Ambition, charity push runners to take on Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

Some participants are running to stay in shape, while others are running for a cause like the V Foundation, the race's charity partner.

Saturday morning, a few hundred of Sunday's racers stopped by the Raleigh Convention Center to stock up at the Health and Fitness Expo.

Carol Pearson said she's planning to run Sunday's half marathon with her daughter after training for the last four and a half months.

"I have lost 63 pounds, and I started doing 5k races and I wanted to do a half marathon," she said.

Former Miss North Carolina Adrienne Core is running with Team V to raise money for cancer research.

"It's an incredible feeling to know that you're running for something so much bigger than just you," she said. "I run for the V Foundation because of my dad. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer when I was 11 years old, and it was something he never let slow him down."

Team V has raised about $140,000 so far, with 100 percent going directly to cancer research. Team members have until April 30 to finish fundraising.

"Someone that's been taken from you, you can't do anything about," Core said. "It's out of our control. This is in our control. We can make a difference for cancer research."

Nicole Guernsey says training for the race helped her push herself.

"I've never done a half marathon, so I decided to sign up just to do one," she said.

Felipe Flores says he and his friends have challenged each other to complete the race.

"Today is my birthday, so it's another way to remind myself that I'm young and I can still do lots of things," the 38-year-old said.

Larry Willis came to Raleigh to complete his goal of running a half marathon in all 50 states. While in town, he's also visiting his nephew.

"I'm also running for Meg, who is a mom who lived outside of Richmond who was killed by a drunk driver on a morning run," Willis said. "So part of what we do is run for people who can't."

Runners from all 50 states and 10 countries are expected to participate in Sunday's two races, which start on South Salisbury Street at West Davie Street in downtown Raleigh and finish on Fayetteville Street at East Davie Street.

After the race, runners will be treated to a street party and concert by Smash Mouth.