How to Run the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Deigo Marathon With Guardian Champions
The Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon is one of the most exciting and iconic races in the United States. Starting at Balboa Park and weaving through some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in San Diego, runners come from far and wide to sights and sounds and take in that electric race day energy every year.
This year, Guardian Champions is providing you with the unique opportunity to run the San Diego Marathon for a great cause, by raising funds and awareness to prevent suicide among veterans and first responders with Guardian Revival.
If you’re ready to take on the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon with Guardian Champions, but you’re unsure of what to expect or how to get ready, this handy how-to guide will give you all the information you need to help you prepare, stay motivated, and make it across the finish line in style.
Why Run With Guardian Champions?
Guardian Champions is a division of Guardian Revival, a not-for-profit organization created to enrich the lives of military, veterans, and first responders (our guardians) and their families at no cost to them.
By joining our team for the 2025 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon, you’re not just running a race — you’re contributing to a lifesaving cause. When you run with Champions, you won’t just cross the finish line of another race, you’ll:
Make a meaningful impact with your efforts by directly supporting programs that provide mental health and wellness resources to our Guardians
Stay motivated with the support of a passionate community of runners united by a shared mission.
Enjoy running an iconic course full of vibrant neighborhoods, bayfront views, and historic landmarks while you make a difference for our guardians.
2025 San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Race Details: Dates, Registration, & Start Times
Map courtesy of 2025 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon
The 2025 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, June 1, 2025.
When you run with Guardian Champions, your registration includes fundraising support, team perks, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re giving back to those who give everything to us. Here’s a quick overview:
Date: Sunday, June 1, 2025
Deadline for Registration: Sunday, May 25, 2025, at 11:59 pm PST
Start Time: 6:15 AM for the full marathon
Location: Balboa Park (starting line)
Finish Line: Waterfront Park
San Diego Marathon Course: What to Expect
The 2025 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon course offers runners a tour of San Diego’s best sights and sounds. The approximate duration for most participants ranges from 3 hours (elite runners) to 6-7 hours (recreational runners). Here’s a preview:
Highlights Along the Route
Balboa Park: Start your journey in this iconic cultural hub surrounded by Spanish Colonial architecture and lush gardens.
Hillcrest and North Park: Experience vibrant neighborhoods with cheering crowds and live bands to help keep that spring in your step.
Mission Bay: Enjoy stunning waterfront views unlike anywhere else as you run along the bay.
Downtown San Diego: Cross the finish line near Waterfront Park, with the breathtaking San Diego skyline as the backdrop to your achievement.
Course Challenges
Rolling Hills: You can expect some moderate inclines with this course, especially during the first half of the race.
Pace Management: Running those beautiful rolling hills can come with a cost. Make sure you keep your pace light and easy to conserve energy during the early miles so you can tackle the hills with power and finish strong.
Preparing for the San Diego Marathon
Training for a marathon takes dedication and planning, and when you run with Guardian Champions, you’ll never be running alone. To set you up for success with fundraising and getting everything ready for race day, we recommend taking these steps:
Follow a Training Plan
For tackling any kind of long-distance running, a proper training plan is essential. If you're a beginner, you’ll want to allow for 16-20 weeks of training to build up your mileage. For intermediate and advanced runners, a 12-16 week plan may get the job done. Be sure your training plan includes:
Long Runs: To build endurance and keep your legs turning over on race day, you’ll want to make sure any training plan includes weekly long runs that build endurance and gradually increase your distance.
Speed Workouts: If you’re aiming to complete your race within a specific time frame, you’ll need to mix in interval runs, tempo runs, and hill sprints to cross the finish line with a personal best.
Rest Days: It can be tempting to approach your training with a “no day off” mentality, but this can lead to exhaustion and even injury before you manage make it to the start line. To avoid burnout and ensure you’re at your best on race day, be sure to schedule at least one or two recovery days during your training block.
Set a Fundraising Goal
When you’re fundraising for a specific race, it can be tough to decide on a manageable fundraising target, but Guardian Champions has a baseline fundraising target for each race available that’s both achievable and impactful.
The fundraising target for this year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon is $1250.
Guardian Champions will also provide you with tools and resources to make fundraising easier, including:
Personalized Fundraising Pages: That make it easy to share your story and mission.
Media Assets: To help you spread the word online.
Team Support: To keep you connected with other runners for tips and encouragement along the way.
Fuel & Hydration Strategies
Being ready for race day doesn’t only include getting the miles in and getting the word out, you need to have a fuel and hydration strategy in place so you don’t run into any surprises on race day. You should be dialing in the details during your training plan with the aim to:
Hydrate: Drink water and electrolyte drinks every 2-3 miles.
Fuel: Consume energy gels, chews, or other carbohydrates every 45-60 minutes.
Choose the Right Gear
A mistake that many novice runners make is picking out a pair of new shoes just before the race and lacing them up for the first or second time on race day. It’s important to make sure you have a pair of running shoes that you’ve logged a fair amount of miles so that you know exactly how your feet are going to feel on race day.
You’ll also want to test other gear like running shorts, shirts, socks, and hydration belts to find out exactly what works best for you when you’re on the road. If you’re consistently testing your gear before the race, you’re less likely to run into any unwanted surprises when you’re on the course.
Tapering
In the lead-up to the final days of your training block, you might not have run close to the full distance of your upcoming race and that’s okay. Instead of pushing yourself hard to get closer to race distance over the last two weeks of training, reduce your mileage to give your body time to recover and store energy for race day. This process is called tapering, and it’s critical to ensuring your legs are rested and ready to give you the best performance on the day of your event.
Race Day Tips
1. Arrive Early
With so many runners from out of town in addition to normal traffic and road closures, it’s key to give yourself enough time to get ready. Plan to arrive at least an hour before your start time so that you have enough time to find parking, use restrooms, snap some race day pics, and warm up.
2. Stick to Your Plan
Don’t try anything new on race day! With the electric energy of race day crowds and the steady stream of runners sprinting out of the corral, it can be easy to rocket off the start line much faster than your usual pace. While you might feel great in the moment, this can come back to haunt you later down the line.
Try to keep as close as possible to your ideal pace, and stick to the nutrition and hydration strategies you practiced during training to ensure you don’t hit the wall on your big day.
3. Celebrate the Mission
When the going gets tough, remember why you’re running. Dedicate these tough miles to the veterans and first responders whose lives you’ll be making a positive impact on with every step of your race. Let the energy of the crowd and the importance of the mission inspire you to keep going and cross the finish line with pride.
4. Enjoy the Experience
While you’re racing for a great cause and with that personal best in mind, don’t forget to enjoy the experience. Take in the energy of the live music as you pass, revel in the cheers of the crowd while you chase down your goal, and drink in the beauty of the city from start to finish. Hold your head high, smile, and celebrate your hard work as you cross the finish line.
Post-Race Recovery
Once you’ve completed your race, it’s essential to prioritize your recovery so you can get back on the road sooner rather than later.
Make sure you:
Rehydrate and Refuel: Take on plenty of water and electrolytes and eat a balanced meal with carbs and protein.
Stretch and Rest: Doing a bit of light stretching and gentle movement will help prevent stiffness after all the miles you’ve put on your legs during the race.
Celebrate with Guardian Champions: Join a post-race gathering to connect with your team or your loved ones and celebrate your accomplishments.
Join Guardian Champions
Champions compete under the Guardian Revival banner to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and raise awareness so we can improve the lives of our guardians (veterans & first responders).
Champions range from first-time athletes to professionals, all called to raise funds and awareness for this important cause. Athletes with existing races, events, and competitions may partner with us to represent Guardian Revival as a Champion.
Become a Champion for Guardian Revival
Feeling inspired by the accomplishments of our champions and interested in making an impact while pushing your physical limits? Guardian Revival is a charity partner with available entries for these upcoming races:
Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon | Sunday, June 2, 2024
Marine Corps Historic Half | Sunday, May 18, 2025
Dublin Marathon | Sunday, October 26, 2025
Marin Corps Marathon | Sunday, October 26, 2025
NYC Marathon | Sunday, November 2, 2025
We’re looking for athletes of all levels to join us as Champions for these upcoming events. Whether you’re a seasoned marathon runner or looking to tackle your first distance running race, your participation can contribute to a greater cause. Join us!
For more information on how to apply for our running entries for 2025 and beyond, or to see how to partner with us for events you find on your own, check out our Champions page.
