How to PR at Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio

For many wearing a bib at the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon and 1/2 on Dec. 6, just the fun of lacing up a pair of running shoes and jamming to the entertainment along the course will be enough for one day. But what if this particular race happens to be your big hope for a Boston Marathon qualifier? Or perhaps you’ve been putting in the miles and running around the track for this one chance to set a new personal best. Other than doing the work and showing up on the day of the race fresh and eager, is there anything else you can do to ensure your chances of success in one of the most beautiful cities in Texas?

The answer is yes.

Here are three race-week tips to follow leading up to the main event and on the day of the big race:

1. Memorize the course—especially its elevation profile and the turns.

Both the half and the full marathon course are exactly the same as last year’s race. This means that you’ll be running a large loop throughout downtown San Antonio with the half marathon acting as the first 13.1 miles of the full marathon. The start and the finish are next to the city’s iconic Alamodome. “The good news about the course is that San Antonio is relatively flat,” says David Benjes, the San Antonio course lead and the man who designed the route. “We had to go into the Texas hill country for a little bit of the race, but that part is quick and short.” Benjes points out that all runners looking for a fast time need to account for some of these hills. For example,  just past the 5-mile mark of both courses a relatively steep uphill section awaits for about one third of a mile near the San Antionio Zoo on Tuleta Drive. “It’s relatively short, but it’s aggressive,” Benjes cautions. There’s also another very short (but steep) 12-percent-grade hill after you pass Trinity University at mile 6 called Ledge Lane. “I suggest marathoners don’t hammer these two hills,” suggests Benjes. “Definitely save your energy while going up them.”

RELATED: Kara Goucher to Run Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio

Lauren Smith, last year’s second-place finisher in the half marathon ran a 3-minute PR in San Antonio and says the course is her favorite. Smith recalls that she used the hills to her advantage. “You can really push it and break people—it has an incline and people tend to get tired on that point of the course,” she says. “The incline doesn’t last long so it’s really important to focus on pushing it at that point.”

Since both San Antonio races are run on loops course, runners should expect a lot of turns, which can be a challenge but also an opportunity to cut tangents. Benjes says the course is full of them and encourages runners to take advantage when possible.

2. Plan for the wind.

Unlike other races that take place in late fall, San Antonio isn’t typically a place where wind will be a factor. That said, it’s still a good idea to know where you might face a headwind. Check the weather a few days beforehand and see how fast the wind will be blowing and what direction it’s coming from. It might even be worth your time to print out the course map and draw wind-direction arrows on it calling out potential headwind points. At those points, plan to tuck into a pack to shield yourself. When you encounter a tailwind, make a move if you’re feeling strong.

3. Know where you will push it and where you will back off.

All personal bests come from allocating your effort in just the right way. For San Antonio, Benjes suggests a couple points to hold back, like the hills at miles 5 and 6.

But for the next 4 miles, he recommends runners let go and put down the gas pedal. “You’ve put in the work going up the Tuleta and Ledge Lane Hills, and you get it all back downhill on one long and straight shot,” he says. “If I were running the race, I’d open up my legs at that point and then settle in.” If you’re running the half, then this is also a good time to start cranking it home to the finish.

Full marathoners should then be aware of the Mission Reach Trail that awaits them starting at mile 20. Benjes says the good news at this point is the scenery—a welcome sight when the marathon “wall” presents itself—but he also cautions that the surface of the trail is cement, which can be less forgiving than asphalt. As such, marathoners might want to think twice about wearing minimalist flats in this race. After the trail, the last few miles are back on asphalt and Benjes says the “fun factor” builds exponentially with band after band reminding you that you’re almost home. “We really have tried to build the excitement for runners here,” he says. “We know they won’t have any gas in the tank and good distractions like cheer zones and music can really help.”

RELATED: A Runner’s Guide to San Antonio

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