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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 51 to 61]
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M. G. from Arizona
(1/16/2012)
 "Probably RnR's best choice to run in..." (about: 2012)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 RnR races continue to have their issues (and most are inexcusable), but this one seems to go on without many hitches. As expected, with using light rail for the first time to transport runners, there were hiccups and the race was delayed about 30 minutes. Hopefully this gets ironed out. Starting a race on time is important, and more so in a sunny climateanytime you push a race later into the day, you're at risk for heat and hydration issues. Thankfully, we had cloud cover pretty much start-to-finish. As always, packet pick-up was easy. Expo had everything you'd expect. Race shirt was quality Brooks tech tee. Pre-race village had water, etc. Bag drop was easy. Corrals were easy to enter. Race path was wide and flat; water stops were long and aided w/friendly folks. They also had two gels stops along course and folks handed out pretzels and orange slices. Plenty of port-o-johns on course, too. New course went through nice neighborhoods with nice downhill stretches added. Spectators were mostly at corners only and bands were less numerous than usual (but they were great). Miles 22-24 were quiet and went through industrial area and had a few long uphill climbs but nothing challenging. Finish line area was very good. Post-race area was under solar-panel ramada that shaded entire area. Post-race food was generous; smoothies, energy bars, frozen yogurt, bagels, fruit, drinks, etc. Gear-bag pick-up was close by. Medal was good as always. Half and full course are separate and end in adjacent/separate areasabout 3800 in full, 16000 in half. Cool, cloudy 60-degree weather helped but normally you'll need sunglasses for this race. Both courses almost completely flat. Some parking and transport issues still to iron out but this RnR race still the best of all their events by far. | |
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J. W. from Chicago
(1/16/2012)
 "A PR course, but boring. Above average for R'n'R" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Pleasantly surprised by what competitor group put together here. As usual they focus mainly on the expo and post race party, but the course they had this year was good. It's point to point and flat through 22, then a couple large overpasses getting to the finish. Marathon distance is clearly an after thought if you're into the bands and entertainment. There were more bands on the half course than the full. And spectators really only in a few places (anywhere there was a turn, otherwise quiet). I don't care much for all those bells and whistles (literally), so I enjoyed it, but if you like a crowd maybe this isn't for you. I will give it to them on post race. The chute was easy to navigate and the concert venue in sun angel stadium was perfect. Easy to get to, comfortable grass infield. Really enjoyed it for a change. Big piece of advice: take a cab to the start an from the finish. It adds a few bucks to the trip but everyone I know who parked said it was a mess. | |
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M. G. from Milwaukee, WI
(1/15/2012)
 "I've never been impressed with a Rock'n'Roll run." (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 Organization was okay until the race started 30 minutes late. The course was good. Seven of eight in our group that ran this event got sick and had/has signs of iodine poisoning. Our group has a total of 79 marathons and 50+ halves and none of us will be doing another Rock'n'Roll organized event. | |
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P. N. from Arizona
(1/15/2012)
 "I loved the new course for 1/2 marathon!!!!" (about: 2012)
3 previous marathons
| 3 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Much better course this year!! Loved seeing the full marathon runners at the end, very inspiring!! Parking was much better this year and much more organized. Thanks | |
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A. S. from California
(1/15/2012)
 "Poorly coordinated" (about: 2012)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 This is my 3rd time doing this race and they changed the course this year. They coordinated HORRIBLY for traffic. We sat in traffic for an hour on the freeway and moved about 10ft. There is only one exit to get across the river for parking. No one is going to make it to the start line for the start. They better change the course again r do something different about traffic. I used to love this race! | |
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P. H. from Ontario, CA
(5/24/2011)
 "Incredible BORING and OVER PRICED!" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I was looking for a January marathon and Carlsbad was closed, so I chose Phoenix. I enjoyed my stay, but not the marathon. I have never run through so many strip malls and industrial centers in my life! There was absolutely nothing memorable about the full marathon course. I'm glad I had my music or I may not have survived it. Rock and Roll is so geared toward the half marathon that I wonder why even bother with the full - just a way to make even more money. There is nothing about this course that is worth the money. I will never run this again, even if it were the last marathon on the face of the earth. Thank goodness it's not! | |
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D. H. from Midwest
(3/9/2011)
"Not worth the money" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The AZ RNR Marathon was good overall. However, for 2 to 3 times the price of other marathons, it does not offer that much more. I've run marathons for half the price that offered more and better course entertainment. That said, it was well organized and an overall good experience. My primary concern on the course was that a few water stops that had ice cubes in the Gatorade. VERY bad idea. I nearly choked on a piece of ice. Great city. Great location. Festive atmosphere. | |
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K. C. from Boulder,CO
(3/8/2011)
"Flat, fast, great weather!" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I love this marathon! I have run it twice, and both times were PR's! The weather is perfect for running; it starts cool, then gradually warms up by the end. It is so well organized, and there is more than enough support along the course! I have also run the half, and though fun, it is not half as scenic as the full. | |
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Alicia Buisst from Brighton, MI
(3/3/2011)
"Excellent experience!! I will do this event again!" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first half-marathon and it was a great experience. Considering the size of the pack, all was very well organized and coordinated. Cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe did a great job. Volunteers were amazing. Spectators were a bit thin to start, but then filled up as I neared the finish line. They ran out of most of the food at the finish line (fruit was warm and a bit soggy), but there was plenty of water. Getting to the start line and leaving the event was easy. Port-a-potties aplenty. Weather was perfect! | |
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E. P. from Phoenix, AZ US
(1/26/2011)
"Overpriced, ugly, and crowded half course" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This race was overpriced for what you got ($130 for marathon). The half marathon course was quite possibly the most unscenic route to run through Phoenix, with the exception of the Tempe Bridge around mile 11/12 up to the finish line. Finish line was far too crowded and no bag was provided to put food/drinks in. So runners were all corralled like sheep balancing all the food in their arms, often unsuccessfully, trying to weave through the serpentine line. It was not clear what and where the post-race non-music activities were (e.g. massages, etc.). I will not run P.F. Chang's Phoenix again. Not enough value. Ugly course, overcrowded without ample planning, and although I love Vertical Horizon, they turned out to be quite drab for a post-race celebration. Bummer. As a Phoenix resident, I would have liked to run a more fun race close to home. I had to downgrade from the full- to half-marathon due to injuries and it is likely that the full course would be easier on the eyes. The stretch on the half course down McDowell (a large portion of the race) is just awful. Phoenix has nicer-looking areas with the same level of old-town authenticity. Thank goodness they provided free wine and beer samples at the expo, otherwise, I'd feel even more gipped. |
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