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Rock 'n' Roll Marathon to kick off in San Diego this weekend

Rock n' Roll running series
Posted at 1:03 PM, Jun 03, 2022
and last updated 2022-06-03 22:33:35-04

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon is making a comeback in San Diego this weekend with racers making their way through some of the city's most legendary neighborhoods.

Meryl Leventon, Rock 'n' Roll Race Director said this year's course will be packed with entertainment.

"We're going to have drag queens on a catwalk down the middle of University in Hillcrest. We're going to have an incredible Tom Crusie Top Gun activation on University in North Park," she said.

On Saturday, June 4, the 5K marathon begins at Presidents Way & Park Boulevard at 7:00 a.m. and it will end at Balboa Park.

On Sunday, June 5, both the full marathon and half-marathon start at Sixth Ave & Quince Street at Balboa Park at 6:15 a.m. before winding their way through North Park, University Heights, Mission Hills, and Old Town.

The half-marathon will end at University and Grime Avenues before the remainder of the racer finishes downtown at Ash and Union Streets. The marathon lasts around seven hours.

As of Friday afternoon, 22,000 runners have registered for the event.

One of them is 65-year-old legacy runner, John Prendergast, who's run every Rock 'n' Roll full marathon since the first one in 1998.

"When I was working, it was my release. I'd run like three days a week," Prendergast said. "I like the bands and the music and the atmosphere. It's a fun atmosphere."

Click here to keep an eye out for traffic in the area.

Multiple roads will be closed through the afternoon due to the race. Most of the closures will be in effect from 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Organizers say streets will reopen on a rolling basis as soon as the last participant has passed and all course support materials have been removed.

MTS trolley and bus routes will also be on detour due to the race Sunday. Click here to check your trip for the day.