San Antonio is getting a brand new marathon in 2025, replacing the long-standing Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon. Registration for the inaugural San Antonio Marathon, hosted by San Antonio Sports, opened Monday with a special introductory pricing. This announcement comes as the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon organizers announced their final race in the city after 16 years.
The End of an Era for Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio
After 16 years, the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon will hold its final race in December 2024. Organizers expressed sadness in an email to past participants, citing the City of San Antonio’s decision to move in a new direction with a city-produced event. The final Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon will take place December 7th and 8th, 2024, just a week before The Running Event, North America’s largest running convention, comes to town.
A New Beginning: The San Antonio Marathon
Jenny Carnes, CEO of San Antonio Sports, emphasized the timing was right for a fresh start, creating a “destination marathon” reflecting San Antonio’s unique character. The new marathon, scheduled for December 7, 2025, aims to attract over 18,000 participants and showcase the city’s vibrant culture.
The San Antonio Marathon is partnering with The Trust Group, led by Josh Furlow, former CEO of Competitor Group, which previously operated the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio event. Furlow highlighted the importance of local ownership and control, ensuring revenue generated from the marathon stays within the San Antonio community. He stressed that this allows the city to shape the event to best reflect its own identity and priorities.
A Boston-Qualifying Course and Themed Miles
U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighi is collaborating on the course design, aiming to create a Boston Marathon-qualifying route. The course will feature themed miles highlighting key aspects of San Antonio’s culture: The Yanaguana Mile, the Fiesta Mile, the Military Mile, the Rodeo Mile, and the Culinary Mile. These themed miles promise to provide runners with a unique and engaging experience, showcasing the best of what San Antonio has to offer.
Looking Ahead
Despite ongoing downtown construction, organizers are confident in their preparedness to host the San Antonio Marathon in 2025, pointing to preparations already underway for the NCAA Final Four event. The transition from the Rock ‘n’ Roll series to the locally-owned San Antonio Marathon marks a significant shift in the city’s running landscape. With its focus on local investment and a unique course highlighting San Antonio’s cultural landmarks, the new marathon promises an exciting future for runners in the city. The initial registration fee is $89 for the marathon, $79 for the half-marathon, and $39 for the 5K.
