Fitness and health will be hard to miss this weekend as hundreds of cyclists will take over several San Antonio trails and roads during the Mission to Mission Charity Bike Tour on Saturday and thousands of runners will participate in the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on Sunday. The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center will also be buzzing with activity this weekend when the marathon’s Health & Fitness Expo opens to the public on Friday and Saturday.
Mission to Mission Charity Bike Tour
Participants can choose to bike 12-14 miles as a family, 32 miles, 55 miles or a metric century – 63 miles. The event seeks to raise money for charities rather than competition, while exploring San Antonio’s Southside neighborhoods and the historic Spanish colonial missions.
Riders can look to tour maps, GPS routes, and signs to get them through inclement weather and rural areas. Event times will be staggered, but all riders (except those with training wheels and tricycles) start at the Mission Park Pavilions to explore the history and evolution of the city while donating their time to local charities including: Alamo Council of the Blind, Los Compadres (Friends of the Missions), Seton Home, San Antonio Youth Literacy, and House of Neighborly Service. Click here for bike tour details.
San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon
Drivers can expect dozens of urban core road closures this weekend, as runners and their supporters will crowd streets on the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon route on Sunday. Inner city travelers should avoid using main downtown streets or hop on a bike to avoid heavy traffic.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, which is locally sponsored by Humana, offers participants a variety of events including a 5K, 10K, a relay, and a full marathon. Whether you’re a first-time runner or two-time Olympian Kara Goucher, the event allows individuals to work towards their own fitness goals while enjoying live music entertainment played at various checkpoints along their route. Since 1998, the touring event has prompted runners to raise more than $310 million for participating charities. The 2015 San Antonio Marathon will culminate with a party in the Alamodome parking lot where Third Eye Blind will headline a free show as runners cool down and celebrate.
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year in San Antonio over race weekend as every inch of the city is twinkling with holiday spirit,” stated Event Manager Megan Miller.“On top of the festive scenery, participants will be able to brush shoulders with running legend Meb Keflezighi on course and over race weekend.”
Participants are advised to use carpools, public transportation or walk to the Alamodome from nearby neighborhoods. Event officials advise Sunday runners to ignore GPS directions – which don’t take road closures into account – and park at available public garages before 5:30 a.m. There are no shuttle services running to the Alamodome before the start of the race, but Sunday’s participants receive free shuttle service from the 5K finish line at the Pearl Brewery back to the Alamodome.
Prior to the race, runners must stop by the Health & Fitness Expo to pick up their race number, gear bag and T-shirt. Non-runners are also invited to visit the Expo, where more than 80 exhibitors will offer free product samples, health information, and the latest in athletic apparel. The expo is open on Friday, Dec. 4, noon-7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Runners who bring identification to the event will receive a free post-race beer.
Online registration has closed, but participants can register for the marathon, half marathon 5K and 2-person half marathon relay on Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Health & Fitness Expo.
Participants can also register for KiDS ROCK on Friday, Dec. 4, and can register for the 10K on Friday or Saturday morning starting at 7:30 a.m. near the start line. There will be no race day registration on Sunday, Dec. 6.
*Top Image: Participants dance and run during the 2014 San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.Courtesy Photo.
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