SAN ANTONIO – A new chapter in San Antonio\u2019s running community began Saturday morning as the Downtown Running Group launched its marathon training season. <\/p>\n
Runners gathered to begin a 20-week journey toward the city\u2019s first independently organized marathon, the San Antonio Marathon, which will take place December 5\u20137.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a free group, and we’ve been doing this since 2012,\u201d Corrales said. \u201cOne of the big things we do every year is train for the marathon here in San Antonio. This year is especially exciting because it\u2019s finally our very own marathon.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The race will be locally operated by San Antonio Sports, marking the end of its partnership with the Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll Marathon Series.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many years, Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll helped grow this event,\u201d said Chad Leinen, a volunteer with San Antonio Sports. \u201cBut now we\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
With about four months until race weekend, DRG\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love to run. It calms me and releases all my anger,\u201d Amber said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and it\u2019s brought us close together as a family.\u201d<\/p>\n
It even brought Bobby his wife.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe actually met through running. My wife and I had our first dates at DRG runs,\u201d said Bobby. \u201cWe even had some members at our wedding. It\u2019s a really special group to us.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Corrales said running changed his life, and many others\u2019 too.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur motto is \u2018run inspired,\u2019 and people take that to heart,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about running, it\u2019s about how you show up in your life.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the Espinozas, running is about pride, peace, and empowerment.<\/p>\n
\u201cRunning makes me feel like I can do things in the world that I wouldn\u2019t normally think I could do,\u201d Amber said. \u201cAnd I get to tell my grandparents about how far I ran, and my grandpa always tells me I can do anything.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Bobby added, \u201cIt\u2019s given our family a strong sense of peace. DRG feels like family. It\u2019s more than just a run, it\u2019s a community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Registration for the 2025 San Antonio Marathon is now open at sanantoniomarathon.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n
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<\/a> on social media.<\/p>\n