Raleigh's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon is "nixing the full option and focusing all efforts on the half marathon," according to Lauren Ohnesorge of the TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Competitor Group PR Dir Dan Cruz, whose firm owns the race, said that the decision "comes down to interest and economics -- not pressure from the city, which must close multiple roads every April to accommodate the runners." Cruz "admits it will make for a less taxing event downtown." He said more than 26 miles means a huge impact on the community, "on folks going to church on Sunday morning." Cruz: "This will really lessen the footprint." He said the cost-savings will allow the company to "focus all of our energy and resources on 13.1 miles." Similar moves have been made in other Rock ‘n’ Roll cities, such as St. Louis, though the "vast majority of the firm’s marathons across the country are returning" in '18. Ohnesorge noted 799 runners finished the marathon in Raleigh last year, and the complete races for the event "drew more than 8,000 runners" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/22).
