San Diego has hosted the Super Bowl, and sometimes the Padres and Chargers advance to the post-season playoffs in their respective sports. However, none of these is a guarantee to happen.One of San Diego’s premier sporting events does occur annually ” and 2006 will be the ninth consecutive year for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. Once again, more than 20,000 runners 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 marathon coordinator Elite Racing.”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 in the United States because it is more than just a race.”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 noted that the Health & Fitness Expo is set before the race on Friday, June 2 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Saturday, June 3 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the San Diego Convention Center in Hall D. People can still register for the race, listen to music, visit booths from the many vendors and attend health-related seminars and clinics. Even better yet, the expo is free to the public.After the race, a concert and awards ceremony takes place at the Coors Amphitheatre in Chula Vista. This year’s featured performers will be Grammy Award-winning Ozomatli. This 10-member band performs an exciting style of pan-Latino dance music with ska, 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,” stated 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 (the first year of the marathon), there has been nearly $110 million raised.”According to Hussa, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a branded name called “Team in Training Program,” or TNT, which 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 of money for a “teammate” who is often a child and survivor of blood 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 the city on race day can be a nightmare without proper planning. The traffic situation is best compared with what happens when the Super Bowl is in town.”Over the past couple of years we have worked very hard to create opportunities for the public to use the trolley and public transit on the race day,” Diaz explained. “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. Specifically, the southbound section of Highway 163, between Interstate 805 and downtown, will be closed for approximately ten hours, from 2 a.m. until 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. However, expect delays at the following locations and times:”¢ I-5 and I-8 during peak marathon finishing hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.);”¢ Southbound I-5, between Sea World Drive/Tecolote Road and downtown;”¢ I-8 between Friars Road and I-5. One factor should ease traffic: 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.Speak to anyone connected with organizing the marathon and they will tell you the best approach is to drive around the course rather than through it. You may end up driving some extra miles, but you will more than make it up in shorter overall 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 to be done before the police will reopen the road. General litter clean-up must take place, along with removal of cones and another traffic directional items, and musical bands playing along the route need to pack up their equipment.”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 Sixth 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 Corps Recruit Depot in Point Loma.The following will line the route:”¢ 26 entertainment stages”¢ 40 cheerleader squads”¢ 19 water stations”¢ 10 lemon-lime PowerAde stops”¢ 1 Clif Shot Energy Gel zone”¢ 20 medical tents”¢ 1 blister station 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. n