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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 171 to 181]
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D. T. from Tulsa, OK
(1/14/2008)
"A Great Event" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the full marathon and I thoroughy enjoyed it. The weather couldn't have been better. As earlier comments have said, the course if flat and the views of the mountains definitely kept my interest. The expo flowed very well and it was easy to pick up my packet, chip, etc. The race itself was well organized and the volunteers were great. The only thing that I would change is the Accelerade. I don't really care for it, although that is a personal preference. I will certainly be back. | |
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L. R. from Phoenix, AZ
(1/14/2008)
"I would do it again." (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was avoiding this race because I live in Phoenix and thought I would be bored out of my mind - but I had a great time. The scenery is what Phoenix is. Anything more glamorous in the area and you would be doing some major hills. The race was well organized and of course the weather was perfect! The course is flat-ish... . It can't get much flatter but there were some teeny tiny inclines. The aid stations were plentiful and there were just enough spectators. The expo didn't help my budget, as there was every brand I like to wear there! | |
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B. M. from CA
(1/14/2008)
"Flat, fast, and lots of spectators" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I decided to make this my 3rd marathon after reading the comments about last year's race, and the comments were all very accurate. I'm glad I ran it - it was very enjoyable and a great experience. The course is very flat so it's easy to PR (I took 11 minutes off my time when I was really just aiming to run at a comfortable pace and enjoy the race). There are no hills to speak of - barely any inclines at all. The full marathon takes you through some residential areas that aren't particularly scenic, although the mountains in the distance are a pretty backdrop. There are plenty of water and aid stations at just about every mile. Spectator support was awesome. There were kids giving high-fives, cheerleading squads dressed as KISS, and plenty of people cheering for you along the way. Even though I had my iPod on, the bands were still a great motivator. Thanks to everyone who was out there! The volunteers were very friendly, and the finish area was well organized. The finishers' medal is very cool. The pre-race bagels, coffee, and bananas were a nice touch. It was cold in the morning before the race, so the UPS gear check was very handy for letting those of us who don't like to discard clothes at the start stay warm until the last minute. A few organizational downsides: the directions to the start on the website directed you to take roads that turned out to be closed, so if you're not from Phoenix and don't know the area very well, it makes it a little more challenging to find your way there. I was dropped off at the start line and heard some horror stories from others about the lack of parking and lack of people directing parking at the finish line. I'd recommend being dropped off at the start area if possible and NOT using the shuttle from the finish line parking to the starting area in the morning. The expo could also benefit from some additional signs or volunteers directing traffic. Also, the T-shirt was a little underwhelming (a COTTON t-shirt??). I'd also recommend the organizers switch to PowerAde or Gatorade or just about anything besides peach-flavored Accelerade. I knew in advance that they would be using that and trained with it, and I still had a hard time forcing myself to swallow it down. Overall, though, it was a great experience and a lot of fun and I'd definitely recommend it to others. | |
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A. T. from Dallas
(1/14/2008)
"Great Marathon" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just wanted to thank the organizers for putting on a first-rate marathon. The organization was excellent, as were the volunteers. I am unable to say anything negative about this event. I would highly recommend this marathon. Great job. | |
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I. M. from San Antonio, TX
(1/14/2008)
"Very Good Runners Course" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Good weather - nice and flat with spectators along most of the course. Miles 23 to 25 were more attended in more spartan fashion, and could use another band or something to divert attention from the pain. Only complaint is the number of porta-potties in the last half of the race. | |
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C. C. from Tempe, AZ
(1/14/2008)
"Another great PF Chang's Marathon!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I'm a proud five-year runner of this event and will be back for year six. Random thoughts about this year's running (which was held in much better weather than the '07 running!): Course - I still hope they change Miles 2-6 back from 7th Avenue to Central Avenue someday soon, but otherwise, no complaints. I personally enjoy the scenery visible from the city; for people who want to see rugged desert and cacti, know that this isn't your race. Check out the nearby Lost Dutchman Marathon, a great event in Apache Junction that occurs in February. Personally, I enjoy both (I'll be at Lost Dutchman for the half.) Organization - My only knock on the organizers is the continued use of Accelerade as the official sports drink. It's just bad. But everything else the organizers did was very well done - solid pre-race correspondence, decent expo, impeccably organized course - including the hastily-planned power plant detour, which I'd like to see made a permanent staple of the race if it's at all possible! (I hope they'll go back to the rock-n-roll format of the post-race concert next year, but I will say Kool + the Gang put on a unique and entertaining show.) Spectators - Excellent! Friendly, frequent, inspirational... kept me going at many points in the course at which I otherwise would have slowed down. TNT - RNRAZ attracts a LOT of Team in Training runners. (I'm not one.) Their presence does make a noticeable impact on the event's character. That impact is mostly positive, and I'm glad they regularly attend in such numbers and with such a friendly and celebratory air about them. I consider this "my local race" and I always enjoy it. Can't wait for 2009! | |
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P. J. from Valparaiso, IN
(1/14/2008)
"Wished I would have BQ'd, but..." (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The race was great. All of the negative comments I read prior to registering proved to be unfounded for me. Of course, I had a support team to drop me off at the start, see me on the course and pick me up at the finish. Course was flat as can be, flatter than Chicago. With the mountains in the background, it actually makes it appear that the roads are always going slightly downhill, which is great psychologically. Expo was busy, but easy in and easy out just to get what you really need. I would recommend it to anyone, especially someone from the Midwest who was looking at this race as "Chicago's Revenge." | |
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Kevin Franck from Minneapolis, MN
(1/14/2008)
"Great weather; great course" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 With predictable starting and finish temperatures and a "flat" course, this is a good candidate for a PR. Because the big event is the half marathon, the facilities at the start of the marathon, which starts 50 minutes before the half, are phenomenal (porta-bodies for all). Times are displayed every mile (only one misplaced mile marker #4 or #5) and good music along the way. Crowd support is light but good. I was hoping for a sub-3 time, and finished with a 2:56. | |
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M. G. from Scottsdale, AZ
(1/13/2008)
"Well organized, well staged, flat and fast!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 5th RnR in Phoenix; 45th overall. Elite has worked out all the kinks over the past few years. In the wake of Chicago, they made sure no one went without water or Accelerade; mission accomplished. As others will tell you, the course is flat and fast. Even a last-minute detour to avoid a water main break went without incident; it actually helped break up the last mile and it was still a certified course - completely seamless in execution. Phoenix is spread out with low density. Crowds did gather at many intersections and near bands and cheerleaders. They were always encouraging. All the bands, etc. were on the course as promised and they were always playing. Packet pick-up was easy as usual and the RnR logo merchandise area was doing a brisk business as well as the big expo in general. Official race shirt was so-so, but who really cares. Race-morning transportation was easy with loads of accessible parking. The pre-race village was stocked with many porta-johns, tons of bagels, fruit, coffee, water, first-aid, etc. Bag drop and monitored corrals were easy to find. The race, as always, started on time. Water stops and Accelerade stops were extremely abundant and amply handled by an army of friendly volunteers. I'm not a huge fan of Accelerade, but the salty mixture proved its worth with the mild and sunny weather conditions. Post-race area was easy to maneuver; chip drop and a great selection of food - including Bullet Popsicles - were a hit again. The medals were huge, very artistic and really "substantial" - there was a lot of heft to them. Local media covers the race extensively. This race includes the bigger half marathon - with about 11,000 in the full and 24,000 in the half. They're run on separate courses about an hour apart, and end adjacent to each other - no confusion or traffic issues to deal with. Times are always fast. Sure, Elite is a business, but they do know how to stage a race. When there's a lapse, they fix it and deliver a better product the following year. With these sized fields, you are never running alone, but it all seems to work out just fine. The camaraderie of fellow runners make for a great day out there. There probably will never be big crowds of spectators (Phoenix is not built like Chicago or NYwe are suburbia across the desert) but as runners, we run to run - all the circus is just an extra something to help us keep moving. I'd definitely put this on your winter destination list to run; 65 degrees in mid-January says it all. | |
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D. W. from Springfield, MO
(1/4/2008)
"This marathon is 26.2-mile party." (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 4-5 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've run this marathon every year since it started in 2004 and plan to run it this year as well. Phoenix is a great place to visit in mid-January, especially when you're from the Midwest. The weather is perfect for long-distance running, low humidly and mild temps (except for 2007, when it started at 29 degrees). The course is flat, and there are countless spectators, bands and cheerleaders to inspire you all along the way. The expo offers everything a runner needs with some very pertinent speakers, but does get crowded. The race is well-organized with plenty of water and sports drinks along the way. I guess I don't really have any complaints and feel like this event is a 26.2-mile party. |
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