RUNNING USA – Rockin‘ & Runnin‘ 2011 Pre-LA Marathon Carbo-Load Headed to Hollywood – New Hard Rock Café at Hollywood & Highland to host March 19 party for Honda LA Marathon

LOS ANGELES – (February 23, 2011) – Although Angelenos know Hollywood as a physical place, it's also true that Hollywood "is a state of mind." Both will come together on Saturday, March 19, one day before the Honda LA Marathon presented by K-Swiss at the Rockin' & Runnin' 2011 pre-race party and Carbo-Load dinner.

The event is quite appropriately located on mile 11 of the Marathon course inside one of the newest Hard Rock Café locations, in the Hollywood & Highland complex, beginning at 5:00pm.

There will be plenty of entertainment and a properly-constructed pre-Marathon meal service with six different entree choices, including traditional carbohydrate-and-protein dishes such as Twisted Mac, Chicken & Cheese, Vegetarian Mediterranean Linguine, Chicken Caesar Salad and three different styles of sandwiches, featuring chicken or vegetables.

Just as helpful will be some last-minute coaching from two athletes who know the marathon distance very well: U.S. 50K record-holder Josh Cox and Ironman Triathlon World Champion Mirinda Carfrae of Australia, both attending courtesy of the Marathon's presenting sponsor K-Swiss.

San Diego-born Cox, 35, ran the second-fastest time in history and broke his own U.S. record for 50K (31 miles) at 2:43:38 earlier this year on January 16 and represented the United States in the marathon in the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Carfrae, 29, is an Australian native and one of the world's top triathletes, winning the 2007 Ironman 70.3 ("Half-Ironman") World Championship and the 2010 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Along the way, she set the Ironman Kona run course marathon record of 2:53:32.

"We're delighted to bring Josh and Mirinda to talk with hundreds of runners who will be running the Stadium to the Sea course the next day," noted Bryan Ogle, director of business development for K-Swiss, "and have them share their experience and tactics for completing the 26.2-mile race."

Tickets for Rockin' & Runnin' 2011, which includes dinner, entertainment and the in-person session with Cox and Carfrae, are on sale now at $35 per person and available online at www.lamarathon.com.

"The pre-race party and Carlo-Load dinner are always one of the most-fun events on Marathon weekend," notes LA MARATHON LLC chief operating officer Nick Curl. "The new Hard Rock on Hollywood Boulevard is a great venue for Rockin' & Runnin' and having two endurance-event stars like Josh Cox and Mirinda Carfrae available to speak with the runners is going to be a highlight. We're grateful to K-Swiss for making both of them available for the event."

For more race information, go to: www.lamarathon.com

RUNNING USA