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May 16, 2024

Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.8

Organization 4.0

Spectators 3.9

Number of comments: 401 [displaying comments 331 to 341]

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D. w. from Phoenix (12/29/2004) "The half marathon was boring " (about: 2003) First Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The half marathon was just a longer Phoenix 10K race. The downtown area is ugly, especially Washington steet. It was boring. I got on the bus in a timely manner, and then I realized the bus driver took a wrong turn and we were heading to the airport!! Everyone was oblivious that we were at the airport!! I grew up here and recognized the problem and ended up standing next to the bus driver trying to guide him out of the airport!!That made our bus late!! My first half was the San Diego Finest and it was more fun - better water stations and lots of gel stations.
R. F. from Denver, CO (12/27/2004) "Hot (duh), poorly organized for a R'N'R" (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 This was my third of five marathons, and I figured although it was an 'inaugural' that it would be fine, since it has the name "Rock N Roll" with it. Wrong. The expo was very crowded Saturday afternoon, and I accidentally (but thankfully) bypassed a rather large line (sorry) of runners waiting to get into the packet pickup. So, if you see a long line, just do what I did, be stupid, walk in the pickup area the wrong way, and play dumb. The start. Awful. A buddy and I stayed in a hotel about 2 miles from the finish. We thought we planned to leave early enough (5:45am) in the morning to catch a shuttle bus from the finish to the start, but we finally got on a bus (thanks to a traffic cluster-f, with parking volunteers not being informed, thus not informing us what to do) about five minutes before the race was supposed to start. With the ChampionChip timing, why did they wait for us at the start? The course was about what I expected - the heat was, well, hot. Coming from frigid temps in CO didn't help. We did have a headwind that felt good, but slows you down. The hill through the park wasn't fun and the crowd was probably scarcest there. The volunteers, as always, are great. Thanks to the men and women in blue, too. Basically, I think this will become a great race in AZ. I think I just learned to stay away from 'inaugural' events.
Trisha Stayton from Chicago, IL (8/19/2004) "Loved it!" (about: 2004) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Overall, I feel the entire event was very well organized?from the health expo, corrals at the start, bands, aid stations (yummy flavors of energy gels!), SPECTATORS (very motivating), finish line (its so nice to stumble onto everything you need right after a race . . . FOOD), etc.?considering it was the inaugural race. Yes there was a bit of a delay in the start because of parking/shuttle issues, but thank goodness they did so that those people were still able to participate. I am also very grateful for the clock at every mile. It's very helpful in keeping pace. I look forward to running this one again!!
L. A. from Oregon (7/3/2004) "Pretty Nice For First Time" (about: 2004) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Not quite as nice as Suzuki's in San Diego, but not bad for a winter marathon. Only 2 complaints, they ran out of goody bags by the time we picked ours up. And Rock and Roll goody bags are great! I wrote about it to organizers and they sent some goodys to me in the mail! Nice! Also, road to parking/shuttle area wasn't very well marked. Signs should be begin at freeway exits. Lots of folks got lost and this domino effect caused a late start. Course is improved for this next year. Some mentioned hills, but I don't remember any. Maybe if you don't train hills/grades at all, then you'd notice. I'm pleased with it overall and signed up for next year!
Lois C Fleck from Wilmington, DE (4/16/2004) "WOW - This is a GREAT 1st Marathon Course" (about: 2004) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Although I watched my sister run a few, this was my first time as a runner. And this was the PERFECT course & location & race for me. Great weather, lots of support (H2O, Gatorade, snacks) and first aid stations and wonderful fans. I recommend a RnR marathon - the bands are a nice distraction. The course was mostly flat execept around mile 16...but it was a beautiful 70 degrees out and 10 degrees back home - so who cares about a little hill?
Michele Smith-Harden from Norfolk, Virginia (3/19/2004) "Great start but late start" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my 11th marathon, but my first time in the state of Arizona. I am from Virginia where humidity reigns. I loved the scenery, especially the mountains and cactus plants. I felt like I was in another world. Great course. Little too warm for my taste, but you cannot control the weather. The spectators were awesome and the Popsicles after the race were the best. All warm weather races should have them. Thank you, RnR, for a wonderful experience. I will be running the Nashville and the California RnR this year.
C. B. from Virginia (3/8/2004) "Great course, but work on start/finish transportat" (about: 2004) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 It was my second Rock N Roll Marathon (did San Diego) and the start/finish line transportation needs work (same complaint with San Diego), but that said, I LOVED the marathon and think for a first time marathon with 25,000 runners, they did a great job. Wonderful spectators, nice scenery, nice weather (did get a bit warm there...) and that deceiving hill near the end... but I would do it again. My one word of advice - get to the finish line parking very EARLY to catch the shuttle to the start.
B. S. from MI (3/1/2004) "Best Marathon EVER!" (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons \| 2 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am reading some of these comments and am in shock. The ONLY bad thing was the delayed start. The course was great. Spectators all acted as if they were your best friend. LOVED IT! FOR YOU 1st timers - this is a great marathon! Please run it! :)
C. B. from Atlanta, GA (2/11/2004) "Good job overall!" (about: 2004) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This was my fifth marathon and the flat course helped me get a PR. The fans and spectators were out in full force and there was never a lonely or dreary moment on the course where you felt like you were running alone! Getting to the start line was a big stressor! I followed their instructions to a T about parking at the finish line and taking the shuttle. I thought I had allowed plenty of time. I was staying four miles from the finish and left my hotel at 6am. By 6:20 I was less than half a mile from the parking area and caught in major gridlock traffic. The lots were closed by the time I made it to ASU stadium so I had to park down at the Best Western and hoof it. The police, however, had closed the lot before it was full because cars were coming in to park when I was waiting in the never-ending line for the shuttle! Thank God they postponed the start for the sake of myself and the several thousand other runners who got caught in the same mess! However, this was the inaugural year of the race and I feel confident that Elite Racing will get that worked out. I have done their Nashville event several times and have found that race to be extremely well managed! Look forward to doing more Elite Racing events.
S. B. from New York (2/8/2004) "DEFINITELY worth training for and running" (about: 2004) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my 4th marathon and I was looking for 'flat'. Except for the zoo area, it was flat. It was also warmer than expected. No one can control that but let me give ideas (based on other 'hot weather run races': ICE, SPONGES, more water stops. This IS Arizona. The organization was very good, especially the 'secured' runners area at the finish. Loved the picture taking at the end. But need a way earlier start and ICE. Oh, and I will be back next year. Nothing beats a run in the desert.

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