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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 331 to 341]
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A Runner from Kansas City. MO
(9/14/2002)
"Not worth traveling from a land far, far away!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I was not impressed with this marathon in the least bit. The lines for the bathroom were so long that I missed the start of the race. Not only were the bands few and far between, but the scenery was very boring. The team in training people had an elitist attitude and were very discouraging if you were not part of the 'group.' Also, NOT a good course to set a PR. This is my 3rd marathon, and I ran it slower than my 1st. Go to Chicago-it's so much better! | |
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Mark G. from Boise, ID
(7/16/2002)
"Overhyped, Overpriced, Overheated!" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 Hey folks . . . I'm a veteran of 15 marathons and this has to rank near the bottom. Yes, any marathon is a good time just for the sheer enjoyment of accomplishing such a feat, but the RnR race had a feeling of bloated corporate excess. Of course, the first thing you must deal with when attempting any race in a California metro area is the constant gridlock. If you want to make it to the starting line in plenty of time for your pre-race ritual then leave around 5 AM. If you fail to do this, your going to upset your 'zen' by sitting in traffic with smoke coming out of your ears. Once at the starting area, you will find that the bathrooms are plentiful and there is a lot of room to stretch and meditate. That was good. If you are shooting for a P.R. on this course, then you better start right behind the elites because it seems that 75% of the runners are Team In Training folks who are going to run from 4-7 hours. Nothing against the T in T, they do a great service, but a lot of spectators treat you like a 2nd class citizen if you aren't wearing purple. Anyhow, the first half of the course is great (copious amounts of downhills) and gives you the illusion that you are going to have an easy day and an easy P.R. DON'T BELIEVE IT! Around mile 17, the course gets hilly and the weather gets HOT! The bands were great if you are a sub 3:30 racer. I think they take a lot of breaks after that. The cheerleaders were awesome. However, I was dressed in a punk rocker costume so if you want constant cheering, then make yourself stand out from the masses. The finish line: This could use a lot of work. Crowds are thick. I finished, got my picture taken with Elvis, James Brown, and Elton John, and then it was back to the hotel to beat that famous California gridlock. From what I've been reading from other runners, I'm glad I left so early. The t-shirt's were pretty sucky. This is one of those races that gives you a crappy finisher t-shirt so you will drop coin on other merchandise. As if the $80 entry fee wasn't enough! Do yourself a favor . . . skip this race. There are plenty of lesser known races that are cheaper, more organized, and give you a more meaningful experience than feeling like you ran 26.2 miles to spend some more money on merchandise, and then sit in traffic. | |
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A Runner from montgomery, al
(7/4/2002)
"boring race course!!!! be warned!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 i was surprised that a lot of the race course goes through boring residential areas, past highways, and through a weird, industrial-looking area. also, a great portion of the spectators were only cheering for 'their own'--Team in Training leukemia participants. on the positive side were some very awesome spectators who were cheering for everybody, and not just for 'their own people'--these people really pulled me through to the finish line! | |
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A Runner from Milwaukee, WI
(7/2/2002)
"Great for First Time Marathoners" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Was part of the TNT group, running my first marathon. True, lots of people but the crowds really create emotional support - particularly in those last 5-6 miles. Course is generally flat. The banked roads can be tough on the knees but for those more interested in finishing a marathon than worrying about time, this is a great one to start with. San Diego is a neat city. Would heartily recommend this race. | |
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A Runner from Lake Forest, CA
(6/16/2002)
"Better than expected" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I was a spectator for this race last year, and vowed never to do it because of the nightmare finish area. But, ended up running it this year and from a runner's perspective, it was a really good race! Yes...some decent-sized inclines, and I certainly felt it in my knees on the freeway. A later aid station ran out of Gatorade which was kind of annoying, but otherwise the stations had good supplies. However, the early ones were horribly bottlenecked and I lost time trying to get water. According to my husband, the finish area was probably as bad as last year, and although the walk to the car was short, trying to get out of the parking lot was quite an adventure. Anyhow...all in all a good race and I would probably do it again. | |
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RSMRunner from RSM, CA
(6/13/2002)
"Rock 'N' Roll Rocks!! But the course is deceiving" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 RNR was my second marathon after LA in March and I was hesitent to run it after seeing all of the sour publicity from the past years. Having lived in San Diego for 15 years, I had to go back and run it. From the moment I hit the Expo I new it was going to be a great race. Everything at the Expo was very well laid out and easy to handle. This great organization continued at the race start area. The start compared to LA was great, having the stalls worked wonders and was very relaxed, although the pre-race massages also helped! What can I say, it's a kick running though Balboa Park and downtown San Diego. I was actually looking forward to running on 163, it's one of the most beautiful parkways you'll ever see, goes through the zoo and Balboa Park. The slant is a problem, but as somebody else noted you have to stay to the left on the side. For some reason this course feels real long from about mile 15 on and there's a deceiving gradual uphill to it. From mile 18 thru 23, it's a haul. Tough course to run a neg split, finished in 4:19. The finish with the grandstands was well done as were the food stations and room for a shower. Also, give a high five to UPS for the package pick-up system, actually worked great. There needs to be more signage leading to the 'regular' reunion areas vs. the TNT reunion areas. Personally, I don't know why you need shuttles back to the parking lot, it's so close, I'd rather see the resourses put into parking lot signage and more trained employees to move people out quicker. Overall it was a well run event and a great event to build a weekend in San Diego around. | |
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A Runner from Walnut Creek, CA
(6/12/2002)
"A great run in a beautiful city" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 2nd marathon, Honolulu being my first. The course is very flat and easy to run. I did not like running on the canted Highway 163, that is my only complaint. The spectator support was great, the cheerleaders were yelling their lungs out, the bands rocked and the aid stations were setup at good locations. I suggest maybe 1 more PowerGel stand at mile 15 or so in addition to the one at 22(?). All in all a wonderful event! | |
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A Runner from San Francisco, CA
(6/11/2002)
"Fun but challenging" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was a fun course but a bit challenging. A fair amount of hills, loops and bridges to cross. Weather was okay for the first 3 hours - then the sun came out and it got a bit too hot for marathon running. Organization was outstanding - this is my 3rd marathon and was by far the best organized. Lots of water, Gatorade and medical aid stations. Bands and cheerleaders along the way were fun. A beautiful medal too. Highly recommended - but not for a PR. | |
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A Runner from Seatle, WA
(6/10/2002)
"Hot finish, Cute Marines" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The weather was too hot. The sun came out about 3 hours plus into the race making it a very hot course. You could see the heat radiate off the asphalt and the runners wilt. The course for the most part was attractive with easy hills, though long sections were steeply banked to one side. I couldn't find any flat area to run and injured my knee. The course organization and spectator support were terrific, but there were not enough porta potties, nor enough bushes for cover. There also should have been more than one gel station. The bands were a treat but the highlights were water stations manned by the young, good looking, buffed out Marines. Their smiling faces were a wonderful site. Thanks! | |
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A Runner from Boston, MA
(6/10/2002)
"Couldn't have been more poorly planned...or hyped!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 Hey, let's shutdown wonderful San Diego's main roadways and have a crappy marathon! We'll advertise tons so we'll make lots of money then not worry about providing any quality. We'll end the course on a military base and make marathoners wait 35 minutes in line for a shuttle out to the parking lot (where they must have parked there cars) or,... make them walk there! In the beginning and through out the course there were a general lack of toilets. The corrals were a joke with lots of 'speed walkers' starting in the top corrals. They claimed to have at least two bands every mile yet many miles went by with no band at all. Most miles were spent on sharply banked road ways and steep downhills where spectators could only watch from afar. Toilets (where there were any) had long lines while crucial stretches late into the race had no water stations at all. In the end, they didn't even get my chip time or gun time correct! The only thing they got correct was the advertising. |
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