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☰
Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon) Runner Comments
Back to Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon) Information & Reviews
Course 3.9 
Organization 3.5 
Spectators 3.4
Number of comments: 286 [displaying comments 71 to 81]
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B. K. from Bethlehem, PA
(3/28/2011)
 "Terrible organization" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 This was my first and last time running this marathon. The absence of mile markers was shocking. The first time I knew for certain how far and fast I was running was at the 10k mark. After that I counted no more than 4 mile markers. One (at 23) was being held up by a young girl at a water stop. At the end of the water stop (about 20 yards away) a volunteer called out 23.2 miles. I appreciate the effort all volunteers make but what is the point of calling out incorrect information? I endorse what has been said earlier about the metro situation. I went to the Farragut West stop at 6. I waited for about 15 minutes for the station to open and another 20 for the first train to arrive. I had just enough time to check my bag in (where the volunteers were very helpful) and run to the start. I found the course itself mainly fine. I liked the quiet parts in the second half as well as the large crowds in areas such as Columbia Heights. I thought the people cheering us on were great. Finally isn't it time that some large marathon has the decency to mail out our bib numbers instead of requiring runners from out of town to take several hours off work in order to pick them up the day before? I am sure I wasn't the only runner to spend far too much time driving to and from the expo on Friday afternoon. | |
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T. M. from Alexandria, VA
(3/28/2011)
 "Excellent course, good for PR" (about: 2011)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is my 2nd overall marathon and first National. I've read runners' comments from years before and I must say that the organizers have been improving. Corrals were very well organized, there was no stampede at the start line. Of course when we lost half marathoners, it became almost sparse, but I personally prefer it this way. Yes, the first half is more scenic, but I cannot complain about the second half. I think the support was great - a lot of people were out in pretty cold weather. Hydration stations were well manned. There were no big crowds at the finish and you did not have to wait for a long time for your banana or bottle of water. The course is fairly flat, and gets hilly at the end (study the elevation chart). I will definitely run it again! | |
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S. W. from NY, NY
(3/28/2011)
 "OK course, but poor organization" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I have run about 15 half-marathons in many different cities and this was by far the most poorly organized race I've ever participated in. Packet pick-up was a nightmare: snarling traffic, lines to get in to the armory and even longer lines to pick up your race number. Race day was no different. Having never run this race before, and not being all that familiar with DC, we chose to drive to the start instead of attempting the Metro. (Also, given packet pickup, we figured bag check would be equally disorganized.) BIG mistake. Traffic was so backed up that we ended up parking the car about a mile away and following other runners to the start, which we got to with about 3 minutes to spare. The first half of the course was pretty scenic, but with no mile markers on the course it was distracting that you didn't know exactly where you were. The only mile markers I saw were 10 and 11. And, the water stations were only apparent once you were on top of them. Plus, no GU, which was fine for me, but probably pretty disappointing for other runners since it was promised at mile 3. The pros: The medal was decent and the post-race refreshments were good: Chocolate milk, fruit, bagels and pretzels. | |
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L. K. from New York, New York
(3/28/2011)
 "Room for improvement, but nice race" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The weather was beautiful, and the race actually was better-organized than I expected (plus, the volunteers were amazingly enthusiastic). Here are my suggestions for improvements: 1) I understand that opening the Metro earlier isn't feasible, given the ridership numbers. However, all the race hotels are far from the start. My suggestion, in the case that opening the Metro earlier isn't possible, is that the official race hotels should offer shuttle service to the start. 2) More porta-johns are needed during the first half of the marathon, when the field is more crowded. I once had to wait 5 minutes to get an empty porta-potty that was disappointing. 3) There should be more mile markers, and they should be accurate. I'd regularly see a 'Mile X' sign at an aid station, and then see 'Mile X' written in chalk about 100 yards after the station. This made it difficult to gauge what my exact splits were, and to pace myself accordingly. 4)It would have been more scenic and encouraging if the second loop had been reversed if running in Anacostia, for example, had been completed by mile 18, instead of starting at mile 21. It would have been nice to have run by the Capitol towards the end of the race. 5) Finally, after a generally beautiful course, it was disappointing to finish on the cracked pavement of RFK's parking lot. A prettier, more climactic (or at least evenly paved) finish would be ideal. | |
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D. T. from Arizona
(3/28/2011)
 "One more comment - GREAT Volunteers!!" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 One more comment and then I'll yield the floor: the volunteers at the water stations and elsewhere were terrific, enthusiastic, friendly and supportive. Any negative comments I may have made in my earlier review are about the organizers and certain organizational aspects, but THANK YOU to the volunteers who made all the difference on a cold, blustery day. | |
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D. T. from Arizona
(3/28/2011)
"Lots of good, lots of bad" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Tim Whitmire's summary below is brilliant. The absence of mile markers (and kind of haphazard placement of those that were on the course) made it really tough to know whether you were on pace or not. After months of publicity about taking the Metro to the start, to announce no more than a week before that the Metro was opening at 6 a.m., not 5 a.m., is really unconscionable. It made getting to the start (via cab if you were lucky enough to find one) really stressful. Now for the good stuff: registration and packet pick-up (once parking could be found) was easy and smooth. Bag check on race day was terrific. I thought the corral organization was ok. The route was inspiring, beautiful, and interesting. As cold as it was, the sun was out, the cherry blossoms were in bloom, and our capital looked its best. And the route, especially for the full, reminded us that Washington is a city full of interesting neighborhoods, beautiful houses, lovely public areas, and some that are like any other big city. The fan support, especially around Howard University and the area between Dupont Circle and Howard, was amazing. The finish line was handled well, and the food array was excellent (I never knew a Safeway glazed donut could taste so good). All in all, I would do it again. But it's strange that people keep making the same criticisms year after year and nothing seems to be done about it (and the Metro situation actually got worse). Wonder what's going on. | |
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J. H. from Brooklyn, NY
(3/28/2011)
"Great Half Marathon Course with Historic DC Views!" (about: 2011)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The race was fairly well organized with lots of directions/logistical information given beforehand. The packet pick-up was a little messy with a long wait, and the expo was nothing really to write about. If I were a full marathon runner, I probably would have been disappointed. The course itself was beautiful, going past all of the historic sites in downtown DC. The fans were a little sparse, but thank god for Howard near the end, blasting energetic hip-hop to get me through the end of the race! Great course with well marked turns, and even though it was only 16,000 runners, I was never alone. The water stations were fine, but I could not find the GU stations that were supposed to be there. | |
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Buckeye Runner from VA
(3/28/2011)
"Solid Marathon" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The not so good: - Metro&it is all about money. Wonder how much it would cost to open 1 hour earlier? Im sure more than we can ever imagine. DC has NO money! Do you think they should increase registration fee to subsidize the Metro on race day? I dont. We just need to get over this one. - Mile Markers: this one is not acceptable. Every mile should be marked and for a marathon of this size clocks should be placed along the route a key milestones. The good: - Course: fast! Enjoyed the major sites as well as neighborhoods, but after 20 or so (not sure because of absences of mile markers) not as good. But, hey this is the only marathon run entirely in the district. Please dont compare Garmin data to the official course. Is it fair to say a small wrist worn GPS is more accurate that a certified course? I love running with the halfers&and when we split that is when I know Im with the real runners! - Medal: cool with ionic symbol of White House. Wonder if they change it each year with another symbol? - Aid stations: stocked well with water, sports drinks, and GU - EXPO: more than I thought it would be THANKS TO THE POLICE AND VOLUNTEERS! | |
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S. S. from Washington, D.C.
(3/28/2011)
"regressed from last year" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon)s
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Mile markers were an issue in 2010, but it was even worse this year. Nobody I know saw an actual mile marker before mile 10 (I did see a clock at mile 1 and the mat at 10K, but those are still long gaps between being able to orient yourself). Even Michael Wardian, who knows a thing or two about pacing, ended up 4 minutes off his goal, and I have to wonder if poor signage played a factor. This hasn't been an issue in other races I've run, so why can't this race figure it out? Getting to the race also was worse than last year. Even assuming that the race can't afford, despite higher than average race fees, to pay Metro to open at 5 or 5:30, there are things that can be done so that the surrounding area doesn't gridlock. For example, give people less-used alternate routes so that everyone doesn't approach on the same 3 streets, and provide attendants in the parking lots to keep traffic moving away from the entrance. This is my home course (it passes five blocks from my house), but if the organizers show no interest in improving the experience, I'm not sure I'll be back. | |
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E. L. from Boston, MA
(3/28/2011)
"Terrible - Stay Away" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 Same comments as everyone else with regards to the metro, the missing GU station, and the mile markers. You might expect something like this for your local 500-person marathon, but it is just absurd at a race like this. There are so many better options; the course is not that spectacular that you need to put up with everything else. I recommend staying away. |
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