Star Of ABC’s The Bachelor Headlines Chicago’s Celebrity Lineup
Jake Pavelka set to run this weekend’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in the Windy City.
Written by: Mario Fraioli
Twenty-five thousand runners and walkers will take to the streets of Chicago this weekend for the second annual Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Half Marathon benefiting the American Cancer Society, including a whole host of celebrities who are expected to lace up their running shoes and wind their way through the Windy City.
Among the big names expected to be on the starting line Sunday is Jake Pavelka, the star of ABC’s season 14 of The Bachelor, who has been in the center of the celebrity spotlight recently after his much ballyhooed breakup with Vienna Girardi. Pavelka, a 32-year-old commercial pilot, also took part in the tenth season of ABC’s Dancing With The Stars.
Neither Pavelka nor his publicist could provide a quote at the time of this release, but Dan Cruz, Public Relations Director for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series said, “Jake has confirmed and will be running the race in Chicago on Sunday.”
Jason and Molly Mesnick—also of The Bachelor fame—are both committed to participating in this weekend’s race. The couple, whose one-of-a-kind wedding was televised on ABC this past March, currently resides in Seattle.
“We are pumped to participate in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Chicago this weekend,” the couple said in a statement through their publicist. “What could be better than throwing on our running shoes, jamming out to some great bands, and supporting the American Cancer Society all at the same time. It’s going to be a great weekend!”
Other notable names expected to be in attendance include The Real Housewives’ Kelly Killoren Bensimon, along with E! News hostess Giuliana Rancic.
Bensimon, who grew up in Rockford, Illinois and will be running in her second half marathon on Sunday, recently told Competitor New York editor Sarah W. Flynn, “Running in a race that benefits a charity is an incredible experience. Anytime you do something for someone else, you feel better.”
Rancic, who also stars alongside her husband Bill Rancic in the reality TV show Giuliana and Bill, adds to the celebrity star power in Chicago this weekend. She’s excited to return to her husband’s hometown and run in support of the American Cancer Society.
“I am so excited to get back to my home away from home for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Chicago benefitting the American Cancer Society,” Rancic said in a statement. “It feels great to run for a great cause!”
Andrea Powell, who plays Karen Crezski on ABC’s supernatural summer drama, The Gates, rounds out this weekend’s star-studded lineup. Powell, who lost her father to cancer in 2002, is honored to be running her first half marathon in support of The American Cancer Society. She recently told me in an interview, “there’s not a person I know who hasn’t been affected by cancer in some way. It means a lot to me to be running in support of the American Cancer Society.”
Aside from supporting a cause that’s so near and dear to her, Powell is most looking forward to sharing in the race experience with other runners while taking in the energy and excitement of the bands playing music along the course.
“I love the concept of the Rock ‘n’ Roll races,” Powell said. “I’m a big music fan, and with all the live bands along the course it’s going to be so much fun.”
Powell, whose been training either early in the morning or late in the evening while in Louisiana filming Episode 12 of The Gates, has discovered a passion for triathlons in recent years. She decided to run Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago just a few weeks ago, but is excited to take on the challenge of tackling 13.1 miles for the first time.
“I think I’ve got three-and-a-half hours to finish,” Powell joked. “I want to run as much of it as I can, and I’ll walk if I need to, but I’d like to come back in a year or two and run it for time.”[sig:MarioFraioli]