VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - (September 1, 2010) - The event that helped turn its city around while starting the half-marathon boom will welcome more than 20,000 runners to the oceanfront streets of Virginia Beach for the 10th Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon presented by SunTrust on Sunday, September 5. Joining the ranks of Olympic medalists who have competed in Virginia Beach will be Beijing Olympic Marathon gold medalist Constantina Dita of Romania. Along with her crowning Olympic triumph in 2008, Dita won the 2005 IAAF World Half-Marathon Championship held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and also the 2004 Chicago Marathon. Her personal best for the half-marathon is 1:08:07, set en route at the 2006 Chicago Marathon. "Many other athletes have told me often that the Virginia Beach race is one of their favorite events of the year, and I am looking forward to my first opportunity to compete there," said Dita, known as an aggressive front-runner when in form. "It should be even more special this year, with the race's 10th anniversary. It seems every year there is a very deep field of the top runners, so I expect the competition should be great in 2010."