DENVER -- This weekend, runners and walkers are taking over, rockin' and rollin' there way around downtown Denver. The Denver Rock 'N' Roll half marathon and 10K are Sunday morning. The 5K was Saturday.
“Every single day is proving that I can do something I couldn't do the day before, so that's why I run,” said Sarah Gallegos.
Gallegos is from Parker. She has run 38 races, including the Rock ‘N’ Roll 5K on Saturday morning. She is in the middle of training for her first marathon, but her race this weekend was an extra special one.
“I miss you, your kids miss you,” Gallegos said about her friend Jennifer, who disappeared and was killed back in 2012. Gallegos said she's running to pay tribute to her.
“She was there for me when I needed her and she is there again for me today when I need her,” said Gallegos.
Other participants are also taking the steps to race for a cause this weekend.
“I am running in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,” said Nicholas Sandis.
Sandis is dedicating his run to a family friend's son who was treated at St. Jude, a hospital that takes care of kids with severe diseases and cancer. St. Jude is the national featured charity of the race series.
“He was basically there for three or four years,” said Sandis. “We went out there and ran the St. Jude Half Marathon that year in honor of him and now actually he is recovering and doing really well so that kind of hit hard with a lot of us.”
The Rock 'N' Roll series is bringing in people from out of state too.
"We are here for the races, for the Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon series, and for my mom's birthday which is on Monday,” said Jose Jimenez from Houston, TX.