SAN ANTONIO – Rock and roll and runners will once again take center stage in downtown San Antonio this weekend at the 9th annual Rock 'n' Roll Marathon & Half Marathon.
What you need to know about this weekend's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon
There will be some 26,000 runners from all 50 states and nine foreign countries in San Antonio this weekend to take on the challenge. They’re ready to enjoy what has become a big event in the marathon world.
"I love running down San Antonio, seeing the bands playing, the crowd cheering. It's always fun, good experience, good environment," said Orlando Leckie, who is running in his eighth Rock 'n' Roll Marathon.
Leckie missed the first Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, then decided to run in the second. And now he said he’s hooked.
"It started off as a joke. ‘Hey, can you do it?' Then it turned into a yearly thing," Leckie said.
Leckie is so serious about running these days that he made sure he was first in line to receive his packet and number for the race.
Karen O'Connor got into training for marathons and the training ended about the time this race was approaching, so she decided to participate in the half-marathon for the second time. A main reason she likes to run is to enjoy a little alone time.
"I've been running since my kids were born. I needed the stress relief," O'Connor said.
San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley has been a runner for a few decades and is looking forward to participating in this weekend’s race, especially since there is an emphasis on health and well-being for San Antonio residents.
"It puts a smile on my face to know that we are making a difference in terms of wellness in the community," Sculley said.
The race is also good for the city’s economic health. Sculley said the economic impact should reach about $28 million over the weekend.