MARATHON® Bar Challenges Athletes to Publicly Pledge to 'Rock On' for Their Health

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., March 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamwork is the best way to achieve the accomplishments that define us. That's why Mars Chocolate North America is proud to announce that its MARATHON® Bar brand – Official Energy Bar of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series® – will be pounding the pavement this summer encouraging athletes from coast to coast to take the MARATHON Bar Pledge to declare how they "Rock On" for their health in 2012, and enter for a chance to win great training gear and prizes.

Fans are encouraged to "Like" MARATHON Bar on Facebook to make a personal pledge to their health once a week and share with other like-minded athletes what inspires them to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. Each week, pledge participants will be eligible to win prizes such as training gear, Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series race entries, MARATHON Bar products, and more. In addition to being eligible for weekly prizes, athletes will gain access to nutrition and training tips from experts in each field, support and encouragement from Team MARATHON Bar members, as well as tools to help them train no matter what sport they specialize in.

The MARATHON Bar Facebook community is a group of daily performers and athletes who strive to live an active lifestyle and enjoy MARATHON Bars to keep them fueled along the way. Whether an elite marathoner, triathlete, or a busy mother looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle while balancing work and family responsibilities, MARATHON Bar encourages everyone to join and share their personal pledge to stay active this year.

"With more and more people making a push to lead an active, healthy lifestyle, the MARATHON Bar pledge is the perfect platform to keep yourself accountable, encourage others, and build a community of like-minded individuals and showcase the taste and nutrition credentials of our MARATHON bars," said Ellen Thompson, Marketing Director, Mars Chocolate North America. "We are excited to celebrate and reward athletes of all skill levels who make the pledge to 'rock on' with Marathon in 2012."

MEET YOUR COMMUNITY CAPTAINS

Leading the 2012 MARATHON Bar athlete community will be a well-rounded cast of all-stars including marathon bronze-medal winner and American record holder Deena Kastor, and health and wellness expert Dr. Janet Brill. Both women will provide MARATHON Bar community members with nutrition, training and preparation tips and advice, and join the community at select races and special events throughout the year.

"While running may be an 'individual sport' I know the importance of training with a strong team," said Deena Kastor. "As both an elite athlete and busy mom-on-the-go, I am very eager to provide as much motivation and guidance as possible so my fellow MARATHON Bar athletes can fit workouts into their already active lives so they can run their day, their way this season."

TASTE AND NUTRITION IN EVERY BITE

MARATHON Bars are delicious, satisfying energy snacks that provide the long lasting energy needed for active consumers to run their day, their way. Every bar is packed full of protein and essential vitamins with 150-290 calories per serving for simple or substantial snacking, and is powered by the satisfying taste you've grown to love from the SNICKERS® brand.

MARATHON bars can be found at select mass, food, drug and convenience stores or online at www.marathonbars.com, and are available in both protein and energy bars – both available in seven delicious flavors.

• MARATHON® Energy (10-14g protein, 16-18 vitamins & minerals)
  • Available in Chewy Peanut Butter, Chewy Chocolatey Peanut, Crunchy Multi Grain, Crunchy Dark Chocolate and Crunchy Honey Toasted Almond
• MARATHON® Protein (20-12g protein, 16 vitamins and minerals)
  • Available in Caramel Nut Rush and Chocolatey Nut Burst

To take the MARATHON Bar Pledge, athletes simply need to "Like" the MARATHON Bar Facebook page, then make a personal pledge to declare how they plan to "Rock On" for their health in 2012, at www.facebook.com/MarathonBar.  

Athletes can also take the Pledge by visiting the MARATHON Bar sampling tent at every Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series race expo this season.

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 owns and operates 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 400,000 professional and amateur participants in 2011. CGI publishes four magazine titles including VeloNews, Inside Triathlon, Triathlete and Competitor magazine with a combined monthly circulation of more than 620,000. In addition, the company hosts a captive lifestyle community online at competitor.com, delivering over 1.5 million monthly unique visitors and 25 million page views. Further information about Competitor and its media properties can be found at www.competitormediakit.com.

About Mars Chocolate North America:

Mars Chocolate North America is the North American chocolate operations of Mars, Incorporated.  In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company.  In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar.  In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the philosophy of a "mutuality of benefits" for all stakeholders – this vision serves as the foundation of the Mars, Incorporated we are today.  Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $30 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience.  More than 65,000 Associates worldwide are putting our Mars Principles in action every day to make a difference for people and the planet through our performance.

Mars brands include: Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare – PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR® and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA CO.™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience –SERAMIS®, CIRKU™ and COCOAVIA™.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

SOURCE Mars Chocolate North America