They rocked; they ran; and before it was over, quite a few walked.
Initial smiles gave way to strained looks of concentration and gasps for breath. But for most, the smiles eventually returned.
So it went Saturday under sunny skies at the second annual Rock ’n’ Roll Savannah Marathon.
Runners dressed as Elvis and Superwoman or wore tutus, banana costumes, red and blue wigs, and — in a few cases — not very much at all.
Click here to view Spotted® photos from the race
In what may become a tradition, a racer’s marriage proposal was offered — and accepted, for the second straight year.
“Lauren, will you marry me?” said lettering on a bright green T-shirt worn by Michael Vance of North Carolina.
A bright red one displayed by Lauren Taylor had just one word: “Yes.”
An hour before the start, a medley of old and new music pumped up a field estimated at 17,000 for the marathon or half marathon. Among the titles: “Salisbury Street” and “Blow my Whistle.”
After an 8 a.m. air horn signalled the start on Bay Street, the throng strode west from the Historic District.
Setting a fast pace, the first five runners passed mile marker 4 at Stiles and Gwinnett around 8:20 a.m.
Soon, they raced east on Liberty Street and toward the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on Lafayette Square, where bagpipers blasted.
Thousands cheered as runners dashed through Troup Square, north on Price Street and around Oglethorpe Avenue on an extended jaunt through the downtown.
Five-year-old Alexis Spisso and her 7-year-old sister, Drake, watched from a tree.
Margaret and Jason Boylan of Atlanta flashed runners a sign asking them to smile if they weren’t wearing underwear.
Others gave striders high-fives as they passed.
Stephen Coleman sat in a stroller and stuck out his small hand to runners on Kinzie Avenue.
Stephen, 4, suffers from cerebral palsy. Many runners went out of their way to slap his outstretched hand.
“He likes it,” Jimmy Coleman said of his son.
Along the avenue, residents welcomed competitors with cowbells and enjoyed mimosas, coffee, cider and doughnuts on their porches.
Elsewhere in town, E’Nijule Wilson, 7, turned off the Saturday morning cartoons, left the house at 9 a.m. and rode his orange “Dukes of Hazzard” bike to Stiles and Gwinnett.
“It’s boring in the house,” he said. “I want to see the race.”
At Savannah State University, a squad of Delta Nu Sorority members greeted the leaders with peppy chants.
Melissa Hornbeck, a junior from the University of North Carolina, ran her first full marathon. After sending Melissa off at the starting line, her family split up to cheer her on.
Her mom eagerly waited for her arrival on East Broad Street.
“She made it six miles, she’ll be here soon!”
After snapping a picture, she scurried off to meet her daughter again at the 20-mile marker.
Jessica Campbell viewed the runners as heroes and an inspiration.
“You got this,” she screamed while waving homemade pompoms. “Your dream is reality!”
Stationing herself at the 8-mile mark was no accident.
“I’ve run two half marathons and the eighth mile is the worst,” she said.
Oliver Burke heard noise from his Wesley street home and came out to see what was going on.
Tugged along by the excitement of the moment, Burke jogged about a block with the throng, but stopped at a corner store for a little liquid pick-me-up.
“I got a little thirsty,” he said opening up his jacket to reveal a pint of liquor.
At the Dixie Avenue and Kerry Street intersection, classic rockers The Resuscitators — one of numerous bands along the route — gave runners a musical pick-me-up.
And the Mile 23 sign posted just past the stage seemed to give some racers a visual one for the home stretch.
Several reached up and touched the signpost.
“A little more than three to go,” shouted one participant. The finish line at Forsyth Park was 3.6 miles away.
Jeff Mescal of Hebron, Ind., was first across the line, completing the 26.2-mile course in two hours, 43 minutes and four seconds.
For the second straight year, Jill Horst of Rome, Ga., was the women’s winner. Her time: 3:03.05.
Stephen Pifer of Jacksonville, Fla., won the 13.1-mile half marathon in 1:05.31. The women’s winner was Vernera Sarmasova, of Gainesville, Fla. The Russian native finished in 1:17.42.
Some people broke into a final sprint, passing a rival or two as they approached the line.
Many raised their arms in triumph. Some held hands. A few limped as they trudged the last few yards.
One man, who took four hours and four minutes to get there, leaped over the line.
Of course, not everyone had a good time.
Scott Larson, spokesman for St. Joseph’s/Candler, said about 120 medical volunteers helped people who suffered from dehydration, knee and ankle injuries and other ailments.
“It was about what you would expect for this sort of thing,” Larson said. “There was a steady flow, but nothing overwhelming.”
Savannah-Chatham police spokesman Julian Miller said there were no major incidents or problems.
“It’s gone pretty smoothly.”
Malain McCormick, event director for the sponsor, Competitor Group, declared the day a success.
“I think it was a great event,” McCormick said. “The community was very welcoming.
The course was altered this year to give runners more time in the Historic District and she said that was well-received.
“When the dust settles,” she said, “we’ll make some tweaks to see if we can make it an even better event next year.”