Yesterday, June 2, 2024, San Diego celebrated the 26th Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, the event that began the modern era of road running events. Over 30,000 signed up for the marathon, half-marathon and 5K, an increase of 20% in year-over-year participation.
The runners were blessed by ideal San Diego June gloom conditions. As per usual, local bands and cheer squads lined the racecourses, and a concert was held afterwards.
Rene Ortiz of Rioverde, Mexico (2:28:42) and Dakota Bliler of Scottsdale, Arizona (2:52:31) came in as the men’s and women’s marathon champions. Ayrton Ledesma of Azusa, Calif. (1:03:42) and Lisa Goodin of San Diego, Calif. (1:15:42) finished first in the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon.
Scattered amongst the 8000 marathoners were 40 special runners who continued their legacy of having run all 26. A moment of silence was held at the start to recognize San Diego Track Club coaching legend Bill Aaron and San Diego basketball legend Bill Walton, both of whom passed away recently.
In its post-event press release, the Rock ‘n’ Roll folks, now headquartered in Tampa, Florida, wrote the following:
“With a mission to make running fun, Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego was the race that started it all in transforming both the U.S. and global running landscape with a combination of music, running, and community while also removing the pressures that other events carried. (My underline & bold)
Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon founder Tim Murphy, who passed in September 2022, would roll over in his grave if he read that.
Tim created the first Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon (I was there; I remember) with the particular understanding that it was the combination of high-level competition, everyday runners, and entertainment that made his Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon special, not the elimination of any one of those components.
Yes, he wanted to build a sense of community and have music and cheerleaders along the course to help elevate the experience. It was his solution to the lack of spectators at the old Heart of San Diego Marathon in the 1980s that gave Tim the idea of adding bands in the absence of fans. But Tim was also adamant that RnR maintain top level competition to garner press coverage and inspire people to improve.
He was proud that RnrR SD held the distinction of being the fastest marathon west of the Mississippi River – 2:08:35 by Kenya’s Philip Tarus in 1999 – until Ethiopia’s Markos Geneti broke the LA Marathon course record in 2011, running 2:06:35.
It wasn’t until the private equity firm Falconhead Capital bought Elite Racing from Tim Murphy in late 2007 and created Competitor Group that the pressure to reduce expenses led to the eventual elimination of world-class fields at Rock ‘n’ Roll events.
And now, Rock ‘n’ Roll’s fourth owners,The Ironman Group, calls competition “removing the pressures that other events carry.” As if challenging yourself and competing can’t be fun and include community.
IMHO, it’s another unfortunate reflection of the “everyone’s a winner” motif that has engulfed this society, lowered standards across many metrics, while pretending excellence doesn’t matter.
In case one forgets, most gems come from the bowels of the earth, made by pressure and heat over millions of years. Pressure will create Olympic champions in Paris in less than three months, and American Olympians in less than two in Eugene.
Financial and political pressure from a distant king motivated American colonists to create this country of equals, which led to the unparalleled successes that have defined the USA for nearly 250 years.
To eliminate pressure is to eliminate the fuel that evokes the best in us all.
Congratulations to all the finishers. End of old-man rant.
END
WANDERING IN A RUNNING WORLD 
Jacob Goodin here, husband and coach of Lisa Goodin who won the R&R Half Marathon. Lisa and I are elated that she won, as this was a huge PR for her, coming in her late 30s now that our kids are old enough that training can take center stage for awhile. She was so stoked to break the tape at such a major event, and to have been cheered on by friends, family, and her running team.
That said, it was a letdown that the top finishers were not even recognized at the post-race celebration! No fanfare, no acknowledgment, no prize. Now, competitive runners understand the intrinsic reward of setting new PRs and winning races. They don’t need the praise. But it sure is nice to at least acknowledge their accomplishment and hard work. And I speak from experience when I say that as a middling distance runner myself in the past, I ALWAYS enjoyed seeing the winners be recognized on the podium. It gave a face to the “elite” competitors, made them human, made me think that one day I could get to where they are, if not a little closer to it. And the few times I’ve stood atop a podium brought those moments full circle.
I recognize the paradox, for me as Lisa’s coach, about this line of reasoning. If there was more recognition for the winners, or rather, prize money, more pros would have turned up to run last weekend. More pros in the field means faster winning times, and perhaps Lisa would not have won. But given that she’s an absolute bulldog of a race I have no doubt she would have been pushed to an even faster time. She would have missed out on the personal satisfaction of a major win, but excellence would have been celebrated. Or maybe she would’ve pulled off a major upset…?
All this to say, I agree with your sentiments here. People want to feel welcomed and included, but we also need heroes and champions. In fact, just up the road the Carlsbad 5k does this very well. They have music and beer and costumes, and they also heavily promote their elite fields and offer prize money. Everyone has a good time. People take on as much pressure as they want to, whether they’re pros, age groupers, or new to the running scene. Why focus on just one when you can do both?
Jacob Goodin
PS I will say that none of these criticisms are directed at Coach Paul Greer, who has done so much for the SD running community and really helped Lisa to get plugged in. Probably more to do with the financial backers, or “distant king” as you say.
Thank you so much much for your response, Jacob. And congratulate Lisa on an excellent performance. We can only compete against who shows up. Racing, though, should be a win-win, with the front of the pack bringing out the best in one another while inspiring those behind. But these events are designed as profit generating enterprises. Therefore, any additional costs are eliminated.
That said, to not even recognize the day’s winners, which doesn’t cost a thing – is an insult to the particular champions and the sport itself. I don’t see these people changing. Running, to them, is a widget to sell, not a sport to stage or lifestyle to embrace. Best to you both.
Toni
Thank you Toni. Best to you as well! I’m glad to say you have found a new reader and subscriber.
Distance racing’s biggest problem with regard to public embrace, imo, is relatability. All weekend golfers believe they could make the tour if only they had the time, coaching, support, started as kids, etc. Or could have made The Show if they could hit a curve ball. Most of us can dismiss making the NFL and NBA due to our lack of massive size. (Woe be unto the super tall person who can’t play basketball well.) Sprinters are born with just the right proportion of fast twitch muscles is all. But distance running fast, heck, that’s just a matter of being unhealthily skinny/weak and obsessive. (Or having access to the “right” pharmacist.)
I’m afraid that these corporate types only tapped in to the existing resentment of many. A winning formula that continues in many areas it seems. A non-runner once contemptuously asked me if I had AIDS. True story. Anyway, “anyone” can cover the distance, and in a “normal” and “fun” manner, so they’re better than these freaks. Plus they’ll get to check off an entry on the bucket list, so bring on the selfies and participation trophies and bands! Don’t worry, be happy. No pressure.
A (morbidly obese) woman looked at me with scorn after I won a local road race, saying, “that doesn’t look like fun.” I suppressed saying that she doesn’t want to see me having sex either 🙂 Conversely, I’ve never heard a fast runner express contempt for me or any other person in a race or training. In fact I often see them cheer on the back of the packers. (I guess I’m expressing contempt for the contemptuous, so be it.)
We’re a tight under-the-radar subculture, understanding amongst ourselves the dedication it takes to run fast. Ok, 33 minute 10k (sub 28 in super shoes, right? 🙂 isn’t really fast, but I did get to feel the satisfaction and camaraderie of consistent dedicated training, of pushing through the pain, and having the “sexual” satisfaction of the effort. And I’ve run with some top pro runners who gave me nothing but encouragement and respect.
Seems we’re “victims” of our efforts to get everyone involved in our beautiful sport. It is what it is. Embrace it.
Rico
A well-observed rant, Toni, and I largely agree. I’ll just note that I have no issue with a race that encompasses those aiming to release their Olympic potential, and those aiming to release whatever parts need an outlet. Indeed, when I first ran the no-qualifying-time Boston Marathon in the late 1960s, it felt like a race with plenty of both. That’s a big reason why I fell in love with it. In this case, I mainly object to the corporate types at Rock n Roll claiming such inclusiveness for themselves when it has always been part of the wide-open world of road racing. Cheers, Amby Burfoot
Excellent rant Toni. Yep, Tim would be pissed as only Tim could be pissed, and I’m calling bullshit as well. Although I left Elite a few months before the inaugural race, I lived in San Diego for another 24 years before leaving the state and know what the race meant to the back-of-the-pack all the way to the front runners. It wasn’t until Competitor Group LLC took over that things changed and all that “pressure” was eliminated…oh, the irony!