SAN ANTONIO – City officials unveiled the San Antonio Marathon, a major running event meant to replace the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, on Monday night.
The inaugural marathon is set to take place on Dec. 7, 2025, with the theme of “Every Step Tells A Story.” The race is expected to draw in more than 18,000 people.
“We have created a strong marathon tradition over the years, and the new San Antonio Marathon will enhance the city’s stature with runners, helping solidify our race as a destination marathon in the tradition of New York and Boston,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a press release. “This change will benefit our community as well (as) marathon enthusiasts.”
This new marathon will succeed the Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon. That race has been held in San Antonio for 16 years but ends this December.
“I am going to miss it,” Chai Le, a local runner, said.
The announcement comes a week after the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series told participants in an email that the long-running event would end in 2024.
The new race is bringing new excitement to local runners, like Tony Garcia.
“This is a good thing,” Garcia said. “We’re all anticipating the good things.”
Local organizers told KSAT at a Monday press conference that the new marathon would serve as a qualifier for the Boston marathon.
“We have a chance to really make this a national and an international run,” Lori Houston, San Antonio assistant city manager, said.
The City of San Antonio and San Antonio Sports announced the new “major running event” at Civic Park in Hemisfair. Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Olympian Meb Keflezighi and Jenny Carnes, the president and CEO of San Antonio Sports, attended.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series told participants they were “deeply saddened” that the event would leave San Antonio and that the city has “decided to move in a different direction by organizing their own running event.”
This means Rock ‘n’ Roll will leave Texas entirely.
In a comment to KSAT 12, Carnes said that the increase in running participation, the expansion of the Greenway Trail system, the growth of local running clubs, and the award of the Running Event convention were all factors in why they are bringing a “new, premier destination marathon” in 2025.
“To see so many people share the love of running, it means a lot,” Keflezighi said.
San Antonio Marathon founder Josh Furlow said the goal is to “activate all of the culture, all of the restaurants and all the bars, while at the same time keeping all the money local in San Antonio” during the marathon.
Runners can now officially sign up for the marathon with a special rate of $89 and $79 for the half-marathon and $39 for the 5K. Course details will be revealed early next year.
The San Antonio Marathon will be managed by The Trust Group.
According to organizers, “each mile will reflect San Antonio’s rich culture and diverse heritage through themed miles.“
Examples include:
- The Yanaguana Mile
- The Fiesta Mile
- The Military Mile
- The Rodeo Mile
- The Culinary Mile
Rock ‘n’ Roll 2024 Race Information
The 2024 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio includes a 5K and 10K on Saturday, Dec. 7, and a half-marathon and marathon on Sunday, Dec. 8.
It’s one of the biggest running events in South Texas and brings thousands of runners to downtown San Antonio every December.
All Rock ‘n’ Roll marathons are certified courses and a “qualifier” for the Boston Marathon.
The routes for the 2024 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon start downtown and travel to the near North and East sides before returning to the center of the city. Click here to view the routes.
This year marks the 16th anniversary of the race; it was not held in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Registration for all the distances is still open and available online.
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