RaceForce Announces Over 3,000 Runners And 2,000 Spectators Attend The House Of Blues Music Forward Foundation Sunset Strip Half Marathon & 5K

LOS ANGELES, April 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- RaceForce, LLC, a leading endurance and athletic event production company based in Los Angeles, Calif.,  announced over 3,000 participants and 2,000 spectators attended the inaugural House of Blues Music Forward Foundation Sunset Strip Half Marathon & 5K in West Hollywood on Sunday. West Hollywood Mayor John D'Amico, local business leaders, and running enthusiasts from Southern California attended in support of the 13.1 mile road race through West Hollywood and the world-famous Sunset Strip.

"West Hollywood is thrilled to welcome runners from across the Southland to enjoy the Sunset Strip and surrounding neighborhoods, which are packed with creative energy and famous sites that have entertained generations," said Mayor D'Amico.

"This event showcases the best of West Hollywood — the Melrose Design District showcasing the fashion and style LA is known for; Santa Monica Boulevard and our piece of Route 66, the center of LGBT culture; and the notorious Sunset Strip with its infamous rock clubs and nightspots and over 125 billboards and tall walls.  Is there a better way to spend a Sunday and see our city?  Congratulations to each and every runner for participating in this new way of experiencing music history and the city of West Hollywood," Mayor D'Amico added.

The race start and finish line took place adjacent to West Hollywood Park.  The route enabled racers to run on Sunset Boulevard, La Cienega Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, Melrose Avenue and past famed institutions on the Sunset Strip including The Roxy Theatre, The Viper Room, and Whisky a Go Go. 

"We designed the race to be a one-of-a-kind experience where participants can run the course of rock history," said Brian Pendleton, Chief Executive Officer of RaceForce.   

"We are thrilled by the response from our racers and spectators this weekend, many of whom traveled from all over Southern California and have stayed the weekend here in West Hollywood for The Race.  We thank Mayor John D'Amico, Councilmember John J. Duran, Councilmember Lindsey P. Horvath, Councilmember Lauren Meister, the City of West Hollywood, and all our sponsors such as The House of Blues Music Forward Foundation, Westime, Sheppard Mullin, Richter & Hampton, Merrill Lynch Private Banking & Investment Group, Gursey | Schneider LLP, CPEhr, NFR & Associates,Perlman & Associates and Michelob ULTRA who helped us make this a remarkable new outdoor event for the city," Pendleton added.

The top male finisher was Edy Hernandez, 22, of Anaheim, Calif., with an official finish time of 1:17:33. The top female finisher was Christina Vergara-Aleshire, 33, of Las Vegas, Nev., with an official finish time of 1:22:23.

At the finish line, race participants received a cutting-edge, electric guitar designed finisher medal and a t-shirt.  Other event activities included the rock-themed finish line with live music performances from local bands such as Flights Over Phoenix, Devin Tait and the Traitors, 29 Live, Hoity~Toity, Flight of Fire and Name the Band.  

"Our rock-themed finish line was the quintessential way to welcome back racers.  We couldn't be more pleased," Pendleton added.

Like many large-scale athletic events, race participants could raise funds for local charity partners.  The 2015 charity partners include the House of Blues Music Forward Foundation, Team To End AIDS and the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research.

"It was an honor to be a part of the inaugural Sunset Strip Half-Marathon and 5K because over the past 20 years, Music Forward has provided educational music programs for more than 100,000 young people right here on the Sunset Strip at the historic House of Blues,"  said Marjorie Gilberg, Executive Director of the House of Blues Music Forward Foundation. 

"We are dedicated to fostering unity and creating opportunity for youth through music.  Thanks to the generous support of our partnership with Live Nation and House of Blues, one hundred percent of the funds raised by race participants will be used to support our programs that use the power of music to fuel creativity, build confidence, and connect passions to professions," Gilberg added.

For more information on the Sunset Strip Half Marathon & 5K, visit www.sunsetstriphalf.com.  

ABOUT RACEFORCE, LLC:  RaceForce, LLC ("RaceForce") is a subsidiary of OmniForce, LLC, and a leading endurance and athletic event production company based in Los Angeles, CA.  Using an extensive network and wealth of core competencies including: Strategic Marketing; Sponsorship Acquisition and Production Support, RaceForce partners with existing events to offer support where helpful while maintaining the event's grassroots identity.   RaceForce events are legendary and cherished by their respective community.  RaceForce events include:  The Sunset Strip Half Marathon & 5K, The Surf City USA Marathon and the Surf City 10 Mile, 10K, 5K & Kids Run in Huntington Beach, CA; The Golden Gate Half Marathon, The Livermore Half Marathon & The Town's Half Marathon in Oakland.  For more information regarding RaceForce, LLC, visit www.raceforce.com.

SOURCE RaceForce, LLC

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