The San Antonio Rock n' Roll marathon was my second Marathon and the second time I participated in San Antonio. The first time was several years earlier for the Half Marathon. For the expo it wasn't do difficult to find parking and inside was your typical Rock n' Roll Marathon setup with lots of apparel and gear available to look at and try. The shirts for 2014 was a long sleeve orange shirt.

Race day.
The same as I had done in 2011 for the half marathon I stayed in a hotel a few blocks off of mile 9 of the race course. This was about a miles walk to the start and I've become a big fan of the walk to the start to get loose and the walk back to help flush out the sour muscles. San Antonio is a great place for doing that because you can take the Riverwalk which is very safe.

It was a cool morning and the race corals were setup long the main street outside the stadium with plenty of porta potties. This is also where the finish party is held after the race. Just before the start line there was a second set of porta potties which lots of people were taking advantage of just before crossing the start line.

The race route is pretty good with some hilly sections especially as you run through Trinity University. For the first half of the race there are lots of spectators cheering and lots of great music. As you reach the area were the half marathon splits off you will go from running in a big crowed of people to suddenly finding yourself running in a very small group of spaced out people and the number of spectators and frequency of the bands spaces out. This is just the nature of the race being designed around the half marathon and most of the racers entering the half. The year I did the race we eventually entered the river area which had several rolling hills as you ran up and down the sidewalks along the bank.

The water stations were well stocked and the support there was great usually with a band playing music. As we exited the river area and went back up on the road we rejoined the half marathon runners for the last mile who were kept separate until the final stretch with cones dividing the road. This was good because by then many of those still completing the half marathon were walking. Many of us on the Marathon were also walking but in less frequency so you were able to keep going without any additional challenges.

The finish was a long straight finish with lots of people lining the road cheering allowing you to feed on the energy and keep moving through to the end.

After the race there is photos with your finisher medals along with food, hydration, space blankets, beer and live music. There was plenty of open space to meet up with family and friends to enjoy the bands.