Rock N Roll Marathon Series of Races

[hungrygreenhippo]

Has anybody here done the Dallas RNR half? What did you think?

Is there anything specific you're wondering about? I did it in 2010 so my memory is a little hazy, but overall I really enjoyed it and can't think of anything negative to report.

 

[gjramsey]

Has anybody here done the Dallas RNR half? What did you think?

I did it this year. Well organized and very warm. Start time was 8am, and by the finish, it was well into the 80s. Finish line festival was around the Cotton Bowl and very little shade. Course is really nice, with most of the first half gradually uphill, and the last 5 miles slightly downhill (I never noticed the downhill part...). I liked the final mile or so running through Fair Park and around the Cotton Bowl.

I enjoyed it, and will probably do it again, but next Feb I am going to run NOLA RNR.

 

[KristinU]

For those who have done them, do you see a good amount of walk/runners? I am still new to running. I have been training for the TOT next week and ran a local 10k in July. There were very few walk/runners and I felt very intimidated with everyone zipping by me. I found the runners in this area are just that, "runners"!

I have considered doing the DC one next year. VA Beach was too close to school starting for me to make it this year.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, DH and I had Montreal RnR on the calendar for yesterday - it was a great race! So I had this and the age question in my head as the race was going on. As for the earlier age question - deifinitely all ages, but to be honest I think the majority of folks I was were in the 30's - 50's range, but plenty of everybody. And as for the run-walking, I did see a few folks run-walking. The nice thing, though, about these big races is the corralled starts, so if you're in the right corral you're in with folks about the same pace...so nobody zipping by you making you feel discouraged. There certainly are fasties and elites at the RnR races...Montreal had a full and a half (and a 10k and 5k as well) - the full and half started together and shared the same finish line...as I was finishing yesterday right about 2 hours the first full finisher was coming in! So yeah, definitely serious runners in these things! But with the corraled starts, you don't need to worry about being slower than others, there were 18 corrals yesterday...and I certainly never saw the elites back from my spot in corral 10 Thie thing I've found with the small local races is that it seems like the smaller and less known they are, the more fast runners there are.

Go for it with DC! You won't be disappointed!!! Oh, and we were talking to a guy yesterday who did VA beach and he said it was wicked hot and just gross. It was a hot summer everywhere, but I just don't know that I'd sign up for a summer race. As it was, I found it really tough to train well for this September race - just a gross summer!

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Is there anything specific you're wondering about? I did it in 2010 so my memory is a little hazy, but overall I really enjoyed it and can't think of anything negative to report.

I did it this year. Well organized and very warm. Start time was 8am, and by the finish, it was well into the 80s. Finish line festival was around the Cotton Bowl and very little shade. Course is really nice, with most of the first half gradually uphill, and the last 5 miles slightly downhill (I never noticed the downhill part...). I liked the final mile or so running through Fair Park and around the Cotton Bowl.

I enjoyed it, and will probably do it again, but next Feb I am going to run NOLA RNR.

Just what the entertainment on the course was like, goody bag, course, etc. I'm looking to stay more close to home and I'm asking questions about races that friends have done. I'm doing the White Rock half in December, but I don't have anything lined up for next year.

 

[gjramsey]

Just what the entertainment on the course was like, goody bag, course, etc. I'm looking to stay more close to home and I'm asking questions about races that friends have done. I'm doing the White Rock half in December, but I don't have anything lined up for next year.

I thought the entertainment was excellent, seemed like there was a stage every mile or so. Mostly classic rock cover bands that were excellent. A couple that were playing blues music. Goodie bag was mostly coupons and the like..not much really. Looking at the White Rock route, it looks like part of that route is the same as RNR did.

here is a link to my Garmin data for the RNR course, and I imagine it will be close to the same route. Dallas Half

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, DH and I had Montreal RnR on the calendar for yesterday - it was a great race! So I had this and the age question in my head as the race was going on. As for the earlier age question - deifinitely all ages, but to be honest I think the majority of folks I was were in the 30's - 50's range, but plenty of everybody. And as for the run-walking, I did see a few folks run-walking. The nice thing, though, about these big races is the corralled starts, so if you're in the right corral you're in with folks about the same pace...so nobody zipping by you making you feel discouraged. There certainly are fasties and elites at the RnR races...Montreal had a full and a half (and a 10k and 5k as well) - the full and half started together and shared the same finish line...as I was finishing yesterday right about 2 hours the first full finisher was coming in! So yeah, definitely serious runners in these things! But with the corraled starts, you don't need to worry about being slower than others, there were 18 corrals yesterday...and I certainly never saw the elites back from my spot in corral 10 Thie thing I've found with the small local races is that it seems like the smaller and less known they are, the more fast runners there are.

Go for it with DC! You won't be disappointed!!! Oh, and we were talking to a guy yesterday who did VA beach and he said it was wicked hot and just gross. It was a hot summer everywhere, but I just don't know that I'd sign up for a summer race. As it was, I found it really tough to train well for this September race - just a gross summer!

Glad you had a good time. That is one I was thinking about adding to my list. How was the Expo? Were there a lot of vendors? Did you get a lot of freebies? Definitely agree with the small race comment. It was discouraging at first to be around so many speedy runners, but I think ultimately, it helped with the motivation to keep improving a little bit at a time.

 

[johde]

For those who have done them, do you see a good amount of walk/runners? I am still new to running. I have been training for the TOT next week and ran a local 10k in July. There were very few walk/runners and I felt very intimidated with everyone zipping by me. I found the runners in this area are just that, "runners"!

I have considered doing the DC one next year. VA Beach was too close to school starting for me to make it this year.

Around here there are a few run/walkers. That being said, I've never been intimidated in a race. That being said, I've only done one 10K and it was part of a big race. It could have been a function of the 10K distance. I'm sure a lot of walkers either just do 5K's or jump up to half marathons. 10K could be stuck in the middle and attract the more serious runners. One thing I do before entering in a race that's been done before is look at last years results to see if there are people my speed in the race.

From what I understand of the RNR events most of them are fairly walker friendly and attract a fair number of walkers.

 

[KristinU]

Glad you had a good time. That is one I was thinking about adding to my list. How was the Expo? Were there a lot of vendors? Did you get a lot of freebies?

Actually DH and I were both left a little flat by the expo. It was good, but not spectacular. Philly was the best I've been to, followed by DC. The freebies at Montreal were mostly yogurt and juice. A few coupons that we can't redeem here in the states and a handful of clothing and gear vendors. I did get some new Bondibands, which I was after, so I was happy. I was also hoping to pick up some new Experia socks, but the prices were not as good as my local running store, so I passed.

But I would add it to my list anyway - the course was beautiful and flat, there were supportive crowds at a whole lot of points along the route, and Montreal is cool to poke around...I wish we would have planned for an extra day after the race for sure.

Oh, and it really would help if you know some French...that was a bit humbling. I have a friend who is French Canadian and she had advised me before we went up that most everyone is bilingual, but she had said it would be nice if I did the greetings and thank-yous in French. I did learn my little niceties and it was nice and felt appropriate, and true that most people were very nice and spoke in english to us, but all of the signs and everything are completely French. So it was a cool immersion, I just wish I understood more. The race countdown was in French too, which of course I figured out

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Actually DH and I were both left a little flat by the expo. It was good, but not spectacular. Philly was the best I've been to, followed by DC. The freebies at Montreal were mostly yogurt and juice. A few coupons that we can't redeem here in the states and a handful of clothing and gear vendors. I did get some new Bondibands, which I was after, so I was happy. I was also hoping to pick up some new Experia socks, but the prices were not as good as my local running store, so I passed.

But I would add it to my list anyway - the course was beautiful and flat, there were supportive crowds at a whole lot of points along the route, and Montreal is cool to poke around...I wish we would have planned for an extra day after the race for sure.

Oh, and it really would help if you know some French...that was a bit humbling. I have a friend who is French Canadian and she had advised me before we went up that most everyone is bilingual, but she had said it would be nice if I did the greetings and thank-yous in French. I did learn my little niceties and it was nice and felt appropriate, and true that most people were very nice and spoke in english to us, but all of the signs and everything are completely French. So it was a cool immersion, I just wish I understood more. The race countdown was in French too, which of course I figured out

Good point! I don't know any french, but will definitely have to study up. Bummer that the Expo wasn't as nice as most of the RNR events. I never spent so much time at an Expo until the RNR Chicago. So, I am eager to see how others are. Next up, Savannah. Hope that is a good one.

 

[JeffW]

I just finished the Denver full marathon this past weekend, I thought it was really well run. The expo had quite a bit of free stuff, and the course support was great. They only had GU at two places along the full course, so take your own if that isn't enough for you (I needed a few more than that). They also switched to Gatorade from Cytomax, if that is important to you.

The bands were spaced every mile until mile 12, where the full course split off. The bands were a little more spaced out for 13-26, but still good.

They placed people in 16 starting corrals for Denver, with both full and half runners combined. There seemed to be a pretty good mix of all age groups and abilities. The mix was probably 3/4 half to 1/4 full marathon runners.

Overall, I liked it and wouldn't hesitate to sign up again

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I just finished the Denver full marathon this past weekend, I thought it was really well run. The expo had quite a bit of free stuff, and the course support was great. They only had GU at two places along the full course, so take your own if that isn't enough for you (I needed a few more than that). They also switched to Gatorade from Cytomax, if that is important to you.

The bands were spaced every mile until mile 12, where the full course split off. The bands were a little more spaced out for 13-26, but still good.

They placed people in 16 starting corrals for Denver, with both full and half runners combined. There seemed to be a pretty good mix of all age groups and abilities. The mix was probably 3/4 half to 1/4 full marathon runners.

Overall, I liked it and wouldn't hesitate to sign up again

I am definitely doing this one next year with friends in Denver. So relived to hear that it was a good race, and so happy that they used Cytomax. I am a big fan of that and Endurox R4. But, only one race has ever had it - the Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon. I am assuming that more people do the Half, so once they are done, the course gets a bit quiet?

 

[hungrygreenhippo]

I thought the entertainment was excellent, seemed like there was a stage every mile or so. Mostly classic rock cover bands that were excellent. A couple that were playing blues music. Goodie bag was mostly coupons and the like..not much really. Looking at the White Rock route, it looks like part of that route is the same as RNR did.

here is a link to my Garmin data for the RNR course, and I imagine it will be close to the same route. Dallas Half

I'm glad gjramsey is able to tell you more about the course and entertainment at Dallas. This is more a generalization of all RNR races, than Dallas specifically, but as far as the goody bag, there's generally some type of GU product inside. Depending on the location-specific sponsor, I've also gotten a bag of chips or strangely enough a packet of tuna. I saw that someone else posted the Expo in Montreal wasn't that great so it probably depends on the location, but if you have the time to spend at the Expo there are usually some pretty good freebies, especially if you have no shame like me and hit up the same booths a couple of times.

 

[MightyDuck001]

Thanks for the info! I will probably do the DC one in March.

I'm thinking about doing the DC one--if I had the money on hand right now, I'd probably register for it today, not least of the reasons being I live right by the course so easiest transportation ever! Looking at the course, it's actually some of my regular running route...

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

Doing the RnR NYC 10k in a few weeks. I've heard some bad stories but Prospect Park should be a beautiful run this time of year and the medal is cute.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards. Please excuse the typos.

 

[JeffW]

I am definitely doing this one next year with friends in Denver. So relived to hear that it was a good race, and so happy that they used Cytomax. I am a big fan of that and Endurox R4. But, only one race has ever had it - the Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon. I am assuming that more people do the Half, so once they are done, the course gets a bit quiet?

Unfortunately, you read that backwards. They went to Gatorade this year. It had been Cytomax in previous years, which I also prefer.

Based on the finishing numbers, it looks like this year's race was 80% half/20% full. Around mile 12, where the two courses split, it felt really strange as the big group I was running with went right to finish the half, and only 4 of us went left for the second half of our run. It felt kind of quiet without all of the extra foot steps. Even with fewer people in the full, the course support and fans cheering people on were great.

After a marathon at 5280 ft., I'm looking forward to trying one out at sea level in Orlando.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Unfortunately, you read that backwards. They went to Gatorade this year. It had been Cytomax in previous years, which I also prefer.

Based on the finishing numbers, it looks like this year's race was 80% half/20% full. Around mile 12, where the two courses split, it felt really strange as the big group I was running with went right to finish the half, and only 4 of us went left for the second half of our run. It felt kind of quiet without all of the extra foot steps. Even with fewer people in the full, the course support and fans cheering people on were great.

After a marathon at 5280 ft., I'm looking forward to trying one out at sea level in Orlando.

Bummer. Thanks for clarifying that. Gatorade seems to be everywhere these days. Glad the course support was still great when all the Half Marathon runners went on their way to the finish line and all the Marathoners had the course to themselves. Orlando will be a vacation after that endurance challenge!

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

I just did the inaugural Montreal RnR and it was not that different than the non-RnR Montreal races. The expo was not over the top and the entertainment was very stretched out and rather spotty. All in all I had a great time but was glad it was local for me. After hearing all the great stories I was hoping for more, but took my free beer as a consolation prize. I will run again and be optimistic that it will be better next year.

 

[KristinU]

I just did the inaugural Montreal RnR and it was not that different than the non-RnR Montreal races. The expo was not over the top and the entertainment was very stretched out and rather spotty. All in all I had a great time but was glad it was local for me. After hearing all the great stories I was hoping for more, but took my free beer as a consolation prize. I will run again and be optimistic that it will be better next year.

Good to know that the non RnR races are similar, thanks! DH and I really enjoyed the route and Montreal itself, so I may look for another race at maybe a different time of year for variety...now that we have our fancy little passport cards we might as well use them!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Is anyone looking into getting the unlimited Tour Pass? It seems like a really good deal if you do at least five races. I won't be able to do the Arizona race which I am a bit annoyed with. The Tinkerbell date change has created a lot of issues with it being so close to Marathon weekend, but I really wish it was possible to be in two races the same day! Maybe 2014.

 

[minniebeth]

Unlimited tour pass? Oh dear... Better keep that info. from DH lol. He just signed up for Las Vegas in December with friends. He said it will be just a training run for the Goofy but I told him he can run 13.1 miles at home too ya know.
It's great to read about people's experiences here.