick up my bib number and race packet?
All participants must pick up their own race packet. Photo I.D. is required. Race packets will not be mailed.
Will bikes, skates, or baby joggers be allowed on the course?
Sorry, no dogs, in-line skates, baby joggers, skateboards, or bikes will be allowed on any part of the course. This is for everyone's safety!
Do you have any shorter distance races the same weekend?
No, we do not offer any shorter distances during the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon event.
Will there be refreshments at the finish line?
Yes, all participants will be provided with water, electrolyte replacement drink, bananas, oranges and pretzels at no cost. Boardwalk restaurants will also be open.
Will I receive a Finishers Certificate for completing the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon?
Yes, all finishers certificates will be mailed out in October.
What do I do if my race results are incorrect or missing?
Click here to submit a results correction form. Corrections will be updated on a weekly basis.
