The 49-year-old drummer was accompanied on the course by UFC bantamweight contender Marlon "Chito" Vera, adding an extra jolt of celebrity star power to the event. The duo turned heads and drew cheers as they made their way from the starting line near Balboa Park to the downtown finish, alongside more than 30,000 participants from across the world.
While Barker hails from Fontana in San Bernardino County, his deep ties to San Diego are etched into local music history. Blink-182 - formed in Poway in 1992 by Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus - rose from the Southern California punk scene to become one of the biggest rock bands of the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Barker joined the band in 1998, just before the trio's breakthrough with Enema of the State. Their hit "All the Small Things" became a chart-topping anthem and remains a rallying cry at Petco Park, where it's blasted during San Diego Padres home games and sung aloud by thousands of fans.
Sunday’s race wasn’t Barker’s first foray into distance running. According to Runner’s World, he completed his first half marathon on New Year’s Eve 2023 in Santa Monica, clocking in at 2:12:22. Since then, he’s leaned further into fitness and launched his own 5K race series, Run Travis Run, to promote wellness and mental health through movement and music.
Barker’s presence on the San Diego racecourse also drew attention given his high-profile marriage to reality star and entrepreneur Kourtney Kardashian. The couple wed in 2022 and welcomed their first child together in 2023. Despite their glitzy lifestyle and nonstop media coverage, Barker has remained grounded in his musical roots and continues to connect with fans on and off the stage - now, apparently, in running shoes too.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, founded in San Diego in 1998, is known for blending athleticism and music, with live bands and cheer squads lining the route. Barker’s participation felt like a natural fit - a literal return to the streets of a city his music helped energize for decades.
As the drummer powered through the course, many fans found inspiration in his quiet commitment to health, discipline, and community - proof that even rock stars can go the distance. For a city that helped launch Blink-182’s legacy, seeing Travis Barker back in motion felt a little like coming full circle.
Originally published on June 1, 2025. Photo by Ryan Bethke
