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☰
Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.5 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 417 [displaying comments 311 to 321]
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F. K. from Seattle, Wa.
(6/5/2003)
"Enjoyed the experience" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was only my fourth marathon, but I would rank it at or near the top in all categories. The bands were always playing when I went by, and the crowd and cheerleaders were quite animated. Water stations were plentiful and well staffed. I had to work at staying hydrated due to the humidity, so I really appreciated the fluids. I, too, had some trouble with the slanted stretch on 163, and that hill between mile 19 and 20. Overall, I thought it was a very honest course. Would like to thank all of the volunteers, as the success of marathons really does depend on their effort and participation. I hope to be back next year. | |
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j. s. from california
(6/5/2003)
"Did not meet expectations" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I did three marathons this year including LA. The RnR was good, but was less than stellar. Simply put: the course was less than spectacular, and the start was not accessible by public transportation, and required being shuttled or dropped off. The stretch of 163 was not very interesting and difficult to run. The rest of the race - except for the Mission Bay area and the finish - was largely unremarkable. The marathon was good, but I would not do it again. | |
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W. W. from AZ
(6/4/2003)
"Had a great time" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this last year, and again found it to be a fun experience. Well organized, well stocked aid stations, friendly volunteers, and great crowd support. The community really seems to appreciate runners. Yes, getting out of the parking lot can be a trial - in fact, that was the toughest part of the marathon! Everything else ran smoothly. As far as the course goes, it is not as fast and flat as Chicago. It does require some strategy; most of the first 16 is fast, but there are stretches that are cambered, and there is a rise at mile 20 that can be challenging. But the organization and friendliness of the spectators and volunteers was comparable to Chicago (which I ran in October and found to be much, much too crowded). If you want to run a fun event marathon, and avoid the bottlenecking that usually ensues from large numbers of runners, try this one. | |
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L. D. from New York, NY
(6/4/2003)
"Beautiful City - So-So Course, Scenery-Wise" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The RNR Marathon was a great experience, and all in all the organization was good, except for not enough bathrooms (I had to go into a coffee shop and buy something to use the bathroom). Pacers were nowhere to be found, and some parts of the marathon were devoid of people cheering us on. Also, the evening before, it seemed that the locals didn't know about the race. Odd... I did find the course to be completely flat (didn't count any of the bumps as hills), but the embankment on the freeway was difficult (and I almost ate dirt on a pothole). The course advertises 40 bands - where where they? The band concept is awesome, so let's really have them playing - and book two per stage so there can be continuous music. The cheerleaders were annoying - mostly because they were just standing around in their uniforms and not actually cheering. The course passes by Seaworld and the zoo - yeah - their parking lots... In a city of extreme beauty, only about miles 13-20 were beautiful. The rest were urban. Could have been anywhere. My favorite part of the race was passing what was probably the really 'bad' part of San Diego - and having all the bums cheer us on! PS - San Diego itself is beautiful and the marathon is a great excuse to visit - so I do believe I will be back next year. Nice touch - a bobble head doll in the goodie bag. | |
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D. D. from Los Angeles
(6/3/2003)
"Not perfect, but a good one" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 First-timer, so I only did the 1/2, but had a good experience overall. The main drawback was that our shuttle buses going from 13.1 to the official finish line couldn't get there in less than 2 hours (traffic), so we ended up getting out and walking it so that we could at least get our checked bags with our changes of clothes, etc. Of course, RNR doesn't offcially recognize the 1/2, so I suppose I can't gripe too much about that, or the fact that I couldn't get anything in the way of splits or gun time. As for the first half of the course, the freeway section along the 163 is tough, what with the banked road - played hell on the ankles and hips. Pretty stretch to drive on; not so friendly to run on. On the plus side, the start is great with the big grassy area to prepare, and the corrals seemed to work pretty well. The bands were fun, and the crowds and cheer squads were a *major* plus. I don't think I would've had nearly as much fun without the crowd noise and positive energy. Water stops were well manned and frequent enough. I'd definitely consider doing this one again. | |
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T. S. from San Francisco, CA
(6/3/2003)
"Smooth operation" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 What struck me most was how well organized the whole thing was. A huge starting area with loads of toilets (runners that complain about long lines didn't bother to walk to the toilets on the north side of the field), food, coffee, and sweat-check drop-off. The system with corrals worked very well. The same thing with the finish area. Loads of food, no lines for bag pick-up (maybe I was just early), and a clever 'family reunion area', where you would meet your party near the sign with a letter on it (first letter of you last name). The course is diverse to say the least. Some downtown, some park on a freeway, circling around a bay, and the last 10K through an area with mostly warehouses/shops/factories or whatever. The bands and cheerleading teams along the course kept even the more boring stretches fun. Once I get tired, I know I will start hating even the most scenic of courses. Getting from the parking area back to the hotel took longer than expected. It didn't bother me. Those streets were closed down for me. Complaining about it is like complaining that your legs hurt after running 26.2 miles. Overall, I was very happy with the experience, and would definitely consider doing this race again! | |
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J. D. from Bozeman Montana
(6/3/2003)
"This was an awesome experience!!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon. I was looking forward to the race, and expected a great crowd, but I didn't expect to enjoy myself so much thru the entire race; from the expo, to the pre-race, fans, bands, course, water stops, Gatorade, cheerleaders, and post-race, it was just a great experience for me. I loved it! | |
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michael corbett from BELLBROOK, OHIO
(6/3/2003)
"Well organized, scenic course, bad finish area" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I really enjoyed the race. I was very impressed with the organization. The expo was well organized and had plenty of vendors. The start of the race went smoothly, everyone was upbeat, and there was lots of music. They start you in corrals based on your est. time, which cuts down on congestion at the beginning. I thought it was a very scenic route. The slant on HWY 163 did not bother me. If you run on the left side, the road flattens out. The only problem I have with the race came after the finish. They make it almost impossible for your family to meet you at the finish. The roads are so congested to get out of the marine base. It took me over 2 hrs. to go 10 miles to my hotel. I will run this race again. San Diego is a beautiful town, and there is plenty to see and do. | |
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C. N. from Flagstaff, AZ
(6/3/2003)
"Great race for first marathon!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon and I am so glad that I chose the RnR as my first one. The organization was amazing, and the water stations were plentiful. The scenery was beautiful, even on some of the highway miles. The only complaint I have is about the tilted parts of highway. It seemed that there were many miles of tilted road. The weather was wonderful. If it had been sunny, it would have been too hot. I was also thankful for the bands - they really kept me motivated. I wish there could have been more. I finished a lot slower than I had planned, but I will return next year and hope to finish a lot faster. I also plan to enter the Phoenix race in January. | |
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R. R. from Anaheim, CA
(6/3/2003)
"A great marathon: I'm glad I ran it!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 From a huge expo to flawless organization on race day, this marathon had it all! Features include a 6:45 corral start, efficicent volunteers, loud crowds, aid stations, bands, and cheerleaders at almost every mile. On the downside, the course is too slanted in spots, and has a tough hill around mile 19. There was a delay leaving, but that's to be expected with 20,000+ runners, lots of spectators, and numerous road closures. Besides, if the only thing to complain about is traffic, you've just run a great marathon! I'll be back. |
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