Latest reviews by Bonnie
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I have to admit, when a friend invited me to join her on this event, I was a little aprehensive. I am not a big obsticle course fan, but this race advertises itself to be all abilites friendly so I jumped in.
The was it sets up is simple. You are given a map at the start with the direction to your first station somewhere in Downtown Vancouver. This might be my only big complaint about the race in general, to get the map one person from your team had to get in a circle and they threw the maps in the air. It caused for a little too much chaos (and me taking an elbow in the head)
There are 15 stations in all and you have two hours to get to as many of them as you can. At each station there was a physical and mental challenge you had to complete before you had been told which station was next to go to. Because my friend and I agreed to walk the whole thing for both of our sakes, we managed 8 of them. Zero regrets in not making them all, the one thing we figured out quickly is this is an event you make your own.
The stations varried. Our faviorte station by far was the mini-obsticle course and it wins based on the volunteers. The group who ran this station had been so energetic and supportive, they really did want to see you get over the walls, walk the balance beams, and do everything involved. Even if you didnt think you could (I was not sure I could handle the walls and they had been small).
Our least favorite had been the apple eating. You had to eat an apple to its core without your hands, which is impossible when you think I have jaw problems and I don't even remember the last time I tried a whole apple. But if you knew you could not make it (and this one we both knew we couldn't do) you just stayed at that location for five mins.
It does look like there might of been a log jam at a couple spots (we did not make rock climbing but it looks like it was jammed up) so this does take some patience.
As your two hours winds down, you return to the finish where you are given a medal and a chance to win some great door prizes. There was a lot of door prize options all away down to past years race shirts so there was a good chance of winning something for your efforts.
I really did enjoy this event a lot. It is small, very family friendly, and it goes to benefit a local food bank. I think it was a great way to push outside my comfort zone without getting in over my head.
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I never ran a Rock'N Roll event before. I was a doubter. I didn't get why everyone loved their races so much and why everyone said they had been the top of the mountian.
I doubt no more.
First the expo. The expo was well organized, you go from picking up your number, to picking up your gear bag and shirt to the Brooks store (keep your pocket book at bay) and then it goes into the indviudal booths for vendors. I was in and out quickly.
For as big as the event is, I was expecting the start line to be pure chaos and it was not. The corrals had been marked perfectly and they literally split the corrals into groups of two and after a slight delay thanks to our mass transit system we had been off.
They switched the course this year and the first part of the course is pretty challenging with a few climbing hills after the mile 3 mark. But this by a far margin is one of the most scenic events in Portland as it takes you through the historic Irvington district and down to Hawthrone Blvd.
The aid stations had been well manned and well spaced out. The cheer stations had been awesome and the local cheerleaders had been really into it. There was not as much music as I expected, which in some ways is fine because I have my own music and I tend to be a bit in my own zone.
The finish line flowed beautiful, first you had been greeted by the famous PDX carpet, and then you got your water, your medal and had a chance to grab some food and they had photographers on stand by to take a finishers photo if you wanted. (Be warned, its 24.95 to download one of them) then you could enjoy the expo and the post race concert.
I see why the Rock N Roll series is the top of the mountian. I will probably be back, as the it truly lives up to the hupe of being a highlight race.
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2015 was the first year for the event. It defiantly had its share of first year growing pains, including the fact the course ended up changing a couple times as they had been needing to work the race with the spring football game at University of Oregon.
It is a no frills event that is meant to raise funds for Girls on the Run of Lane County and to give runners a more all-ages, all-abilities, smaller feel event. It is a different course then most events in Eugene and takes you through the Springfield farm lands.
The biggest growing pain was the mile markers, it seems all the mile markers had been totally off (most half marathons averaged 13.3 to 13.5). A few people complained about lack of sign marking and volunteers on the course, but I think that comes with the fact this is a first year race and they are figuring it out. At at the back of the pack, I think we only had two questions on the course.
The course was flat, and supported by some of the most energetic volunteers I have ever seen. They had been so excited to help the racers and encourage them. The water stops had everything you need including Stingers.
This was also the first race I have ever seen where the elites took the time to cheer on the back of the packers, everyone as out their encouraging each other which made the two first timers I was pacing feel so good about getting out there and running.
Also the race director was seen frequently out on the course working water stops, cheering on runners and just making sure it was a good environment for everyone. He also took the time to talk to a lot of runners just to see how he could improve. He was focused on improving.
I will be back, the race director is passionate about improving and making it all abilities friendly which makes this a very special event.
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Lets just be blunt
Be prepared for hills, and be prepared to be challenged.
I ran the SF Marathon on a really bad training cycle. It was one of those things no matter what happened I was not running at my best. But it was also an experience of a life time and one I will never forget.
Pros-
Scenery- I am sorry, this is going to be the course that I will judge all other courses against. Running up through Baker Beach, the Golden Gate Bridge, and for as long as you are in in Golden Gate Park Is it perfect? No, to be blunt the tenderloin area was boring but that was about 1 percent of it,
Free race photos: Enough said. This is the only race I have ever ran that offers free quality race photos.
Swag: The long sleeve shirt is top quality and the medal is a stand out. It does not seem gody, its a true classic medal.
Expo: The expo is well organized and you are not waiting for anything. The booths sold just what runners needed as well which is nice
The Bridge: The only race that can take the road bed of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Challenge Medals: They offer so many challenges that if you run multiple events with them or in the area you will end up with another medal
Cons:
Hydration: For back of the packers running the marathon, there was an issue this year about Nunn running out which they said they would address.
Hills: Okay, so this could be a pro to, but the course is very challenging at points with its hills. It lives up to its name of being one of the top 15 toughest in the world.
I will be back, it was an amazing experience that I will never forget.
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Run Like a Girl is a fundraiser for Second Step Housing. It is a small family friendly race that allows for all ages and abilities.
This takes a different course then the ones Vancouver normally takes. You go through the historic reserve at Fort Vancouver and through the waterfront and the industrial area. The only really boring part that does not have some scenery is right before you turn around and head back.
Its a challenging but fun course with a great t-shirt that raises funds for a great cause. The volunteers all care about giving you the best experience.