This was my first Rock n' Roll- and my last. So much could have been done better. Let's remember that first, this was a business deal: Competitor Group is in this to make money. That said, my major beefs:
1. This is really a half marathon with a small minority of marathoners. Just over 4000 marathoners out of a field of 23,000. So many walkers, so little marathon ettiquette. It would have been so much easier- and safer- to start the 26.2 crowd out at 6:30. A pre-dawn start which would have really helped in the heat.
2. Aid stations. By mile 18, the water was coming out of garbage pails. Really? Couldn't find a water company to sponsor? A few salty snacks (pretzels...) would have really helped, too.
3. Fan support was really spotty. After the 13.1 crowd broke off, the course got barren, fast. I get it that the organizers were trying to send us to see 'the Missions', but this meant a long, lonely stretch through a golf course, then past a cemetery, airport, and refinery at mile 18. Woohoo.
4. Finish. I finished under four hours, but still couldn't get anything more than a bagel, corn chips (no thanks) and water. No fruit. But to dump everyone in an asphalt parking lot with no shade on a day in the mid-80's? Lots of folks in the medical tents, but the air conditioned Alamo Dome was locked. Why?

For those who trained in heat, this was rough. The thousands of walkers finishing hours after I did were at serious risk. Competitor, Inc. could have done much more to prevent heat casualties: more electrolytes, ice, shaded shelters, etc.

Can't recommend this one at all.

There were too many bandit runners this time. Its not fair that the ones that pay don't get accommodated accordingly. For example no toilet paper in portal potties. At the finish line it was sooo congested with runners. 10 ft after the finish line you have to come to a complete stop to get your medal, with no room to cool down, and then get through the congested photos and snack area. There was no room to stretch or cool down or even breath. And I think there should be a large gated area for payed runners to have the privilage to stretch/eat/drink/reunite with friends and family runners after the finish line. The snacks and drinks are right after finish line..and then they kick you out right after you walk through that area, so rude. Who wants to eat right after a marathon anyways. The other thing was to get your Gear check you have to go down and up flights of stairs..REALLY? I dont know about you, but after a marathon, stairs hurt. No compassion what so ever. I have ran all 4 Rock n Rolls in San Antonio and think the Rock n Roll group needs to step it up.

I ran the San Antonio RnR on Nov 13, 2011.
Pros:
- Large expo
Cons:
-Horrible course. We went through some sketchy-looking areas of town, nothing pretty to look at, and the second half was mostly an out-n-back on some deserted roads near a municipal airport.
-Gear check was nearly 1/2 mi from the finish line and required you to climb down and up some stairs yet the Dodge cars display was literally at the finish line. RnR's priorities are clear: money from sponsors is more important than racer comfort.
-Women's participant shirt sizes ran significantly small. I usually wear a small in Brooks women's shirts but I need a large in this shirt. They would not let me exchange it at the expo.
-No sports drink at the finish line when I came in at 5 hours. It was 80 degrees by then, I really could have used a drink.

First time running and San Antonio is great city to visit :)
Pros:
Well organized for a big marathon.

Great Tech shirt!

Adequate aid stations and support.

Great Fans! Make you feel like a Rock Star :)

Free Beer!

Cons:
Really hot! The heat made me walk 2 miles late in event and I have never walked in a marathon before. I usually do well in the heat.

Very crowded early which is typical for a marathon of this size. Not good for PRs.

Gear check pickup a long ways away and they make you climb up and down stairs to get your stuff.

Very weak finishline offerings. There even wasn't any bananas. Rock and Roll should use Portland,Oregon Marathon as an example of a finishline area that is done right. For as expensive as this event is, what is offered at this finish line is just sad.

I would not do this event again.

This was my 27th marathon so I have many to compare. I was a little disappointed because of the lack of attention to the marathoners. Everyone starts together which I think the marathoners should start at least an hour earlier. We received the same T-shirt also. The half marathon part of the course was fun with many spectators. However, once the marathon course started after mile 11 the race became very boring. I'm not saying the course was bad, I just wish there were more bands and/or cheerleaders. All in all, it was a positive experience. The parking shuttles went smoothly and the start was nice with the wave starts. I would have rated it a 5 if it wasn't for the hot weather when the sun came out. Thank goodness for the sponges and wet towels.

PROS:
1. Water stations and volunteers were great!
2. Fans were great for the first half and at the finish.
3. Weather was great.

CONS:
1. The train stopped my corral and many others. This was very disappointing (4 months of training plus $100). What's not mentioned are the numerous amounts of people jumping dangerously close in front of the train (to get across the tracks).

2. I stuck with the 3:45 pace group and they made up the 5-plus minutes lost during the first 10 miles. So the pace was pushed 30 seconds per mile. I hung tough, but the pace group dwindled quite quickly. I'm sure several people bonked at mile 20 or so.

3. The same t-shirt as the half-marathoners? With the amount of money spent on the marathon you would think they wouldn't cut corners on the shirts.

4. Last part of the marathon is uphill; it starts at about mile 20, so be prepared to run the last 6 miles uphill.

5. Lack of bands on the full marathon; where are the bands after mile 13?

Not sure if I'll run another. Might try the Big D or Houston.

Never again! I just got my "train" adjustment. It does not and probably cannot tell the whole story. It did not make up for the total train time lost, nor the bunching back up and go-slow factor, nor the blown pacing strategy to try to make up the time. When you pass mile two pushing 25 minutes trying to maintain an 8:45 pace, YOU PANIC!! Why didn't they have a big sign at mile three: "RUNNERS, WE'RE GOING TO ADJUST; MAINTAIN YOUR PACING STRATEGY?" After enduring the train and running too fast to make it up, I got behind a van at approximately mile 20 that WAS GOING SLOWER THAN THE RUNNERS BEHIND IT! In an area where my only option was to jump up on the sidewalk and run through spectators to pass it. What was that all about!??

Drive to parking lot, walk half of a mile to the bus, walk half of a mile to the gear check, walk a quarter of a mile to the corral, then find out I'm assigned a different corral from my pace group leader??? Also, $10 bucks to park at the expo. Relatively high entry fee.

Guess I'm just not cut out for big-city marathons.

The good: beautiful city to visit, and for this year at least, perfect running weather - and the bands were great. And I trust there will be no more trains (nd without it, my ratings would have been 4/4/5).

The R'n'R seemed to be aimed towards more 1/2 marathoners. It would be nice to have the marathoners start first and separately from the 1/2 marathoners. It would also be nice to have separate race shirts for full and 1/2 marathoners. The train coming through was a big downer, but not much you can do about it as a runner besides wait it out (although I felt bad for anyone trying to qualify for a specific running event). The course otherwise was nice and flat - with a few rolling hills but nothing major. Ending on an uphill is never ideal, but it was a good challenge with all of the spectators there watching.

I probably won't do another R'n'R marathon without a lot of changes made to them, and I prefer the smaller races.

This was my 15th marathon, so I have a frame of reference to judge it against.

It was very well organized. There was a multitude of hotel rooms near the start. It was only a 10-minute walk from my hotel on the Riverwalk to the start line. The corrals were very well organized. Sure, the train got in the way, but what can you do?

The course was pretty good, though I have run more scenic ones. It was relatively flat, with a few challenging climbs, and the climb to the finish was exhilarating.

I could have done without the stairs- down and up and down and up to the gear check - but that is a minor complaint.

I did like how the course gave us mere mortals a chance to see the leaders heading back to the finish.

I have run this race since the early 80's. San Antonio is a great place. The race organization was good from start to finish. What I would like to see changed is the closing time of the packet pickup on Saturday; it's too early for people coming from work or traveling to the race. I got in to the expo with about 25 minutes to spare. No problem parking within walking distance of the Alamodome. All instructions given with the runner packet were correct. We arrived at the AT&T parking lot at 4:15 a.m., got on the bus, and arrived downtown in about 20 minutes. Had plenty of time to find our corral area and drop our stuff at the UPS truck. Once the race started, there was plenty of water and electrolyte at every stop. The bands along the way were versatile and entertaining. At the finish line, there was a good variety of refreshments available. Picking up your drop bag was real problem for some of us - having to walk down a flight of stairs, then back up the other side. This needs to be corrected for next time. My overall experience was good and I will back for 2011!