The race was very well organized. Freeway 163, which people are complaining about, was not that bad to run on, though perhaps that's because I'm used to running on trails. The course was good in some places and dull on other. There were bands at almost every mile, and I liked most of them (by the way, they didn't promise bands on "every half-mile," as someone said here). The finish area was very well organized. For people with sub-5-hour times, there was plenty of space to lie in the grass area, which I personally liked most. And spectators were great!

San Diego is a great place to go for a long weekend and to take in a marathon.

This is a fairly large event, but not on the scale of NYC or Chicago, and the size of the field is not overwhelming. Overall, it was very well organized. The start was well equipped, with coffee, water, bagels, and fruit. The finish logistics are the weak point of the event. The organizers do a great job, but it was 90 minutes clear the finish, stand in line for the shuttles, walk to the trolley, and get back to the hotel. There is talk of moving the finish next year because of construction on the Marine base - moving to the stadium. Perhaps proximity to the trolley will help to get out faster. Part of the issue was that participants' families could get on the base to see the finish (understand), and the shuttles were taken by families and not just runners. Having said that, the Marines were gracious hosts at the finish.

The course is good, with the best part being around Mission Bay. It would have been nice to get closer to the beach area. Balboa Park is nice, but featuring 3 passes through there was enough, and perhaps some of that could have been traded in for a run along Mission Beach. The spectators were great when we passed through the residential areas. There were some comments on previous posts about the slant on Route 163, but you could move to either side and it was not so bad.

Great course, except on the 163 Highway. It has a very, very badly inclined plane (higher on the right). It was my first marathon, and I didn't know what to expect. I got hurt on this sloped highway at about mile 8. I ended up walking the last 6 miles after running on the hurt knee from mile 9 to mile 20. I think they should move this part of the race to city streets. Lots of people were complaining about it.

Overall, this is a great race for a first marathon. It is a big race, with sufficient spectators, bands and support - but not so big that you have to plow your way through thousands of runners before you can run at your own pace. The organization is flawless.

My wife and two kids (toddlers) cheered for me during the race. The suggested trolley system for spectators worked perfect, and the number of spectators is manageable so that they were on the front line for cheering (which would be impossible for (e.g.) a NY Marathon).

One of the great things about this marathon is the pace runners. I ran most of the second half close to the 3:40 pace runner, who did an excellent job! The pace runners really helped me a big deal finishing my first marathon in 3:35 (way better than my target of 4:00).

One slight point for improvement: divide the parking lot in blocks (A, B, C, etc.). It makes it easier to find your car.

A big "thank you" for the organizers. Job well done.

Overall, this seemed a pretty good event. Like most marathons, one has to attend the expo, which can be a nuisance. On the other hand, it was located in the downtown area, which is very nice. Also it was near both the Greyhound and Amtrak stations, so if you come in by bus or train, you won't have to make much of a detour to get there.

Getting to the start was fairly easy, as San Diego is well served by its metro system. I could see long queues on the freeways, probably of people who had not taken the advice on the website and were trying to drive to the start.

There seemed to be plenty of drink stops on the course, and the cups were color-coded according to whether they contained energy drink or water. Unfortunately, I did not realize this until some time into the race. Good idea, but they should have put up some signs to let people know about the system. They should also mark the Vaseline better - someone I know mistook it for energy gel and ate it.

While the course did have some moderate ups and downs, much of it was fairly flat. The only hills in the later parts were only minor, though of course by that stage they can feel much worse. There is a big drop in the 11th mile; I was with the three-hour pace group, and the leader took us through that mile in under 6 minutes. This sort of thing can really make your quads object later on, particularly if you are not used to downhill running.

The police were out trying to keep cyclists off of the course, even in places where there was plenty of space to share with runners. On the other hand, at one place I did see a couple of police motorcylists weaving through the runners - this was right by a drinks station, where runners are likely to change direction.

Having run this marathon a number of times, this is a decent marathon. Granted, this is no Boston, New York or Chicago, but the fun is still there. There are more than a few hills on this course. Previous posts suggest that the course is flat, giving the impression that mile 8 is the only hill. It's the largest, but not the only one. Most people shouldn't expect a PR on this course.

Yes, the temperature is on the warmer side for this one and, depending on your speed, you can end up running quite a bit of this in the sun. I would say that, generally speaking, the sun tends to come out about 3:15-3:30 into the marathon. People that are out on the course longer than that had better wear some sunscreen. It's bad enough to hurt after a marathon, but to also be sunburned? OUCH!

The finish line area is pretty well organized. At NY, for example, there is no place where you and friends can meet up, even though the race finishes in Central Park. They make family wait outside the park, and runners can't stop and hang out. You've got to keep it moving. Here, one can sprawl on the lawn at MCRD, drink beer, eat food and listen to bands. Oh yea, all your family and fiends get in free.

If you're a "big" marathon runner, this race is for you. I'm from San Diego and have run this race twice (2006 and 2007), and was support in 2008. The course is not the "scenic highlights" of San Diego, but it "is" what it "is!" It's a Rock & Roll/Elite Racing Event, and it's the same as every race they put on: Thousands of runners; primarily flat (with the exception of mile 8); lots of spectators; mediocre music (but very organized); lots of "purple";f great support; great medals; blah, blah, blah. I'm a "Rock Star" Medalist and have "ump-teen" Elite races under my belt. Here's my only complaint: I can't believe, with the amount of money Elite Racing brings in for each event, that they are still giving out COTTON T-SHIRTS! Come on, Elite Racing! Get with the program! Even small marathons are giving out technical T's. Who runs in a cotton t-shirt? I've made a "quilt" with the cotton T's I have accumulated over the years. ELITE is not so "elite" with the cheap t-shirts they give their runners.

This was my 4th marathon and I PR'd (although I did not hit my goal time). Elite Racing (Rock 'n' Roll series) always puts on a good race with lots of perks, and this was no exception.

Pros:
1. Pretty flat except for mile 8, but I'm from the rural northeast, so it wasn't too bad.
2. Enthusiastic spectators.
3. Nice race expo.
4. Nice medal/shirt.
5. The whole city really caters to the event. Most restaurants feature a "marathon menu" option for dinner the night before (pastas and such).
6. Post-race area was pretty cool.
7. Parts of the race were very scenic and nice.
8. Bands on the course!

Cons:
1. Very humid at the start (even when there was no sun yet).
2. Hot at the end. Definitely saw a person or 2 being carried off the course at the end. (THANK YOU to the spectators handing out cold, wet sponges towards the end of the race!!! And the cold, wet towels at the finish line. Nice!)
3. A good deal of this race is on highways. Not fun to run on and not very scenic.
4. Loooong way to walk back to your car (even just from the finish area to the spectator parking lot).
5. Getting out of the city post-race is AWFUL!!! We stayed outside the city and it took us over an HOUR to get out because highways and roads were closed FOR NO REASON!!!

Good race, fun course, great city, and good crowds. My only complaint was the finish; they must fix how you get home from the finish line. Walking 2-3 miles after running a marathon is just silly. Be prepared for the very, very long exit.

I ran the 2008 Rock and Roll Marathon as a part of Team in Training. I had a fantastic time and I have very few complaints. The bands and course support was amazing AND THE COURSE LAYOUT WAS VERY NICE. The only complaint I have was the freeway part of the course. I enjoyed running it but it was hard on the ankles and I tore a tendon in the race, but then again I had trouble with it before. All in all, I had a fantastic time and would definitely run it again. By the way, a tech shirt would be nice.