Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon runners cross 13-mile finish line

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon returns to Raleigh this weekend, and with the excitement comes some major road closures.

Posted 9:00 a.m. Apr 6, 2018 — Updated 7:22 p.m. Jul 13, 2018

Jessica Patrick

, WRAL.com editor

RALEIGH, N.C. — Runners in the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon set off at 7 a.m. on a cold Sunday morning in downtown Raleigh.

Temperatures were in the 30s at the starting line with a freeze warning in effect for Raleigh until 9 a.m., and an unusual April snow even fell overnight.

WRAL meteorologist Mike Moss says the day will warm up, but not until several hours after runners finish the race.

This year's Rock n' Roll Half Marathon will be different than previous years, with the route featuring fewer hills and showcasing different parts of Raleigh. According to event organizers, the new route will bring runners toward the Capitol building before leading them through downtown's historic district and neighborhoods.

The Rock N Roll Marathon hits the streets in downtown Raleigh N.C. on Sunday April 2, 2017. Thousands of runners cross the finish line for the 1/2 marathon and full marathon on a cool April morning. (Chris Baird / WRAL Contributor).

Event organizers have planned for more music along the way, too, with more than 20 bands performing for runners along the routes. Mile markers will even feature built-in speakers to keep runners entertained from start to finish.

At the end of the races, runners will be greeted with food, beverages and even massages, and the indie band Susto will perform a free show at Red Hat that is open to the public after Sunday's run.

9:25 a.m.: Jeff Hogan crosses the finish line and is greeted with cheers from onlookers and supporters.

9:00 a.m.: The finish line is in sight for Jeff Hogan as he approaches the 11-mile mark.

8:30 a.m.: Emily Hulme, 33, from Pennsylvania, is the first woman to cross the finish line. About 60 percent of the runners in this year's race are women.

8:15 a.m.: The first runners have crossed the finish line, running a half-marathon in just over an hour. The first finisher was 31-year-old Matt Williams, who crossed the finish line at 1 hour, 8 minutes.

8:10 a.m.: Jeff Hogan passed the six-mile mark, which means the halfway point is in sight.

7:45 a.m.: Four down, nine to go! Jeff Hogan has already run four miles of the 13-mile half-marathon and starts walking to take a break! The sun is slowly warming the runners, who mostly started the race in jackets to accommodate the 20-degree weather.

7:15 a.m.: The oldest runner in this year's race is Grant Egley, 86, from Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina. The youngest runner is Barrett Kesling, 12, from Erwin.

7:00 a.m.: WRAL anchor Jeff Hogan and thousands of other runners set off for one of the coldest starts in Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh history.

Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon closes major Raleigh roads

Many roads in and around Raleigh's downtown core will be closed Sunday, April 8, mainly between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Sunday's half marathon starts on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh and finishes on Lenoir Street at West Street followed by a festival and concert at Red Hat Amphitheater. Most of the closures will occur Sunday on major downtown routes, including Fayetteville, Hargett, McDowell, Jones, Wilmington, Person, Hillsborough and Davie Streets.

This map outlines the road closures, highlights alternate routes and provides access information for popular destinations which will be affected by road closures during the race. Users can click on the icons for information about road closure times.

Major Saturday and Sunday road closures include:

Western Boulevard (east lanes only) from Pullen Road to Hunt Drive will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on Sunday.
Hillsborough Street will be closed from Morgan Street to Pullen Road and from Pullen Road to Pogue Street from 6:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Sunday.
Fayetteville Street from Lenior Street to Martin Street will be closed from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. both days
Davie Street from Salisbury Street to Wilmington Street will be closed from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. both days
Lenoir Street will be closed from Dawson Street to McDowell Street and from West Street to Dawson Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days
Lenoir Street will be closed from Salisbury Street to McDowell Street from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days.
West Street will be closed from Lenoir Street to South Street from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days.