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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 361 to 371]
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Bud Williams from Seminole,Florida
(1/16/2004)
"Good job for first time event" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Hey great job to all involved, especially the volunteers. Who is not going to have some logistical problems with so many people coming together? Be thankful you have the opportunity to make it to the starting line. The delay at the start? Oh well, just got to talk to a few more people. But I am all for an ealier start. As a Florida runner the heat was ok, but earlier start would remedy that. The dry climate took a toll on me, so a few more watering holes towards the last 8 miles would help. What energy and smiles the cheerleaders had. I'm sure all the loose ends will come together for next year. | |
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S. S. from Seattle, Wa
(1/16/2004)
"A Must Run" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I thought that for a first-time event, this was very well done. I stayed in Tempe and got to the shuttle bus early, so I didn't have any of the headaches in getting to the race as is mentioned in many of the other posts. Granted, the 30-minute delay at the starting line was a pain, especially since you just knew it was going to heat up fast. Fortunately, the sun stayed behind a few clouds for the early part of the race. When it peaked out, it certainly was warm. I thought the course was good. The highlight was around mile 17-19 through the beautiful desert scenery (and up a mild but long - or so it seemed - incline). The crowd support was superb. I think the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe really got behind this race. Lots of support and high fives. Enjoyed the music, too. I was worried about the post-race recovery area at first. Seeing that there were so many people (at both the full and half), I thought it would be a madhouse at the end. The organizers did a great job at making sure the recovery area was well stocked and comfortable. However, once you left the secured recovery area, it was a madhouse. But, what do you expect with all those thousands of people. I will do this one again without any question -- hopefully it will be 10-20 degrees cooler. | |
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F. E. from NY, NY
(1/16/2004)
"There's gold in the nugget - mine it more!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 A good 'inaugural event'. We live, we learn: more traffic control at the access entrances off the major feeder highways, PLEASE!; more fruit as we approach the finish; and, more honesty regarding the course (it was NOT flat as advertised [thanks, AD from Ohio RE miles 15-17 & 18-19, they were endless and hard to negotiate]). The temp was erratic, but you cannot fault Elite Racing for deception. I heartily endorse the prior suggestion for an earlier start. All in all, a success (although somewhat pricey) and to all the planners, CONGRATULATIONS - YOU DID WELL!!!!! PS- Marathon #25 (age 60) PPS- Arizona is UNIQUE and to be seen!!!! | |
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S. W. from Highlands Ranch, Colorado
(1/16/2004)
"Great First Try, I'm Looking Forward To 2005" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My first 1/2 marathon, what a blast! My friend ran the full. We got to town a few days early and enjoyed the great weather. We came from 20-degree Colorado. We got a convertible upgrade on our rental car and never put the top up. Spent the whole 5 days in shorts. The event volunteers were great, thanks if you're reading this. The local police and fire were great; they were even cheering us on. The bands and cheerleaders were really into it and made the race so much fun. But most of all, the other runners were the icing on this event. There are so many positives, why state the negatives? Elite will do their best to fix them for next year. I'll be there. Thanks for the great time, Arizona. | |
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Cesare Lucido from Staten Island New York
(1/15/2004)
"More water stops" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I like the race, but they did not have enough water stops. It was very hot and I got dehydrated. I assumed they would have had water stops every mile like other marathons. | |
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A. D. from Ohio
(1/15/2004)
"RnR is about quantity rather than quality" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 The RnR Marathon folks at Elite Racing proved once again that they are more concerned with quantity than quality. The logistics surrounding the start of the race were a predictable mess. They should have known trying to cram 100,000 people down 7th Avenue would be a nightmare (29,000 runners and their families and friends). The shuttles were sitting on the freeway at 7:45 when the race was scheduled to start. A 30-minute delay in the start is ridiculous when we're paying $80 for a race. The course itself was lackluster. Although it was flat, it wasn't particularly scenic. Not bad, but nothing spectacular either. The crowds were good, but there were lonely stretches to this race. The bands helped, though, with usually a small crowd near each one. And the finish area had quite a few spectators there. I give the fans high marks, but the rest of the race was rather poor. This reflects the RnR folks plan to sacrifice quality for quantity. If you're looking for a well organized race look elsewhere. There are plenty of good races out there at a much lower cost. You don't get your money's worth with the RnR races. | |
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d. k. from Lilburn, GA
(1/15/2004)
"It was a very interesting run" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 It started out flat, but ended up hilly. The headwinds were tough! Could've used a bagel around mile 15! I was disappointed with all the venues at the end of the finish to sell food and merchandise. There was only one free beer, what's up with that?! My hotel refused to send the shuttle back to get me. I had to hunt a taxi down. But I enjoyed the cacti and the big rocks, and Scottsdale was cool! I would go back. It was hot! Eighty degrees! | |
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J. M. from Minneapolis, MN
(1/15/2004)
"From MN to AZ, a tough adjustment" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 All in all I was very pleased with this race. This is my second Rock and Roll Marathon event and I enjoy the enthusiasm of the spectators, runners, bands, support staff, etc. that this format brings. The course was just as I expected it (except for that darn hill around 15-17, 18, 19, whenever it ended). Unfortunately I was under-prepared for the above average temps, especially having to train in 20-30 degrees for the past several months. The late start would have been the only controllable factor in turning my race into a 5-star positive event (the heat and wind were just negative factors). Many races start much earlier then the planned 7:45am time of this one, so why not start it at 7am (or even 6:45)? I read that the event planners are already preparing to offer more shuttles to accommodate runners, so next year starting on time shouldn't be an issue. If we had started earlier, the heat of the day might not have affected the field as much as it did(which many have commented on), even in the event of uncontrollable warmer then average temps. I look forward to coming back next year and taking on this course again, hopefully with weather that is closer to the typically expected 60s vs. the 80s we experienced (or an earlier start to ensure the cooler temps for longer in the race). I do hope that Elite racing and/or race organizers do read these comments expressed by myself and the other runners. That is the only way these races will become 5 stars each and every time. | |
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S. Y. from Virginia Beach
(1/15/2004)
"Some KinksTo Iron Out" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I ran the half so my comments are limited to that, though they are consistent with those of my group who ran the full marathon. (1) Others have mentioned the traffic nightmare at ASU so I won't belabor, except to say that it needs lots of work. (2) I was surprised at the lack of free shuttles from the 'official' hotels. $20/each was plenty steep. (3) The course was not 'flat' as advertised. This was not a major factor but it would have helped to know that there were some grades to contend with. (4) The weather is too dry for water stops spaced at 2-mile intervals. In general, Elite does a wonderful job. I have done CM and VB (2) and this is a first-class organization. I assume they will get the bugs out for next year. By the way, a side trip up to Grand Canyon and Sedona is well worth the extra time and costs. | |
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J. C. from Pittsburgh, PA
(1/14/2004)
"It's AZ in January!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Coming from Pittsburgh for the marathon was a treat in itself. I had no problems driving to the finish area to be shuttled over to the starting line. I arrived at the finish around 5:30, and actually was impressed with the number of buses available for runners. Maybe have an additional parking/shuttle location would help next year. Yes, the half-hour delay was a drag, however, I had no problem killing time admiring the local talent! I mean come on, what male from the Northeast should complain about a late start standing around watching warm-ups! The course was level as indicated for the most part, except for the 19-20 mile point noted by other reviews. This could be a PR course but, in my humble opinion, Columbus and even Philly are faster. I would be a little more conservative the first half then kick it in hard after the 20-mile park area. The aid stations were well placed. The bands were good along the course, especially the ones who came straight from their Saturday night gigs! A plug for Pittsburgh, there are more bands along that course than the RnR races. The people cheering were great. The finisher's medal was one of the best compared to my other ones. The expo was an expo, well organized for a race this size. Also, no inflated pasta dinners are available, which is honorable for RNR, which helps 'feed' the local pasta-type resturants in the community. I would definitely run this one again. I predict next year's marathon will be sold out like this year's half. Flying back on Monday was a blast, the entire airport had people wearing their medals, as did my plane! Nope, too modest to wear mine. Another important course rating for this course, the women runners were all 5 stars and they are good runners too!!!! |
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