Latest reviews by Allison Collister

(2015)
""Okay" among the Rock 'n' Roll race series"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

Registration:
Registration for Rock ‘n’ Roll series races is easy through their Competitor brand site. If you a continuous participants of these races, your registration information will be saved which makes it easy to register for additional races. The pricing for Rock ‘n’ Roll races can get very steep and some sell out, so make sure you register early to get a good price and a registration spot. Follow the race on social media for reminders about price increases. Or if you plan on doing multiple races in their series, check out the Tour Pass – it lessens the cost per race. San Antonio was also a Remix Challenge city, but the run on Saturday was a 10k (not the usual 5k). I opted not to run the 10k in 2015 and this review is only in reference to my experience at the half marathon.

Expo:
As usual, The Rock ‘n’ Roll expo was awesome. They really know how to target runners and get your money! Rock ‘n’ Roll does a great job of immediately dumping you into their branded merchandise area. I really liked the design this year and picked up a tank top.

Race Day:
I got the VIP package this year, and I highly recommend it. The private gear bag check made bag check such a cinch. I had breakfast pre-race and then post-race food in the tent, you could sign up for 10-minute massages (there was a long wait though), and have sectioned off access to the headliner concert. The VIP area also had private restrooms with adequate hand washing station – a luxury at these types of events! Compared to Rock ‘n’ Roll races in other cities, I though the corral management was just fine. I didn’t have to wait too long to start and the course wasn’t as crowded as say Las Vegas.

Course:
The course took us past the Alamo, Brackenridge Park, the San Antonio Zoo, and the Alamo Stadium within the first 6 miles. We wrapped through an industrial part of town and ended outside of the Alamodome. The course was challenging between miles 5 and 6.5 with various steep hills, but outside of that was fairly flat or had minimal inclines.

Post-Race:
While the post-race area was outside of the Alamodome, I wouldn’t have known. The area was set off to the side it just seemed like any old other parking lot in any old city. If you are hoping to really get a feel of the Alamodome, then this race isn’t your solution.

Overall:
I didn’t find that San Antonio stood out among the Rock ‘n’ Roll races that I’ve done in other cities.

More from my experience: http://racesandrescues.com/race-report-rock-n-roll-san-antonio-half-marathon/

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(2015)
"Best way to experience the Strip!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

Not much changed between 2014 and 2015, so below is a list of pros and cons for this race:

Pros:
• Online registration is easy.
• Rock ‘n’ Roll expos can’t be beat (take my money!)
• Packet pickup is efficient and well-staffed
• It’s the only event that shuts down the strip, and is the best way to view the entire strip
• Getting to see a Grammy-winning performance before a race (at no additional cost above your registration fees)
• The Remix Challenge gives you the opportunity to earn more bling
• It’s one of the largest races in the series
• Plenty of hotel options with shuttle service to the race
• Race management handles a very large number of participants well

Cons:
• Releasing the corrals closer together (compared to 2014) caused a huge backup of runners on the course. I suggest Rock ‘n’ Roll consider capping the number of participants for this race at a lower number
• Having the headliner before the race causes a lot of standing around before racing
• Through no fault of the race organizers, the weather can be dicey in November

For more information on my experience at this race, read http://racesandrescues.com/race-report-rock-n-roll-las-vegas-half-marathon-2015/

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(2015)
"Course change from 2014"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This was my second year returning to the Las Vegas Remix Challenge, which consists of the 5k on Saturday and the half marathon or marathon on Sunday. If you do the Remix Challenge, you get 3 medals. I was already doing the half marathon - might as well get some extra medals while I'm there!

The Rock n Roll expos are my favorite, hands down. It's a runner's paradise and I could (and sometimes do!) find way too many goodies to purchase!

The location was different in 2015 than it was in 2014, which I was glad to see because the 2014 course was terrible. There is now an open lot next to the SLS that held the race start and finish. My cab driver informed me this was a new space that held concerts throughout the year. The best part of this permanent event space is having actual bathrooms to use! WOO HOO! So much better than a port a potty!

The corrals for the 5k also go faster than the half marathon, since there are fewer people running on Saturday than there are on Sunday. The race course still wasn’t very scenic. If you've heard the Strip is shut down for this event, it is - but that is Sunday night's half marathon and marathon, not the 5k on Saturday. The course took us out of the parking lot and did an out and back on Sammy Davis Jr. Drive. Then when we returned to the event lot, we had to go back and forth several times to reach the distance. Having to snake back and forth so many times seemed really odd and was fairly annoying. I wonder if next year they can extend the distance on Sammy Davis Jr. Drive so we don’t have to spend so much time doubling back and forth in the event lot.

I would only recommend the 5k to someone participating in the Remix Challenge, or someone there to support another Sunday racer.

You can read more about my personal experience here: http://racesandrescues.com/race-report-rock-n-roll-las-vegas-5k-2/

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(2015)
"Rock On, Vegas!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

I ran the Rock n Roll Las Vegas in 2014. It was the first year they offered the Remix Challenge, which involved a 5K on Saturday night and the half marathon and marathon on Sunday. If you do the Remix Challenge, you get 3 medals. I’ll admit that I’m sometimes encouraged (blinded?) by the bling, so I was swayed to do both races.

Rock n Roll race expos are always my favorite, and my wallet’s least favorite! There are always great vendors and so much fun stuff to buy. The expo was held at the Convention Center. I stayed at a race hotel that provided transportation to the start line and was in reasonable walking distance from the finish line. I highly recommend staying at a race hotel for the convenience and support they offer participants.

The headliner was Macklemore, and he performed before the race started. Then the race began with elite runners and down. In all, I waited 75 minutes from the first corral until my corral was released (and I’m not a walker!). I wasn’t really sure why it was called Strip At Night because it scheduled to start at 4 pm. But since I didn’t even cross the start line until 5:45 pm, the sun had already set and I then understood the moniker.

The course started and ended along the strip, where race support was the best. There were some – ahem – colorful characters that made their way close to the course, which made it really fun to interact with them. Miles 7, 8, 9 took us off the strip and down some dark side streets. In all my visit to Vegas, I had never been to this part of the city – and let’s just say, it was an encouraging to keep up your pace to get outta there. But then you deposited back in Downtown Las Vegas and made your way back down the strip. The course was as flat as could be. There were bands along the course, but I found them difficult to hear during this race.

Overall, the expo, the infectious and supportive crowd, the course, and the bling will keep me coming back!

More from my experience: http://racesandrescues.com/race-report-rock-n-roll-las-vegas-half-marathon/
Separate review on the 5k here: http://www.bibrave.com/races/rock-n-roll-las-vegas/2068#.VN0OCPnF_Vo

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(2015)
"My first time rocking RnRPDX"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

I was so excited for RnRPDX! I flew from Dallas, TX to Portland, OR for this race plus a post-race runcation.

Registration:
Registration for Rock ‘n’ Roll series races is easy through their Competitor brand site. If you a continuous participants of these races, your registration information will be saved which makes it easy to register for additional races. The pricing for Rock ‘n’ Roll races can get very steep and some sell out, so make sure you register early to get a good price and a registration spot. Follow the race on social media for reminders about price increases. Or if you plan on doing multiple races in their series, check out the Tour Pass – it lessens the cost per race.

Expo:
I flew in Saturday morning and headed straight to the expo for packet pickup. Rock ‘n’ Roll emails you a confirmation sheet a week or so prior to the race- make sure you print it, fill it out, and bring it with you. Having the confirmation sheet and your license makes packet pickup a breeze. If you forget your confirmation sheet, you can look up your bib number at the expo and still move to packet pickup; it’s just a few minutes slower than bringing your confirmation sheet with you.

As usual, The Rock ‘n’ Roll expo was awesome. They really know how to target runners and get your money! Rock ‘n’ Roll does a great job of immediately dumping you into their branded merchandise area. Since it was the novelty of an out of state race, I went a bit nuts on buying apparel with the RnRPDX branding. But it was too cute to resist! I also found several other goodies I needed, and walked away with a lighter wallet than I came with (#sorrynotsorry!)

Race Day:
Since I was coming from out of state, I chose to stay at a race hotel. The best part was that it was less than half a mile from the start and finish line, so we very easily walked to the race. It saved us both time and the hassle of parking. The start line and post-race area were at the Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, which was beautiful! Since we were so close to the start line, I opted not to do gear check for this race.

There were several porta potties near the start area so lines weren’t too unmanageable. The corrals were released about every 3 minutes, and it felt like they moved along pretty quickly. The announcers did a great job of keeping corrals pumped while waiting to be released.

Course:
The course rocked! You got to see so much of Portland! We started downtown near the waterfront, crossed the Broadway Bridge, ran through east Portland and beautiful neighborhoods (Irvington, Kerns and Buckman), through stunning Laurelhurst Park, down Hawthorne and across the Hawthorne Bridge to finish downtown near the waterfront. My favorite parts of the course were running through the different neighborhoods and gorgeous Laurelhurst Park. There were more spectators along this course than other half marathons I’ve done. I loved that there were the specific cheer sections with local groups, but also a lot of residents chose to be outside their homes and businesses during the race to cheer. It felt like there was great community support for this race.

While the course was beautiful, it was very hilly. My Garmin recorded 700 feet of elevation climb over the length of the course, but it felt like much more than that! I wish RnR would put the elevation map on their website before the races so runners could physically and mentally prepare for the climbs. I felt there was an adequate amount of aid stations, but some of them got a little weak on the amount of beverages in their cups. I had to start grabbing 2-3 cups to get enough water.

Prior to the race, RnR emailed participants about the need for implementing a bus box to accommodate local bus transit. I had never heard of this system, and really appreciated that they emailed us prior to the event to educate and forewarn racers. If I was diverted as part of a bus box, I didn’t even notice. I’m hoping that’s a nod to their implementation of this system.

Unfortunately this course lacked a lot of good entertainment along course. I only recall enjoying 2-3 of the performers, with my favorite being the Unit Souzou Japanese drumming band near mile 5. I still regret not stopping to get a video of them – they were awesome! Overall, I wish there had been more course entertainment to live up to the Rock ‘n’ Roll series name.

You crossed the finish line on the infamous PDX airport carpet, which has its own thing going for it. I had no clue a carpet could be so appealing, but check it for yourself and let me know if you can explain its mystique.

Post-Race:
I was pretty exhausted after this race from the previously mentioned hills. I was given my medal by a nice volunteer, but I then felt pretty rushed through the finisher’s chute. RnR always has a lot of photographers taking your photos (to try to sell them to you post-race). By the time you’re handed your medal, tried to eek out a sweaty smile for the photographers, grabbed your water, Gatorade and other assorted snacks they shove in your hands, you end up carrying an arm load of stuff and feel pushed out of the finisher’s zone so they can keep the flow moving. I understand the logistical need of this for such a large race, but this race in particular felt more rushed to me than others. There also weren’t any bananas. I had been craving a banana and really looking forward to it, and I was very surprised to see this staple post-race fuel not available!

The entertainment stage was set up next to the waterfront and was done very nicely. Portugal the Man was the headliner for this race. I wasn’t previously familiar with this artist before discovering he was the headliner, but his show was pretty good. Then the Hit Machine came on afterwards – and dare I say – they were more rocking than the headliner! Several racers even got up on stage to dance their hearts out with the band. I wondered how they had the energy to shake it after just completing a half marathon – but more power to them! I had so much fun and stayed at this post-race until the very end.

Overall:
I really enjoyed my first Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland! We stayed the rest of the week to enjoy a post-race vacation and got to enjoy even more of this fun city. I will definitely be back for RnRPDX!

Even more about this race and experience: http://racesandrescues.com/race-report-portland-rock-n-roll-half-marathon/

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