Competitor Group, Inc. Engages Haneke Design to Develop Mobile App for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series

New App Lets Athletes and Visitors Plan Race Training and Course Strategy With Dynamic Map Feature; Share Social Activities and News While on the go


TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 13, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI), the leading media and event resource in the active lifestyle industry, has chosen Haneke Design to create a custom mobile application for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon event series. The mobile application, available now for both iPhone and Android smartphones, serves as a valuable tool for athletes and their fans before, during and after their races and provide information on events, training, social networks, and event news in each marathon location.

"The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon has become one of the most exciting sports and music events in the country," said Dan Vaughan, vice president of Digital Media, Competitor Group, Inc. "With Haneke Design, we found collaborators who could perfectly translate our vision for a user-friendly mobile app that would capture the series' excitement, and help athletes and visitors plan their training, trips, and course strategy.  They took our original concept for the app and made terrific suggestions for adding greater value and utility to it.  We're sure it will be a winner with everyone involved in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series."

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series mobile application lets users find information about upcoming races in the series, select and filter those that are of interest, and get details for each specific race event.  It leverages the WordPress web site's content management system so that updates made within the web site automatically flow to the application.  Users who download the app do not need to update it manually since it is always current.

In addition, the Haneke Design team created a custom map editor that allows the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon team to create and customize maps in the web site.  When the maps are updated in the web site, they are automatically updated in the mobile application as well.  The dynamic map of the area for each marathon in the series is overlaid with dynamic waypoints including maps of the running course and vicinity, the location of water stops and bands playing along the route.  The application also features geo-location, a race specific Twitter feed, race day weather forecasts, mobile web site links, expo information, local hotel listings, and access to related social networks.

"Our development team took a strategic approach to building out the application and integrating it with The Competitor Group's existing infrastructure," said Jody Haneke, president of Haneke Design. 

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series mobile application is available for free download in Apple's App Store and the Android Market. 

Offering participants a unique running experience in 24 cities across the world, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series features live local bands, cheerleaders and a venue for thousands of fans to cheer on their friends and family. 

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon events create a community wide celebration by combining on course entertainment with a finish line festival and post-race concert. Past Rock 'n' Roll Marathon concert headliners have included Pit Bull, Neon Trees, Journey, B-52s, Goo Goo Dolls and Bret Michaels.

About Haneke Design

Haneke Design is an interactive design and development firm focused on delivering user-centered solutions for desktop, mobile and tablet devices. With offices in Tampa and Denver, Haneke Design works with some of the world's leading brands and advertising agencies to deliver multi-platform, cross-device campaigns. Additionally, Haneke Design helps SMB and enterprise customers mobilize their web applications and web services. These solutions integrate seamlessly, are easy to use and deliver bottom line results.

For more information, visit www.hanekedesign.com.

About Competitor Group, Inc.

Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI) is the leading active lifestyle resource dedicated to promoting the sports of running, cycling and triathlon. CGI is a portfolio company of the investment firm Falconhead Capital, which specializes in growing companies in the consumer sector of the leisure and lifestyle space. CGI owns and operates more than 55 events around the world, including the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, TriRock Triathlon Series and Columbia Muddy Buddy Series; which will deliver more than 450,000 professional and amateur participants in 2011. CGI publishes four magazine titles including Velo, Inside Triathlon, Triathlete and Competitor with a combined monthly circulation of more than 600,000. In addition, the company hosts a captive lifestyle community online at competitor.com, delivering over 3 million monthly unique visitors and 25 million page views.

Further information about CGI and its media properties can be found at Competitormediakit.com.  

Media Contact:
Michelle Bauer
Common Language
Michelle@common-language.com
727-510-2524

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