The 2009 Rock n Roll San Antonio Half Marathon was my second half marathon to run. I was looking forward to it for months. I love San Antonio, Texas. It’s one of my favorite cities in the State. I got off work early on Saturday and made the drive up, about four and half hours form where I lived at the time. The Expo was held in the Alamodome and this time I arrived to the event with time to walk around and take it all in… and explore what all the vendors had to offer.

After making my way though the Expo, I found my hotel. The Menger is a historic hotel next to the Alamo and just a short walk to the Riverwalk. The bar in the hotel is where Teddy Roosevelt would recruit men for the Rough Riders. Plus it is supposedly haunted. I made a quick trip to the Riverwalk for dinner, then back to the hotel to get ready for the big day. Side not, just like my first ever half marathon I had to run this one with stitches. I had some minor oral surgery on Wednesday… and the run was on Sunday. Lucky me. But none of that was going to stop me. I was ready as I could be.

I got up early, probably too early, to take the shuttle from the hotel area to the Starting Line. This year the event start was a good ways off from the Riverwalk area. In later years the start was moved closer to the Riverwalk and finish area. I kept a decent pace for me. I met some people from all over the USA along the way, just as I did in the other Rock n Roll Marathon event. These runs, to me, are events. There was music every mile or so. It was a fun run and easy course with minor elevation changes.

Even so, at one point I thought I was delirious. I thought I saw Elvis at the half way mark. The course went by several local landmarks including the hotel I was staying at. Part of me wanted to turn there, but I kept on course and finished in a better chip time then my first half marathon, so I was happy.

     I didn’t run for a charity at this event, but I did run in a shirt in honor of a fellow racer (motorcycle racer) that was injured in a racing event not long before this run. I love this city. I loved this event. So much so that I have been back a couple times and plan to go back even more. If you have the chance, visit and enjoy San Antonio.