The running boom powering San Antonio's debut marathon

State of play: The 5K is on Friday, followed by a half-marathon and full marathon on Sunday.

By the numbers: All distances are sold out — 10,500 runners for the half, and about 4,000 each for the full and 5K.

• Participants represent all 50 states and 25 countries, with locals accounting for 64%, per San Antonio Sports CEO Jenny Carnes.

Between the lines: The explosion of local run groups has fueled the momentum. Clubs that once pulled 50 people now draw 300–400 on weekend meetups, says Brianna Wood, a San Antonio Marathon ambassador.

• She and Carnes say having a race the city can call its own — with proceeds staying local through San Antonio Sports, which supports youth sports and community fitness — has galvanized interest and pride.

Zoom in: Andy Ramos, Feet Fleet's community outreach manager, tells Axios he's seen demand spike in stores since the event was announced last fall.

• "I've never seen all of these race day shoes go out of stock as fast as they have in the last month," he says.

What they're saying: "It's a new era in our community — people are more focused on health and wellness, and they're making running part of their personal journey to live healthier lives," Carnes says.

What's next: The goal is for the San Antonio Marathon to become a signature city event, on par with Fiesta and the rodeo.

• "We have a long way to go before we have a feel like a Chicago or New York marathon, but that's always been the goal," Carnes says.