Runners ready to Rock 'n' Roll

For the more than 12,000 runners registered for the sold-out Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh Marathon in Raleigh, Sunday is the day all the long hours of training pay off.

Posted 6:30 p.m. Apr 8, 2014 — Updated 1:35 p.m. Apr 9, 2014

RALEIGH, N.C. — For the more than 12,000 runners registered for the sold-out Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh Marathon and Half-Marathon in Raleigh, Sunday is the day all the long hours of training pay off. Members of Team V will see another payoff as well. They are raising money with their participation in the race to fund cancer research through the V Foundation.

In a February training run at Lake Johnson in Raleigh, Sherrie Mazur took the long view. "What I put into it today will make it easier for me in April," she said.

Now, that time has come.

"With the help of a coach, I was successfully able to train up to 12 miles. So I think I have the confidence I need to go into race day," Mazur said.

Mazur works for the V Foundation, named after former North Carolina State University men's basketball coach Jim Valvano, who died of cancer in 1993. She and hundreds of others on Team V committed to raising $500 each to participate in Sunday's race. Some have raised thousands more.

"This enables our scientific advisory committee to have a little more money to give away to those top-notch scientists across the country," Mazur said.

She and the other members of Team V are ready to tackle the race – and the hard work of finding a cure.

"We've got such an amazing group of runners who are so passionate, not just about running, but also about cancer research," she said.

This year's race field is full, but Team V is still accepting donations and is already recruiting runners to participate in next year's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon.

Marathon route to close downtown Raleigh roads

The marathon begins and ends in the heart of downtown Raleigh, and runners will wind their way east to Chavis Park, north through the Oakwood neighborhood before making a turn to the west. The course passes William Peace University and Cameron Village. Runners of the half marathon make the turn on the campus of North Carolina State University and head back to the start/finish line. Those who choose to run the full 26.2-mile marathon continue west on Hillsborough Street and past PNC Arena before circling back downtown.

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