San Diego has hosted the Super Bowl twice and watched the Padres and Chargers advance to the post-season playoffs a number of times in their respective sports.
But one premiere sporting event is guaranteed to draw top-notch athletes from around the world each year to compete in the streets of San Diego.
Once again, more than 20,000 runners in the Rock’n’Roll Marathon will pound the pavement in and around San Diego on Sunday, June 4. Thousands more will line the streets to cheer and support the participants.
Unlike last year when there were major adjustments in the course, a new title sponsor and other improvements, this year’s event offers few changes according to Lucy Diaz, event manager for Elite Racing, which coordinates the marathon.
“The course is the same from last year as we had great response from the runners,” Diaz said. “Everyone seemed to enjoy running more through the downtown area and by Petco Park.”
The Rock’n’Roll Marathon has a reputation as one of the best participant and spectator friendly events of its kind because of the level of participation by the runners, volunteers, musicians and spectators.
“It is not just a marathon where you run as fast you can, finish, eat your banana and go home,” Diaz said. “We create an experience for people who have never had an interest in running. It is not a sporting event but rather a feel good event. Obviously it helps as well that San Diego is such a great place to come to and visit.”
To illustrate the point, Diaz notes the Health & Fitness Expo before the race on Friday, June 2, and Saturday June 3 at the San Diego Convention Center in Hall D where people can still register for the race, listen to music, visit booths from the many vendors and attend health related seminars and clinics. The Expo is free to the public.
After the race is a post race concert and awards ceremony at the Coors Amphitheatre in Chula Vista. This year’s featured performers are Grammy-award winning Ozomatli. This 10-member band performs an exciting style of Latino dance music that include elements of samba, salsa, punk and hip hop. Included in their performance are also variations of funk, Tex Mex, swing and soul.
One of the major features of the event is the money raised for charity, specifically the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
“It is definitely a large part of the race,” said Dave Hussa, director of charity relations for Elite Racing. “For this year’s marathon there will be over $12.5 million raised for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since 1998, there has been nearly $110 million raised.”
According to Hussa, the Society has a branded name called “Team In Training Program” or TNT. The program creates teams of runners from around the country who receive professional marathon training leading up to the race, paid entry fee, nutritional advice, hotel and travel expenses to San Diego and related items.
In exchange for these services, each member of the team agrees to raise a certain amount money for a “teammate” who is often a child and survivor of cancer.
“We also have a line on the registration form which allows for participants who are not a TNT member to also donate money towards the charity,” Hussa said. “This year there will be 3,800 runners who will be TNT members which is about one out of every five participants.”
Yet despite its popularity and a fun weekend of events, the marathon does have a direct impact on those San Diego residents who have no interest in the race at all. Specifically, parking and driving around San Diego on race day can be a nightmare without proper planning. The traffic situation is best compared to what happens when the Super Bowl is in town.
“Over the past couple of years we have worked very hard to create opportunities for public to use the trolley and public transit on the race day,” Diaz said. “We can’t solve everyone’s transportation challenges but we try very hard not to make it such a headache. For example, for all the spectators we offer a guide of the best places to view the race and all those locations are near trolley stations.”
The only major freeway closed on race day will be Highway 163. The southbound section of Highway 163, between Interstate 805 and downtown will be closed for approximately ten hours from 2 a.m. to noon.
However, unlike in previous years, all of northbound Highway 163 will be open.
“People will be able to get out of downtown on the northbound Highway 163 on the day of the race,” Diaz said.
All other major freeways throughout San Diego will be open on race day, including I-5, I-805, I-94 and I-8.
Another factor which should help is the Padres are out of town playing a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Last year the Padres were at home and even adjusted the starting time of the game because of the race.
Marathon organizers say the best approach is to drive around the course rather than through it. The extra miles spent driving will more than make it up in overall less travel time.
It is important to remember even though all the runners may have passed by where you live or the road you normally travel on, there is still work which needs to be done before the police will reopen the road. General litter clean-up, removal of cones and another traffic directional items and musical equipment along the route need to be packed up.
“We work very closely with the police department in opening the roads as quickly as possible,” Diaz said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience during the clean up process as we want to make sure nobody has the potential to get hurt before reopening the roads.”
The race begins at 6th and Palm in Balboa Park at 6:25 a.m. with the wheelchair competitors followed by everyone else at 6:30 a.m.
The runners will finish at the Marine Corp Depot in Point Loma.
For details on the race including a map and road closure information, visit www.rnrmarathon.com.
For more information on the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team In Training Program, visit www.teamintraining.org.