Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon in Raleigh a first for many

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon officially took to the streets of the city at 7:10 a.m. on Sunday.

Waves of runners, 12,500 in total, were released and were excited and energized to complete half and full marathon courses that were laid out throughout downtown and its perimeter.

Approximately one-quarter of the runners and walkers participating were first or second-timers like Stacia Brink-Koutroumpis and Jennifer Faircloth.

It was the draw and the challenge of completing a ‘big-time race course’, the half-marathon in their case – the 13.1-mile distance that they both prepared four months for – that kept them focused until race day.

Becoming part of a training group with the local Fleet Feet Sports running specialty store located at the Ridgewood Shopping Plaza, the pair ran with hundreds of others who met twice a week since January to begin preparing for the event.

With knowledgeable staff like store manager Jamissa Van Hoy and her colleagues leading the programs, all runners in both distance categories learned how to run effectively and efficiently while tuning their bodies to know how to react physically and mentally in covering various distances and terrain elevations.

“I think we’ve had more people in the community involved with this race,” Van Hoy said while taking a break from fitting runners at the Health and Fitness Expo on Saturday.

“Rock ‘n’ Roll does such a great job with their races, so that helps, as well as Fleet Feet training the group to be successful at it.”

The draw of participating in the event and getting proper instruction seemed to have provided for a positive vibe from the novice runners who felt they were ready for the event as the start approached.

“We started training in January as part of a 12-week program,” Faircloth said.

“This is my second half-marathon. I did the Fleet Feet training program. I think they’ve made a lot of improvements since the first one I did, and it’s been a really great program. We did the mock half a couple of weeks ago, so I really feel ready.”

Along with fellow Hill Slayers team members, Hillary Lockemer and Emily King Smith, Brink-Koutroumpis and Faircloth embarked on running with bands at every mile-marker serenading them all along the way to completing the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon held in the City of Oaks.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon – Raleigh – Live Results