Team Challenge Offers Inspiration and Training for Zappos.com Rock ‘n\‘ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon

LAS VEGAS – August 24, 2011 – It's the hottest party in Sin City…and it's for a good cause. The third annual Zappos.com Rock ‘n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon to Benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is gearing up to take over the Las Vegas Strip at night on Sunday, December 4, 2011.  

Training sessions will soon get underway at the official charity's half-marathon training program TeamChallenge. Runners can join one of 27 local teams across the nation for a 15-week custom training program and an unforgettable Las Vegas experience at the ultimate destination race.

"We are thrilled to support the TeamChallenge program for our third year in Las Vegas," said Dave Hussa, Vice-President of Charity Partnerships for the Rock ‘n' Roll Marathon Series. "With the new nighttime start and a half-marathon route that runs exclusively on Las Vegas Boulevard, the 2011 event is one you won't want to miss. There is no better way to make sure you are prepared to reach the finish line than with TeamChallenge."

TeamChallenge is the endurance training and fundraising program of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, the leading national volunteer-based organization dedicated to finding a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which  impact the lives of 1.4 million American adults and children. Collectively known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's and colitis are two chronic, painful and highly unpredictable life-long digestive diseases.

"We are excited to elevate awareness of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis at the Zappos.com Rock ‘n' Roll Las Vegas race, so we can raise much needed funds for patients who are suffering from life-changing IBD every day," said Staci Brown, National Events Director for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. "With informational meetings and training kickoff events taking place throughout the nation over the next couple of weeks, now is the perfect time to take the challenge and make the 13.1-mile commitment."

TeamChallenge prepares participants to run or walk a half-marathon while raising funds to support research for a cure. Their professional endurance coaches customize the training to reflect each participant's unique needs and challenges, supporting them every step of the way, right up to the finish line. TeamChallenge staff help participants fundraise by providing all the tools and tips they need to reach their goal, including their very own personal web page. In exchange for meeting their goal, participants receive an expenses-paid weekend at the Vegas race and memories to last a lifetime. 

During event weekend in Vegas, participants will have the opportunity to celebrate with their teams and explore all that glitzy and glamorous Las Vegas has to offer. Some highlights include a pre-race pasta party, entertainment along the half-marathon course, and a post-race victory celebration.

Runners will span across all eight lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard on Sunday night, December 4, exclusively shutting down the neon-lit Strip in epic fashion and instantly becoming the World's Largest Nighttime Running Event^TM. The marathon will begin at 4:00 pm and the half-marathon will start at dusk, approximately 5:30 pm. Each race will have a limited capacity of entrants and a time limit to complete the distance.

Las Vegas' signature running event was rebranded in 2009 as part of the nationwide Rock ‘n' Roll Marathon Series and is managed by San Diego-based Competitor Group, drawing over 28,000 entrants annually from all 50 states and more than 30 countries. In addition to live bands

performing at each mile along the course, the Las Vegas event is renowned for hundreds of people running dressed as Elvis, and every year includes a run-through wedding ceremony where runners in love tie the knot during the race.

 

Runners and walkers interested in taking part in the Las Vegas race are invited to visit www.ccteamchallenge.org or call 866-931-2611 to find a local chapter that offers professional training.  

 

For additional information or to register for the Zappos.com Rock ‘n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2Marathon, please log onto www.StripatNight.com.

 

About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. The Foundation ranks third among leading health non-profits in the percentage of expense devoted to research toward a cure, with more than 80 cents of every dollar the Foundation spends going to mission-critical programs. The Foundation consistently meets the standards of organizations that monitor charities, including the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance (give.org) and the American Institute of Philanthropy (charitywatch.org). For more information, contact the Foundation at 800-932-2423 or visit www.ccfa.org.

 

About Zappos.com Rock ‘n' Roll Las Vegas

A Competitor event, the 2011 Zappos.com Rock ‘n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon to Benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America will take over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip on Sunday night, December 4th. Las Vegas Boulevard will be booming as more than 30,000 runners and walkers make their way to the finish line to the electrifying beats of some of Vegas' hottest music sensations. The event will also feature hundreds of runners dressed as Elvis, a run-through wedding chapel and a two-day Health & Fitness Expo. For more information about Zappos.com Rock ‘n' Roll Las Vegas, visit Competitor.com or follow @RunRocknRoll on Twitter.

Anna Radev  – Dan Cruz