Downtown St. Petersburg hosts Rock 'n' Roll Marathon this weekend

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The nationwide Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series is in St. Petersburg this weekend!

More than 8,000 runners are expected to take part in this unique running event which combines entertainment and fitness, showcasing live, local bands every mile of the course, enthusiastic cheerleaders, and thousands of spectators.

Hot musician Flo Rida will return to his home state as he moves from the club to the finish line - performing at the inaugural race on Sunday.

The race kicks off at 7:30 a.m. with the starting line near Tropicana Field.

For those who want to get in on the fun without running 13.1 miles, a Spectator Block Party will offer free refreshments, live entertainment and a ride to the finish line.

Friends and family are invited to cheer on their favorite runner at the start line and then head to Fusion 1560 and Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill across the street from the start village, located between miles 3 and 4 on the course.

A full course map is available online at www.Competitor.com .

Race weekend kicks off on Friday, February 10, with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo at Tropicana Field, home of the Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays. The expo, free and open to the public, showcases the latest in running products and services with interactive clinics from fitness experts.