SAN ANTONIO – A new chapter in San Antonio’s running community began Saturday morning as the Downtown Running Group launched its marathon training season.
Runners gathered to begin a 20-week journey toward the city’s first independently organized marathon, the San Antonio Marathon, which will take place December 5–7.
Santino Corrales, a founding member and leader of DRG, said the morning marked more than just the beginning of a training schedule; it was the start of something bigger.
“We are a free group, and we’ve been doing this since 2012,” Corrales said. “One of the big things we do every year is train for the marathon here in San Antonio. This year is especially exciting because it’s finally our very own marathon.”
The race will be locally operated by San Antonio Sports, marking the end of its partnership with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series.
“For many years, Rock ‘n’ Roll helped grow this event,” said Chad Leinen, a volunteer with San Antonio Sports. “But now we’re trying to give it more of a local feel. San Antonio Sports wants to embed the culture, the uniqueness of our city, into the marathon itself.”
With about four months until race weekend, DRG’s training kickoff is when many new runners join the group. Among them was 11-year-old Amber Espinoza, who showed up with her dad, Bobby, and mother, all wearing big smiles and bright energy.
“I love to run. It calms me and releases all my anger,” Amber said. “It’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and it’s brought us close together as a family.”
It even brought Bobby his wife.
“We actually met through running. My wife and I had our first dates at DRG runs,” said Bobby. “We even had some members at our wedding. It’s a really special group to us.”
Corrales said running changed his life, and many others’ too.
“Our motto is ‘run inspired,’ and people take that to heart,” he said. “It’s not just about running, it’s about how you show up in your life.”
For the Espinozas, running is about pride, peace, and empowerment.
“Running makes me feel like I can do things in the world that I wouldn’t normally think I could do,” Amber said. “And I get to tell my grandparents about how far I ran, and my grandpa always tells me I can do anything.”
Bobby added, “It’s given our family a strong sense of peace. DRG feels like family. It’s more than just a run, it’s a community.”
Registration for the 2025 San Antonio Marathon is now open at sanantoniomarathon.com.
From now until race day, Downtown Run Group’s training runs will continue each Saturday and Tuesday. For more information on their runs, follow @downtownrungroup on social media.