SAN ANTONIO – The last Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series in San Antonio wrapped up this past weekend.
After 16 years here in the Alamo City, thousands of runners will have many memories of the event.
That includes longtime runner and marathoner Robert Trevino and his grandson, Jeremy Hernandez, who crossed the finish line together.
Trevino has been participating in the Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon ever since the running series arrived in San Antonio in 2008.
This year, he signed up for the half-marathon.
However, when race day arrived, Robert told us he knew he would be running it with a knee injury.l
“My body felt like I could, you know, go all the way through, said Trevino. “So I said, “You know what? I’m going to go for it!” So I registered, signed up and I went out there."
During the course, Robert fell and landed on his knee.
“That’s when I called my wife and my daughter, said Trevino. “I said, you know, I think you’re going to have to pick me up. I can’t go no more.”
Robert’s grandson, Jeremy Hernandez, who was not running the race, got a call from his grandmother and his aunt, telling him that his grandfather had fallen on the race route and he wouldn’t be able to finish.
“The second one (call) was from my aunt saying, you know, try to come by and support your grandpa,” said Hernandez. “And, I just decided, well, if I’m here already, I might as well just run next to him to make sure he finishes it.”
Hernandez found his grandfather at mile 11 and stayed with him until they crossed the finish line together.
“My grandson was there and he said, “Grandpa, you got to do this.” So, I kept going,” said Trevino.
“There’s been a lot of times I know in my life where I just didn’t feel like doing something, and he was always like, you’re going to finish it all the way through no matter what,” said Hernandez. “So this time it was the other way around.”
Hernandez admitted that he did not like running long distances, but he did this for his grandfather.
“Being next to him was well worth it,” said Hernandez. “You know, it’s a great memory for me to have going in my lifetime that I got to finish this last race with him and just enjoy the last three miles together.”
As for Trevino, with 14 marathons under his belt, he hopes he can somehow continue to keep running.
“I hope I can run until I’m 70 years old,” said Trevino. “Or as long as the Lord will let me live.”
