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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 221 to 231]
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C. B. from Tucson, AZ
(1/16/2007)
"Better than I expected" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 After all the comments from last year, I was apprehensive about the bus situation, but I had NO problem -- walked onto a bus at 6:20 for a race start of 7:40, lots of empty ones behind me. As I suspected, the complainers just need to understand that you have to get there early for this big urban marathon, like any other big urban marathon requiring shuttles. Porta Pottie lines were long, but no longer than in any race. It was VERY COLD -- below freezing. Took a while to warm up, but better that than too hot. I didn't like the bands much, but that is more due to my lame taste in music than to the quality of the bands. The course was wonderful, I thought -- fast and flat as can be. I ran a PR by over 5 minutes, which I could not manage to do in the all-downhill Tucson last month. I liked the layout of the course too -- broke up nicely into manageable chunks in my head. It wasn't terribly scenic though there was one spot where a gorgeous view of Camelback Mtn just opened up around a turn -- so beautiful lots of people gasped (me included). I thought there was more than adequate crowd support. Finish area and Expo both as well-organized as such a big race can possibly be. I have run 7 marathons, most in big cities, and I have to say this rates as my #1 and not just because I got a PR. | |
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Kami K. from Corpus Christi, TX
(1/16/2007)
"An Excellent Running Event!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n Roll Arizona Marathon; Phoenix, AZ, Sunday, January 14, 2007. This was an outstanding running event. I read in the local newspaper that 37,000 had signed up for the marathon and half marathon. The packet pick-up was efficient. There were a very large number of vendors at the expo. The point-to-point course started in downtown Phoenix and ended outside Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. At 4:30 a.m., buses began transporting the runners from the finish area to the Start Line Village in downtown Phoenix, close to Arizona State Capitol Building. There were coffee, bagels, bananas, sports drinks, and water in the Village, as well as massage therapists and a band which entertained us. There were 30 UPS trucks, which delivered our sweat bags to the finish area. The marathon started at 7:40 a.m. The half marathon at 8:30 a.m. I doubt if we could have asked for a better running weather. Temperature ranged from low 30s to high 40s, sunny, light wind. The course was flat, with few turns. Elevation was 1095 feet at the start, 1140 feet at the finish, and the highest point was at 1230 feet. Crowd congestion was not a problem at all, as the roads were quite wide. There were 18 water/sports drink stations, and the overwhelming majority of them were located at both sides of the route. There was a large number of bands throughout the route. Mile markers were easily visible and splits were displayed digitally. At the finish, we received nice medallions, Spenco sandals, and $10 P.F. Chang's China Bistro gift certificates. Plenty of recovery food items and drinks at the marathon secure zone. With the exception of the first 2 miles, half marathoners ran a different route, enjoyed different bands, and had a different finish line and a different secure zone. In short, everything associated with this event was first-class, and I would like to thank Elite Racing for organizing an excellent race. I am a 50-stater and this was #25. | |
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T. p. from Arizona
(1/16/2007)
"P.F. CHANG MARATHON" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 While this year it was unusually cold, the organization was great and the spectators were out in force. Course was nice and fast. | |
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B. C. from Sacramento, CA
(1/16/2007)
"Elite can do (and has done) better" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 My brother and I have run this race since its inception, and we LOVE it. It's a great course, with (usually) perfect weather, and the bands and spectators make it even better. It's in that context that I'd like to offer Elite some suggestions for next year: 1. Elite takes great steps to protect runners from hot weather, with ample aid stations and tremendous medical support. Why did they not do the same for this year's cold? It's not like it snuck up on them. Many people waited to arrive until the last minute because they didn't want to freeze waiting around for the start (like we did). How hard would it have been to take the heat lamps that were at the evening's concert and set them up in the food court area before the start? 2. I love that the race grew this year, but the crowding to pick up gear bags post-race was not acceptable. We've just run a marathon - please don't make us wait in line 20 minutes to retreive our car keys. Lines for post-race photos were also too long (I, like many others, skipped it), though that may be an ASI problem. 3. Please, PLEASE extend the temporary fencing at the finish all the way to the 26-mile mark. Or line Sixth with volunteers (or do both). After I finished, I went to watch others, and so many spectators were trying to cross Sixth in between runners that collisions were inevitable. It was less than five minutes before I saw the first of what would be several. This is a significant safety issue for participants. All that said, I still love the race and plan to be back next year. The Gin Blossoms' show was a good capstone - maybe bring in Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers next year for some more outstanding AZ music! | |
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J. V. from Charlotte, North Carolina
(1/16/2007)
"One of the best times of my life... truly." (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I couldn't have had a better experience. The water stations were perfect and the people/volunteers gave me a nice push and encouragement at every single stop. (Some of their costumes were fantastic!) I was with a group so transportation wasn't really a factor for me. If the potties had lines, it didn't really matter because there were plenty of businesses who were more than happy to let runners use their facilities, but I found that after the halfway mark, there were no lines at the port-o-potties. The finish line set-up was great. One thing I would say is that it would be nice if those who finish earlier would stay off the actual course afterwards and stay on the sidewalks, etc. We did experience people who had finished, and had on the medals and fun new sandals, actually standing on the course with their family/friendsm and we had to run around them. Obviously, that's not the fault of the organizers, etc. - just rude runners who forget that some of us don't finish in 3 hours. Getting the medal, having the chip removed, pictures, food, etc., was seamless. Just an all-around fabulous experience. It's put marathons in my blood and I'll definitely run this one again. | |
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P. C. from Indiana
(1/16/2007)
"Awesome Run in Frozen Phoenix - Highly Recommend" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great pre-race food and drink, well organized pre-race transportation, great water stops, and well organized volunteers porta-potties worked ok for me. Perfect running weather and great spectator support. The course is very flat with few turns, and while the scenery is not exciting, it's never dull. Not so great: The post-race photographer gauntlet, stopping all traffic, when the last thing you want to do is stand still. Directions from the finish line to the parking garages. The cotton T-shirt is below the standards for the rest of this race, and the restricted packet pick-up hours on the Saturday before poorly accommodate travelers from out of town with delayed flights or tight schedules. The expo was also very crowded. Still the best-run marathon I have done! | |
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C. P. from Brentwood, CA
(1/16/2007)
"Fantabulous!" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I've run four marathons and two halves. Of those marathons, this was the best organized, most well supported, flattest course with the best post-race goodies (NICE SPENCO FLIP-FLOPS) that I have seen. It was a bit cold, but nothing that the organizers could control. The normal complaints - like crowded course, poor support/ poor crowd etiquitte/ poor organization/ not enough this or that - just did not come up in any way at this event! My expectations were exceeded and I will be back! Way to go RNRAZ!!!!! | |
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c. h. from Arizona
(1/16/2007)
"Great marathon!!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 After reading previous comments about timing and organization I decided to get there early. Not sure what everyones problem is/was - I thought the organization was great and could have gotten there an hour later. Thanks for making me wait out in the cold for no reason! | |
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G. W. from Detroit Metro, Michigan
(1/16/2007)
"Marathon organization was great; not so the half" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Despite coldest weather in 30 years, the marathon was well done with ample support, bands, cheering fans, nice, flat course, and great finish area to meet with family. However, when I met up with my wife and daughter - who ran the half marathon - at the family reunion area, they indicated that the shuttle from the parking to the start was terrible with long waits, not enough busses for the runners, and no clean porta-potties. They delayed the start for the half due to the transportation shortfall with 20,000 runners effected. My wife said never again after waiting in the bitter cold for over 30 minutes. The finisher's medal was much larger and better last year (2006). The ribbon was a turquoise green, and sick. The half-marathon ribbon was a nicer dark red and the medals were nearly identical. Please improve the medals before Nashville. This is not a 10K we are running! | |
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E. O. from Utah
(1/16/2007)
"Well organized" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran the half marathon and it was very well organized. The prior comments about the race starting 30 minutes late are just not true. It started on time with a well organized "wave" start. Yes, there were a lot of corrals and it took a little longer to get to the actual starting line, but it was well worth not having to dodge walkers and pushing your way through the crowd. It made it easy to get your pace going right away. I do not need the bands or crowds, but if you advertise a band each mile and there are only maybe 5 or 6 over the 13-mile distance, that's just false advertising, in my opinion. |
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