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Rock N Roll Denver Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Rock N Roll Denver Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.2 
Organization 3.4 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 48 [displaying comments 41 to 48]
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B. R. from St. Louis, MO
(10/19/2010)
 "R'n'R marathons take turn for the worse." (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock N Roll Denver Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 I signed up for RnR Denver inaugural marathon expecting it to be like the Arizona and Nashville races I ran in this franchise in the past. This one fell far short of those expectations. One of the highlights of the experience was the ticket to the evening headliner concert. This race had the headliner play at 10:30 a.m. Only the half-marathoners and Boston qualifiers would be able to see it. The course was horrible, with so many out-and-backs that I lost count. As I heard many times, it seems like the R'n'R franchise has just turned into a big money grab. On the pro-side, the support was great and spectators really came out in force. Thanks, City of Denver. No thanks, Competitor racing. I wish I would have waited to sign up for R'n'R St. Louis. I might have decided otherwise. | |
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B. K. from Denver, CO
(10/18/2010)
 "Overall A Good Experience" (about: 2010)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Rock N Roll Denver Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon so I have nothing else to compare it to other than my 10Ks and triathlons. EXPO: Well done expo at the downtown convention center - easy packet pick-up, nice shirt and lots of free samples. Some clothing discounts were available, which we took advantage of. START: Very well organized. However, we did not anticipate a mass start after corral 7 (we were 9), but that was ok. COURSE: A mixed bag. The run started at the capitol and included several parks - all very scenic. Unfortunately there were several repetitive sections. After 20 miles the course deteriorated as we ran through some seedy parts of town and a very boring, hot, industrial area on the way to the finish line. Everyone we talked with thought the same thing: hot and boring - no bands. The only thing good at that point was seeing the finish line. BANDS: For a Rock 'n' Roll event, we anticipated more bands. Every time we ran by, they pumped us up. But it seems they became more scarce after mile 20 when we could have used them in no man's land. FANS: Though not super crowded, fan support was quite good overall. But due to a poor course selection in the last 6 miles, there were very few fans. FOOD: Overall, the nutrition offerings were slim. Mostly, Cytomax and water. I remember only two GU stops. I don't know what the organizers are thinking when you need this stuff in the last 6 miles. Unlike the drink stations, the GU station attendants didn't do a very good job informing us the tables were there so I almost missed an important station. Unfortunately, there were no oranges, bars or other fruit. Very disappointing. Beyond the drinks, I'd bring your own support pack. FINISH: Quite good. Enthusiastic fan reception. Colorful medal. One of the best parts was the recovery center including ice baths for the feet! Overall: Unless they change some things - the lack of good nutrition choices available and extremely poor course route during the last 6 miles - I am not sure I'd do this one again. However, since this was the first Rock 'n' Roll, I would expect they will see some improvements. | |
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M. D. from Eaton, Colorado
(10/18/2010)
 "Great Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Denver" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock N Roll Denver Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and my first marathon in Denver, and I am excited to see a large, well organized marathon come to Denver. The organization and course support were excellent. They do a great job of getting information out to participants, and if you follow their suggestions you will have an enjoyable experience. The only thing about the course I disliked was the out-and-back over an overpass from mile 23 to 24; I really could have done without this stretch! | |
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M. B. from West Coast
(10/18/2010)
 "Not impressed by RNR" (about: 2010)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Rock N Roll Denver Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Yesterday was marathon number 65. The race was much better when RNR did not own it. Mile 23 was horrible. Ugly! And the mile markers were off. Mile 25 we ran through the projects. The music was worse than a karaoke bar. Cytomax was the only good thing about the race. RNR needs to step up their game! | |
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m. c. from chicago
(10/18/2010)
"Needs work" (about: 2010)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Rock N Roll Denver Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I had to take off my bib to finish the race. They closed Washington Park about 15 minutes early--I got to the park at 3 hours 55 minutes and the park was already closed. I don't rember seeing a chip check at the expo, and I found out the next morning that my chip did not work. | |
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W. F. from Northeast Colorado
(10/17/2010)
 "Becoming a "Rock 'n' Roll" didn't do it any favors" (about: 2010)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Rock N Roll Denver Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I have only run three marathons so far but I have run almost 20 half-marathons and some additional races at varying distances. I ran the Denver Marathon last year and just ran the "Rock 'n' Roll" Denver Marathon today. The course was similar, with minor changes, and it provided a nice tour of the city and nearby neighborhoods. The fans were great and the volunteers at the aid stations were FANTASTIC. But the start and finish had some problems. The start was not too bad if you gave yourself enough time to wander around in the dark and find everything - which I did. But the gear bag check was pretty much a free-for-all, once you did find it. There were tables set up with letters of last names but the crowd was so big that you couldn't see the tables to know where you were. The finish was TERRIBLE. After crossing the line, you had to walk maybe 40 yards to get a bottle of water (really? Once you've run 26 miles, you need to go searching for water?) and the after-run "food" comprise bottles of Cytomax, a bag of apple slices, and a small package of pineapple-flavored fruit chews. That was it. The finish was supposed to be fully supported for 6 hours but they were already packing stuff up when I got there around four and a half. I have heard the R'n'R runs are really only geared for half marathoners and I agree that that's the case. Last year, before it was a Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, the start and finish were very, very well organized - especially the finish! I would expect that the Rock 'n' Roll organization would know a little more about after-race food. As there are so many more races out there, I won't worry about running this one again. | |
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A. G. from Denver, Colorado
(10/17/2010)
"Rock 'n' Roll Ruined Denver" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock N Roll Denver Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 You would think since the Rock 'n' Roll marathons are so prevalent and popular, they could deliver a semi-decent marathon. It was awful. I would be surprised if the race directors had ever run a mile in their lives - they were so out of tune with runner/walker needs. There were exactly six porta-potties in the first six miles for 15,000 runners/walkers. Do the organizers know athletes hydrate, and need to use the facilities, especially in the first six miles? They specifically stated the course time limits and cut off points, but did not stand by them. They cut off the half marathoners at mile 8 if they had *exactly* a four-hour pace (I calculated). They didn't even allow them the opportunity to succeed, and nowhere in the course time limits did it say anything about mile 8. At my last full marathon, I was over 10 minutes faster in my second half, showing that you absolutely can speed up in the second half. At my last Denver Marathon, I cut six minutes off my second half. Further, I wrote the race director a month prior to race day asking what would happen if you exceeded the time limit. They stated they would have the finishers sign a waiver, and walk on the sidewalk. That would have been reasonable. They have to open the streets to traffic. However, cutting over a mile and a half off the course when the walkers were not yet late was not. They deemed the walkers failures 2/3 of the way in the course, and didn't even give them a chance to succeed. I've never participated in a race where they make up new limits on race day, to the detriment of their participants. | |
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L. D. from Denver
(10/17/2010)
"Not very impressed...." (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rock N Roll Denver Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Bands at every mile marker. Seems like a great idea. However, the promised 26+ bands in many places were DJs or bands playing slow music (not great for a marathon!!). There was a great Celtic band and I heard "Eye of the Tiger" once. The rest left much to be desired. The course had WAY too many turns... and it was windy, and that made it hard to keep a good steady pace. There were at least four turnaround/out-and-back points and runners were bunched up at MANY turns. We were in Washington Park for FIVE MILES. Five miles in the same park, a park with a 2.7-mile perimeter. The Competitor series charged for race-day tracking (I've never heard of this before) and the event price was steep. The crowd support was MUCH better than expected, the weather was fantastic, and there was ample water and Cytomax and at least two GU stations. The expo was organized and I liked the start line. The last five miles went through not-so-nice parts of town, and the viaduct on 8th on miles 23-24 was something that could have easily been avoided. All in all, it was an okay race, but I wouldn't do this one again unless they changed the course. |
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