A Marathon Weekend Full of Hope… and Heat

The 2025 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon weekend had all the makings of a memorable race: a course I’ve run before, sleeping in my own bed the night before, a great training cycle, and the promise of a goal I had been chasing for years. But a week before race day, the weather forecast started to shift and so did my expectations.

What was once a race I'd hoped to chase a personal best turned into something else entirely: a gut-check of a day where finishing became the true victory. With a starting dew point of 65°F, ending at 70°F, and 90% humidity throughout, it was the hardest race I’ve ever run. But it was also the most rewarding because I never gave up.

Grit Defined on Race Day

Grit (n): courage and determination despite difficulty.

That word became my mantra on race day.

Over the last year, I’ve worked hard to rebuild both physically and mentally. After a DNF (did not finish) in a marathon last year, I’ve done a lot of reflecting and growing. Looking back, I think part of the reason I didn’t finish that race was because I gave up mentally when I realized my goal time wasn’t going to happen. My body followed my mind.

This time, I promised myself that no matter what happened out there, I would not quit on myself. And I didn’t. Not for one minute.

Adjusting Race Goals Due to the Weather

A week before the marathon, I started watching the weather with a sinking feeling. San Diego was hit with an early summer heat wave, and forecasts were calling for high humidity and warm temps even in the early morning hours.

After looking around to see if there were other races a week later or within a few hours flight with better weather, there was nothing that would work. So I knew my goals were going to need to pivot. 

I made the tough but smart decision to adjust my race goals. I created a heat-modified pacing plan and shifted my expectations from racing all-out to running strong, listening to my body, and being ready for a grind.

By the time we toed the line, the dew point was already 65°F and the air thick with moisture. I knew it was going to be a long day.

When You Know It’s Not Your Day and Keep Going Anyway

By mile 6, I knew it wasn’t my day for even my adjusted goal. The conditions were already taking a toll. My legs didn’t feel snappy, and I could tell the humidity was draining me faster than usual.

I seriously considered dropping to the half-marathon when the course split just after mile 8. That moment was pivotal. But I reminded myself: I didn’t come to San Diego to quit when it got hard. I came to find out what I was made of.

So I kept going.

Headwinds, Rain, and Running on Grit

Midway through the race, we were hit with light rain and headwinds while heading out on the bay. Normally that might’ve felt refreshing, but in that moment, it just added another layer of challenge. I had trained through rain and wind and now it was time to cash in on that toughness. And it didn’t ease up the humidity as it usually does in San Diego. 

This is also the part of the course where the crowds become basically nonexistent, which after the fun and cheers of the first ½ of the course, is hard. I knew to expect it, but it definitely does play into things feeling really hard. 

I focused on small wins: making it to the next aid station, sticking to my gel plan, staying mentally present. I knew the heat was getting to me, but I kept taking in gels, salt, and water, even when my stomach wasn’t thrilled about it. Hydration and fueling weren’t optional today, they were essential. I was able to pick up the pace again a bit here, but it was a mental struggle. 

The Brutal Climb up Highway 163

One of the most infamous sections of the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon is the climb up Highway 163. It’s long, exposed, and hits you late in the race. As I started up that stretch, the sun broke through the clouds and I was out of water.

That moment could’ve broken me. 

Instead, I reminded myself: This is exactly why I trained. For hard climbs. For long miles. For tough moments when there’s nothing left but heart.

I dug deep. I walked when I had to. I moved forward, one gritty step at a time.

I can’t remember a race where I saw so many people just…stop. People sitting on the median of the 163 with no apparent intention to get moving again, less than 3 miles from the finish is a sight that will stay with me for a long time. 

Finishing 26.2 on the Toughest of Days

I crossed the finish line of the 2025 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon and part of me expected to feel frustrated or discouraged. But I wasn’t. I didn’t quit.

This race wasn’t about time. It was about finishing strong, even when everything felt stacked against me. It was about choosing to keep going, even when the voice in my head was whispering, sometimes yelling, to stop.

I finished 26.2 miles on a bad day and that, to me, is one of the biggest wins of my running journey so far.

What This Race Taught Me

• Mental toughness is built mile by mile. This race showed me how much grit I’ve built over the last year. Grit isn’t something you turn on during a race, it’s forged in training, in the early mornings, in the hard workouts, and in the commitment to keep showing up. It’s built in trying workouts that you don’t think you can do. In heading out for runs even when the weather sucks.

  
  

• It’s okay to change the plan. Adjusting goals due to weather isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. And racing smart is a win in itself.

  
  

• There’s power in finishing what you started. No medal or finish time will ever mean more than knowing I saw this through to the end, when it would have been easier to stop.

  
  
  
  

Weather Recap for Searchers and Fellow Racers

If you’re researching what the 2025 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon was like, here’s the quick summary of race-day conditions:

• Start Time Weather: Dew point 65°F, ~68°F air temperature, 90% humidity

  
  

• Finish Weather: Dew point climbed to 70°F, with temperatures in the 70s and full sun late in the race - even hotter depending on how long your race took.

  
  

• Conditions: Extremely humid, with periods of rain, headwinds, and sun exposure

  
  

• Course Challenge: Long, exposed climb up Highway 163 during miles 21–24

  
  

These conditions made the race exceptionally tough for many runners. If you struggled, you were not alone. And if you finished, you earned that medal the hard way.

Final Thoughts: No Regrets

Today wasn’t about pace or placement. It was about proving to myself that I could finish what I started. That I could run with heart, with courage, with GRIT,  even when everything in me wanted to stop.

The biggest change I’ve noticed this training cycle is that the PR I’ve been chasing, I’m not worried it’s out of reach. I know my fitness is there down to the core of myself. I know that I can do it. One race doesn’t decide or mean anything about me and my fitness and ability as a runner. 

To everyone who ran in San Diego this year, I see you. I know how hard it was. And I’m proud of us.

Thinking about running Rock 'n' Roll San Diego in the future? Be sure to train for hills, practice fueling in humidity, and prepare mentally for a race that can throw everything at you. And bring your grit, you’ll need it.