SAN ANTONIO – Good news for runners! The City of San Antonio has announced major changes to the Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon and Half-Marathon Route, touting a flat, fast, scenic course for 2016.
"Runners can expect a faster time," said Megan Miller, Competitor Group Event Director. "For an example, with a flatter elevation. In terms of a scenic course, we are going to be starting and finishing downtown which is brand new for us."
The new starting location is on Commerce and Alamo streets this year. Runners will pass the San Fernando Cathedral on Commerce and turn at Milam Park. For the first time, the route will go through the Westside's Frio and Guadalupe streets.
Another big change to the route is runners will now go through Brackenridge Park and they will not go through the Mission Reach Trail.
"One of the new things this year with the marathon course and what people should be thrilled about, if they ran the marathon before, is we are no longer going to be on the trail," said Miller. "We will be on city streets. You can expect the streets to be better for your feet."
"We like that it's very flat," said Catherine Austin, Run Wild Sports Owner. "Those hills were a little rough those past couple of years."
Organizers said they changed the route after getting feedback from past participants and because the city asked for a more "runner friendly" course to help draw a bigger crowd.
San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley said the marathon brought in more than $28 million last year.
"We have thousands of people who travel to San Antonio, stay at our hotel rooms, eat at our wonderful restaurants, enjoy the amenities of San Antonio and we are proud to showcase all of San Antonio to all of the running world,“ Sculley said.
This year's Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon and Half-Marathon is scheduled for Dec. 4.
If you register for the Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon or Half-Marathon on June 1, which is Global Running Day, there is a discount. Click here for the link.