Almost 9,000 runners paced themselves through several San Diego neighborhoods, Sunday, participarting in the the 28th annual Rock ’n’ Roll Running Series main events. The number of runners in the marathon and half marathon increased by about 900 this year compared to registrations in 2025. The weekend began Saturday with a 5K race. Sunday, the starting line for the longer courses was in Balboa Park leading through, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Mission Valley, and eventually turning through Normal Heights and North Park before ending at the downtown finish line near Union and Ash streets. The northbound lanes of SR-163 were closed to traffic for several hours, Sunday, allowing runners to complete their races, May 31, 2026. For Anthony Solis, winning the half marathon was about more than crossing the finish line first. The half marathon champion completed the 13.1-mile course after overcoming a torn quadriceps injury that sidelined him more than two years ago. Solis said the birth of his daughter last year on Father’s Day helped inspire his return to training. Anthony Solis holds his young daughter, Amelia, after winning the half marathon, Sunday. His wife, Alysia, cheered him on from the sidelines, May 31, 2026. “I tore my quad. It was hard to get out there and train,” Solis said. “I wasn’t motivated, and then I had my daughter last Father’s Day. That’s what motivated me again.” His wife, Alysia Solis, said their daughter, Amelia, may one day follow in her parents’ footsteps. “She’s very happy and energetic,” she said. “If she does become a runner, great. We do want her to try.” Along the route, supporters lined the streets, cheering runners. Elvida Mesa traveled from Tijuana to support her 27-year-old son as he competed. “It’s his first marathon, he used to be a raquetball player,” Mesa said through an interpreter. “I’m so excited for him now and very happy.” Isaac Hernandez, 21, of Willow Park, TX won the men’s marathon with a time of 02:28:54, May 31, 2026. Among those making a memorable debut was 21-year-old Isaac Hernandez, who won the marathon in his first attempt ever. Hernandez recently graduated from Texas Tech University, where he competed on the cross-country team. “Out there it’s a lot more rural,” Hernandez said about training at home in North Texas. “We just got dirt roads and it’s flat — not like this out here ( in San Diego) at all.” The annual event also relied on hundreds of volunteers who helped manage race operations throughout the weekend. Among them was Presley Smith, Miss Poway Scholarship Pageant Queen, who said the experience inspired her. “Maybe I would want to start running myself,” Smith said. “It’s really life-changing seeing all of them here.” Presley Smith (center handing water bottle) joined other members of the Miss Poway Scholarship Pageant, volunteering, Sunday, to support runners, May 31, 2026. Solis said completing his comeback journey was one of the most rewarding moments of his life. “Two- to three-mile days felt harder than a marathon, to be honest,” he said. “But I had to stack the weeks and days on top of each other, and here we are.” Complete marathon and half marathon results are available now on the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Running Series mobile phone app. The entire weekend’s statistics will be posted on the event website Monday. ...read more read less