Don't Call It A Pace 'Car'
This weekend when Competitor Group, Inc. brings its Rock 'n' Roll Marathon franchise to Philadelphia for the first time, runners will be led by a pace "vehicle" courtesy of its new sponsor, Dodge. The partnership is part of a larger 4-race deal with The Competitor Group, which kicked off over the Labor Day holiday.
The Dodge running team, which you can learn more about at Red Letter Dodge, will also be participating in the Philadelphia Half Marathon, as part of the new partnership between Dodge and The Competitor Group, owner of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon series.
Dodge's Red Letter Dodge hopes to hammer home the association with running. It reads:
What does Dodge have to do with running a half-marathon? How do months of conditioning, unwavering commitment and 13.1 miles of open road relate to a car company? What do high-performance machines and athletes have in common? What do explosive speed, outlasting your opponents and an insatiable hunger for the finish line have to with... oh wait, nevermind. No wonder we're a sponsor.
The Dodge brand kicked off its partnership with the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series over the 2010 Labor Day weekend as official title sponsor of the Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon. In addition to its title sponsorship in Virginia Beach, Va., the brand will also be the official title sponsor of the Los Angeles half marathon on Sun., Oct. 24, and an official sponsor for the Denver marathon on Sun., Oct. 17.
"At the Dodge brand, we are passionate about our products, and we're also passionate about living life to the fullest," said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "Running is a fun, energetic and healthy sport that reflects many of our own brand values, and participating in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series is an excellent opportunity to expose our brand to the more than 1 million people who are somehow involved in or touched by the series."
On site, the brand will have a display that features the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango. Dodge brand fans and marathon supporters can get updates at www.facebook.com/dodge and the Dodge brand Twitter handle (@dodge).
"We couldn't be more excited to team with the Dodge brand as we bring the Rock 'n' Roll Series to Philadelphia for the first time," said Peter Englehart, CEO of the Competitor Group. "Our partnership brings together a shared sense of values with a commitment to quality performance, dedication and passion for a healthy and active lifestyle."
The Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon is expected to attract more than 18,000 participants this weekend.
