San Antonio is gearing up to host a brand-new marathon in 2025, marking a significant shift in the city’s running landscape. Executives from San Antonio Sports and the City of San Antonio have officially announced the inaugural San Antonio Marathon, set to launch in December 2025. This exciting development signals a new chapter for running enthusiasts in the region, as the city takes the reins to organize its own premier race event, moving away from the long-standing Rock N Roll Marathon San Antonio.
Registration is already open for the first-ever San Antonio Marathon, orchestrated by the city’s nonprofit sports commission. This event will step into the shoes of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon San Antonio, which has been a fixture in the city’s running calendar for 16 years. The final Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon San Antonio is scheduled for December 7th and 8th of this year, paving the way for the new city-led marathon in 2025.
The announcement coincides with San Antonio preparing to welcome thousands of attendees for The Running Event, North America’s largest running convention, from December 2nd to 4th. The San Antonio Marathon, slated for December 7, 2025, is anticipated to attract over 18,000 runners and walkers, according to San Antonio Sports. This demonstrates the city’s ambition to create a major destination marathon that resonates with both local and visiting participants.
The decision to launch the San Antonio Marathon comes as the city aims to take greater ownership of its premier running event. San Antonio Sports CEO Jenny Carnes stated that after 16 years of growth and evolution in the city and within San Antonio Sports, “now is the right time” to initiate something new and distinctly San Antonian. This new marathon is envisioned as a “destination marathon that tells our story of what makes our city uniquely beautiful,” designed to attract a wide array of participants.
While Rock n Roll Marathon San Antonio will no longer be a presence in the city after 2024, organizers expressed their disappointment in an email to past participants, acknowledging the end of their 16-year run in San Antonio. They stated they had hoped to continue the event, but the city decided to pursue a different direction by establishing their own event.
Josh Furlow, founder and CEO of The Trust Group, and former CEO of Competitor Group (which previously operated the Rock n Roll Marathon San Antonio), is partnering with the city and San Antonio Sports to bring the San Antonio Marathon to life. Furlow highlighted the city’s desire to “take the pride, take the ownership, and really control the ownership of what they want this event to turn into,” emphasizing a focus on keeping the event and its economic benefits local.
The Rock n Roll Marathon San Antonio has been known for drawing thousands to downtown San Antonio, offering various race distances and incorporating live entertainment along the routes. The new San Antonio Marathon aims to build upon this foundation, promising a unique race experience that showcases the city’s culture and beauty.
While the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series will continue in other cities, San Antonio is moving forward with its own vision. The Trust Group will oversee the San Antonio Marathon, managing key aspects such as business strategy, course design, and race operations. Adding further prestige, U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighi is involved in designing a Boston Marathon-qualifying course, signaling the race’s commitment to athletic excellence. Keflezighi emphasized the marathon’s aim to help runners “be the best version of yourself” in downtown San Antonio, with strong community support.
The San Antonio Marathon will feature themed miles, including The Yanaguana Mile, Fiesta Mile, Military Mile, Rodeo Mile, and Culinary Mile, promising a vibrant and engaging course that reflects the city’s diverse character.
Online registration for the San Antonio Marathon is currently open, offering special introductory rates for the 5K, half-marathon, and marathon distances. Despite ongoing construction in the downtown area, San Antonio Sports CEO Jenny Carnes expressed confidence in the city’s readiness to host the event, leveraging preparations already underway for the NCAA Final Four event in 2025.
This transition marks an exciting new chapter for running in San Antonio. While acknowledging the legacy of the Rock n Roll Marathon San Antonio, the city is enthusiastically embracing the San Antonio Marathon as its own, locally focused, and uniquely San Antonian running celebration.
