After registering for this race, I read some of last year's comments and got a little nervous. I went on ready for the big crowds and prepared for what could go wrong. But I have to say that this was the BEST race I have ever done. The expo was awesome and so organized that I shopped for two hours after picking up my packet. Pre-race shuttle was so on-time that I got to the race site too early. Lots of port-o-potties, coffee and bagels at the starting line. It was quite chilly at the start.

Having the half and full line up on two different streets was a great idea. I only wished that both races started either at the same time or a half hour apart instead of an hour. It was exhausting waiting around to start the half.

The bands were great, except for near the finish where the two last bands were packing up (while there were still about 3000 people on the course). The finish was great. Overall... highly recommend and hope to do it again.

I actually ran the half marathon this year, so I am not really able to comment on the course of the full marathon. However, I have some experience during my visit that I really felt that I wanted to say something.

I came to Phoenix for the half marathon due to the fact that I had another marathon to run the following weekend. I also had heard of the nightmare course from last year and knew that the marathon course had changed for the better. I went to Phoenix with mixed feelings.

I thought that the expo was well organized for a second year marathon. There is room for improvement, but there are definitely a lot of various businesses, other race's information, vendors, and even beer and wine stands. It was a fun event.

However, my experience at Phoenix went downhill from there, as I could not find any transportation to my hotel, which was a designated hotel. Nor were there any taxis available. I had to walk around to ask for public transportation to get to my hotel at Tempe.

What I found was that my hotel, one of the official hotels, was about 4 miles away from the finishing line, which was a bit strange. That would actually come into play after the race, with the traffic block nightmare, as I could not find any transportation back to my hotel and had to wait for half an hour for the hotel shuttle bus, which took us on a 45-minutes ride through the entire Phoenix area to get back to the hotel.

As for the run, the marathon started at 7:40 and the half marathon at 8:30. I thought that the starting time was a bit late, considering it was in Phoenix and is at risk for high temperatures. Fortunately, that was not an issue.

The starting line was basically placed in order based on your estimated time of finish, so slower runners are at the back and faster are in the front, which is very nice. The course for the half marathon was VERY flat but unfortunately a bit boring. It was a quick course.

The finish line rewarded us with a pretty big medal, whether marathon or half marathon. Package pick-up line was nicely organized, as well as plenty of porta-potties at the end.

What do I think of this experience? I think the race is an OK experience, but the City of Phoenix was not ready for the large influx of people. If the city can get better organized, this race would be more spectacular. Will I ever run this full marathon? Probably not.

This was my first marathon; it was a great marathon to be your first. The spectators were great, the course was flat, and the other runners were great. The hotel I stayed at had a shuttle to the start line and picked you up at the finish line, which was great; no problems with traffic. The expo was great - in and out in 10 minutes. I will run this marathon again next year.

This was my 5th different marathon and it's the only one I have done besides Boston that I would definitely go back to without thinking twice.

The bands really did help--you couldn't help but get an adrenaline rush each time you went by--usually the rush is gone by about mile 2.

I couldn't believe all the crowds out on the course, although I know the nice weather probably had a lot to do with that.

As for the scenery, I didn't really notice much since I was concentrating on time, fluids, and chatting with those running around me.

It was one of the pricier marathons I've run and I was slightly disappointed that the shirts were not long-sleeved, but I do feel like the whole atmosphere of the race made it well worth it.

I would also highly recommend that when you do this race, if you can swing it, stay in one of the many resorts with spas and get a post-race massage. That made the whole weekend sweet!!

It would make an awesome first marathon and was just an overall great experience.

Thirty marathons since age 50... now 62... member of the 50 States Marathon Club. Marathonguide.com really gave me the heads-up of this race and its problems last year.

Stay in downtown Tempe... finish of race. Five AM was up, walked 5 blocks from Courtyard Marriott-Tempe to awaiting buses at Arizona State University. Bring blanket and throw away clothes for waiting after you are dropped off from bus...

Bands are not rock and roll. Loud and enthusiastic... very friendly and aim to please runners.

Volunteers are super... and whoever was in charge of the cheerleaders should be commended. The cheerleaders' manners and comments to runners were just wonderful... cute, adorable & sweet - all of them for 26.2 miles... thanks girls and guys.

Boring course... expo set up with snake-like tables all cluster around each other... lots of good things to buy.

Concert: Loud... bring ear plugs. Zoe Bowie and girlfriend, opening act. Real crowd-pleaser. Both they and their band worked very hard. Thank you
Jumbo screen with events of the day to see. Great idea.

Comments to elite runners at concert award ceremony TACKLESS and embarrassing -- is this how we treat runners from other countries who were gracious enough to attend the concert award ceremony? Didn't stay for Jason Who? Never heard of him.

Nice medal to remember race by... there are too many beautiful marathons around to do besides this one.

For the folks with the negative comments, I almost wonder if we ran the same race and course. Overall organization was excellent, the traffic issues resolved, the start on time. If running within a large field, you have to figure additional time to arrive and get positioned. The bands were great, and what a variety! The organizers need to add that family band of kids that was playing on the 44th Street driveway for the second year. The expo was good with a lot of giveaways and the spectators were having fun. Only gripe I will agree on was the lack of popsicles at the end. The Scottsdale realignment was a good reroute around last year's hill in Papago Park - see you there next year and have fun!

Too many other fabulous races to waste your long, hard training on this one. Costs too much for what you receive in return. Poorly organized, from the shuttles, to the inept traffic management prior to race, to no communication from event management in the weeks leading up to the race (three calls and emails to management company remain unreturned).

Dull, uninspiring course with many fewer, and relatively quiet, spectators than I envisioned. Bands on the course added little if anything to the experience. Disappointing medal and even more disappointing post-race refreshments (or lack thereof). This race could really use an experienced race director to shape it up for future runners, because it needs more than just tweaking. I don't mean to sound negative, but to me this one is lacking.

On the positive side, beautiful weather, nice volunteers and very enthusiastic cheerleading groups. Well organized water/Powerade stations and enjoyed the company of the other runners. Great idea to have separate start times and separate courses for full and half-marathoners. Still had an awesome time celebrating my accomplishment, just disappointed I picked this one to kick off 2005.

Thus far, I've done 10 marathons and this was my second favorite behind only Chicago. It's hard to believe this is only the second year of the Rock & Roll Marathon because it was so well organized. The expo was huge, interesting, and loaded with cool vendors. The pre-race organization was outstanding with tons of parking at the finish line, quick/easy transportation to the start, an abundance of port-a-johns, food and staffing at the start, plenty of water stops, and terrific crowd support. The course was super flat and the stretch through Scottsdale was nice. Bands and cheerleaders added flavor to the race.

The only criticism I really have is that the medical tents seemed disorganized. I stopped to ask for sun block--the weather report called for rain, but it turned out to be a beautiful day. Anyway, the guys at the med-tent had to scramble through boxes to find the sunscreen. Also, they handed out the salt packets AFTER the water stop which was sort of comical. Still, these criticisms, though legitimate, border on nitpicking. Overall, this race was wicked pissah, as we say in Boston--home of the world champion Boston Red Sox.

Better organized and run this year (2005). New course was very deceiving with subtle elevation changes. Spectators and bands had awesome enthusiasm. Cooperative weather, too. Biggest bummer was the lack of popsicles at finish.

This was my first Rock and Roll Half Marathon and will probably be my last... expo was well organized; I went on Friday, so not too busy (packet pick-up was smooth, goodie bag? what goodie bag??). Race entry forms and advertisements? could do better, t-shirt quality was okay, but design was boring. Sunday morning, really early parking was disorganized, not sure what the volunteers were doing, no sign posts, long lines for buses, no information. Lots of very frustrated runners trying to get to the start...

How about an out-and-back or loop course? What was the purpose of the corrals when walkers were in the front corrals and runners wedged in like sardines in the back ones? The course... boring I would have preferred to run through a desert, like the Las Vegas Marathon. Phoenix was lovely, but not this part. The finish was fun; plenty of assistance, but where were the popsicles I heard so much about? Finally the concert? Jason who? I think I paid enough money to listen to somebody that I had actually heard of. Won't be back next year. I will choose my 24th marathon at another destination...