Rolando Patricio Vera Rodas (born April 27, 1965 in Cuenca, Azuay) is a retired long-distance runner from Ecuador, who represented his native country at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988.

He won road running competitions on four continents and was tenth at the 1994 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

[2] Taking part in the regional competition at the 1986 South American Games, he beat the field (which included continental champion Emilio Ulloa) to win in 28:53.90.

Other road victories over this period included the Cherry Creek Sneak 5 Mile in 1986,[5] the Cascade Run Off in 1987,[6] and the Bolder Boulder race in 1989.

[8] He topped the podium in the men's 10,000 m at the 1989 South American Championships in Athletics, winning his first continental title.

[13] His third appearance on the global stage came at the 1992 Summer Olympics and he moved off the track and up to the marathon distance.

Vera's outright refusal to take his turn at the front of the leading pack (and thus bear his share of the wind and rain) angered the reigning marathon world champion Mark Plaatjes.

Kempainen later commented: "I kept trying to get him out front to take the lead, but I couldn't very well turn around and ask him to do it...I guess he ran it smart".