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Race the Sunset Edition of Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach

By Rock 'n' Roll, 08/10/21, 5:45PM EDT

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Join us in celebrating the successful run of this beautiful beachfront race.

AUGUST 9, 2021

The final edition of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Viginia Beach will be held September 4-5, 2021. Over the last 20 years, Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach has made an incredible impact on the city of Virginia Beach and the runners in the community. As we celebrate the event’s sunset year, we wanted to look back through the years at the unforgettable moments and extraordinary people this event has welcomed.

Music Moved You

Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach had the unique opportunity to partner with American Music Festival (AMF) (now the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Concert Series) giving participants the chance to attend the three-day, oceanfront music festival for free! This festival paired well with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series brand by providing music all weekend long. Some of the top artists our runners enjoyed after crossing the finish line over the years included Counting Crows, The Goo Goo Dolls, Journey, The B-52s, REO Speedwagon, Bret Michaels, Train, Sheryl Crow, 3 Doors Down and ZZ Top.

In 2021, Virginia Beach Oceanfront Concert Series will feature multiple artists including the Gin Blossoms, in various locations over the weekend.

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20 Years of Legacy

At its debut in 2001, approximately 15,000 runners toed the start line at Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach. Since that year, there have been a handful of dedicated individuals who have lined up there year after year. How does one commit to a race for 20 years in a row?

Dr. Howard Roesen, one of the event's devoted legacy runners, said he didn’t plan on running the event so consistently, but eventually hit a point where he thought, “I’m not stopping now.” From that point on he was committed. Regardless of injuries or special events, he always made it to the start line. The event has become a tradition for him and his family. Each year, they came out to cheer him on and then all enjoyed breakfast afterward. He’s not sure which race is next for him, but he knows that he’s not stopping running any time soon!

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Extraordinary Moments

Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach has been home to some incredible moments over the last 20 years. Take a trip down memory lane with us as we highlight some of our favorites.

Some of the most remarkable runners we’ve had the pleasure of hosting are those from Team Hoyt. In 2006 Mike Mather, the father of Owen Mather, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy came across the Team Hoyt story and created his own chapter in Virginia Beach. That year he pushed his son Owen across the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon finish line. This team caught the attention of Trey White, a local dentist, father to Katie White who was diagnosed with Prader Willi Syndrome. The daddy/daughter team trained throughout the year and participated in the half marathon the following year. From that point on, Team Hoyt Virginia Beach brought countless riders, runners and volunteers to the event each year.

A Final Farewell

Join us for the final edition of Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach September 4-5 and help us celebrate 20 years of running this unforgettable event.