More than 33,000 runners are expected to hit San Diego's streets on Sunday for the 19th annual Rock 'n' Roll marathon and half marathon. They come from all 50 states and 38 countries, said Dan Cruz, a spokesman for the race.
This year the marathon will follow a new course through North Park, Kensington, Mission Hills, Mission Bay and Mission Valley. Both the marathon and half marathon start next to Balboa Park and end in Little Italy near the Waterfront Park at the County Administration Center.
In previous years, out of town runners complained that the race didn't give them the chance to run by the ocean, Cruz said.
"You think San Diego, you think beaches, you think sailboats," he said. "So with this new finish line, we really wanted to showcase scenic San Diego, especially that new beautiful downtown waterfront park."
The race will end with a concert at the park featuring singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw.
Roads will close for the race starting at 5 a.m. Sunday and reopen on a rolling basis until all roads reopen by 2 p.m. A full list of road closures can be found here or from Rock 'n' Roll's interactive map.
For the first time this year, Competitor Group, which puts on the Rock 'n' Roll race, also pushed out road closure information to the Waze traffic and navigation app, said Kara Kong, its vice president of community relations.
The app will alert users to road closures, which other navigation apps don't do, so race organizers recommend using that app Sunday morning to navigate.
Cruz said he hopes people who live in the communities the race will pass through will cheer on runners.
"Come on out and make a sign, cheer on your neighbor, your friend. These are people you go to church with and work with," he said. "This is really a citywide community celebration."
Two women who will represent the Unites States in the upcoming Rio Olympics this August will race the half marathon on Sunday: Shalane Flanagan and Amy Cragg.
In addition, hometown running hero Meb Keflezighi will lead the pace group for half marathoners hoping to finish in 90 minutes, as he's done in past years. Keflezighi won the Boston Marathon in 2014 and is representing the U.S. in the Olympics.
The Rock 'n' Roll race started in San Diego and has since spread to more than 30 cities across the world, Cruz said.
"But San Diego does it the best," he said.
