Here is the race recap for the Rock-n-Roll Half Marthon in Tempe
I registered online. This one also required proof of time in order to get into the appropriate corral, although at the Expo all you had to do was go to the change area and ask to be put into any corral you wanted, no questions. I gave them an expected finish time of 1:45:00. They put me in corral 3 based on a 1:49:00 expected finish time, and I moved up to corral 2.
I am still only signing up for these races three months in advance. I do not want to schedule too many of them and too far in advance in case I get injured or otherwise have some issue. I also do not want to wait too long to register because the fee goes up and the hotels book up. So, three months at a time is what I am working with at the moment.
Fee:
$107.48 total
The Expo:
This expo was in at the Phoenix Convention Center. The South Convention Center. It apparently is the older on that they still use, but built a newer one right next to the older one... and it makes a difference. There were multiple people walking around, confused, in circles trying to find the expo. I had a bit more time for this one, so I milled around and looked at all of the exhibits. Tried all of the samples of protein bars and cardboard cheese, etc... This one was set up in such a way that you were forced through areas. You had to get your bib and bag in one area and then move into the next area to get your shirt, etc... It would be difficult to forget something like I have in expos past.
I found it interesting that the Expo was in Phoenix and the race in Tempe, but I guess Tempe is basically a college town at The University of Arizona and there is not likely a large convention center there, also I think the marathon was held in Phoenix. The shirt also mentions Scottsdale, and I assume that is because the race started in Tempe and ran through Scottsdale before heading back to Tempe.
Shirt:
The shirt was a wicking, what they call a tech shirt. I had ordered an XL, and simply and easily swapped it for a L... my "new" size.
Race Day:
Sunday
Race Start Time:
7:50 am, which I thought was a bit odd -- but we did not get started until 8:14 am
Course Map:
The course was super well marked and there was plenty of police presence and traffic control. This was the most organized race so far from the actual racing standpoint. I did not have to think at all about where I was going and what I needed to do. Just try to breathe and keep one foot moving in front of the other.
Race Type:
This was all road race. The streets were cleared and policed and clearly marked... see the previous comment. There were two bridges that we crossed over a river coming and going, and I seem to remember running underneath a road, that is a road went over the course. The only real scenic area was at mile 9. There was a big incline up a mountain, and it was nice and pretty, then to the turn-around and back down the same mountain. Actually, now that I think of it, the rest of the race from there had a nice view. Up to that point, though it was all just the road.
Accommodations:
It was a bit difficult to find a place to stay near the start and near the finish. I ended up 1.3 miles from the start and 2.something from the finish. I kinda limped back to the studio (garage) apartment, but it was OK. My mom flew over and rode along side of me, so she walked back with me... man does she walk too fast though.
Transportation:
I saw no transportation, other than regular transit busses and ride share (Uber/Lyft). Since I got the AirBNB, I walked. Most everybody was riding a bike or a scooter or a skateboard through the ASU campus. I had to take an Uber from the airport to Phoenix to pick up my race packet and then another Uber to get to the room in Tempe.
Weather:
The weather was great. It was forecast to rain, but was simply overcast. It was about 55 F and rose a bit, but I was finished before 10:00am. I do remember being cold as I walked back to the room, but while racing the temp was really nice. Not hot, not cold.
There were 20 corrals for this race. I was in corral 2, but my pacer was in corral1, so I guess I should have moved myself up to corral 1. 10,278 finishers in this half marathon and there was a 10 that started with us, so there were LOTS of people. The start was a wave start. Corral 1 went off and we waited 1 minute 14 secs before we went off. I watched my pacer disappear before I started. (The good part was, I caught him later :) ). It was cool at the start, but not bad at all. The corrals got a bit congested as people began to prepare to start, but it was fairly well controlled.
Race:
The course was all pavement. All roads. No traffic, no confusion on where to go. There was one area where the 10k split from the marathon, but it was early and clearly marked and people with megaphones guiding traffic, so no confusion. The course was mostly flat. There were some minor elevations as you would go up a bridge and then the resultant descent, but pretty flat until mile 9. Mile 9 was a steep ascent. Several of the racers were huffing and puffing and grunting and complaining (I had no music this time). They hated this hill. I did not care for it either. It was a mile long ascent and steep. I checked my time and realized I was maintaining a sub 8 minute mile even uphill, so I did not complain. Then the turn-around and the rest of the race was primarily down hill.
Plenty of water and Gatorade. I did not see any food or other drinks. The only other thing I saw was Gukos Energy packs just before the uphill at mile 9. I drank one and am happy I did. There may have been other stuff, but I don't always see everything, and the things I do see are not always clear to me at the time.
Scenery:
Most of the race looked like this.
Some looked like this:
Away from the course a bit and certain areas we could see from the course looked like this:
Race Entertainment:
As I mentioned, I did not have any music for this race. When I went to put on my earbuds and get my music all ready, they would not turn on. Just dead. Charged and ready, but nothing. I do not know why, but they will simply not turn on. I am currently trying to find out from Bose what is the deal. So, since I had no music I was able to hear all of the bands and chatter. There were multiple bands along the way playing all sorts of music. Some better than others.
Finish:
The finish was back in Tempe and a welcomed site. I happened to see my pacer just in front of me when we made the turn at the top of the mountain, so I was determined to catch him, and I did. I don't usually have enough energy left to "kick" at the end, but I wanted to catch him. There was a hoard of people at the finish. Bands were playing, food and drinks were being passed out, medals, a DJ was announcing finishers. It was a party. There was a long walk past the finish leading everyone out of the racing area and it was lined with water stations and chocolate milk and protein bars and bananas, etc... The photographer were all set up along there too. Once you left the racing area there were tents set up to sell all sorts of products, beer tents, engraving tents (presumably to engrave your finisher's medal). It was a big party. I had a hard time finding my mom. I had to walk several flights of stairs with my water, my banana, my chocolate milk, my protein bar, and my Gatorade in my hands. (I tried to take one of each). Once I got up stairs, I was able to locate her, which meant I had to walk down several flights of stairs to get to her... then we walked a couple miles back to the room. I was ready for a nap.
Bling:
Valerie was not impressed.
Misc:
This race was clearly the most organized with regard to the on the road racing. Everything was marked clearly and there was plenty of police presence. They had water stations on both sides of the course which was nice. Some runners get their drink and stop in front of you right at the water station and clog up the entire area. It was nice to be able to go to either side depending on which lane was smoothest. Plenty of spectators and cheering and a large contingent at the finish line. As I mentioned, the finish and outside the race area was one big party. It was bigger than the expo and in a larger space. I am imagining that many of the racers and supporters stayed around there and parited all day. I walked back to the room.
I also mentioned that my earbuds were not working. I heard some interesting things that I have not heard before. At mile 8 there was a guy who looked to be about mid twenties. He kept yelping, over and over again. "Hooow!!", "Whoop!!!!", "Whooo!!"... I counted about nine times before I had to pick up the pace and get outside of earshot. I don't know if he had turrets syndrome or if he was just excitable or what... all I kept thinking was, "This must be what the fox says." And then, of course, I could not stop singing, "fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow!" I had to get away from that ancient mystery... quickly.
There were glitches with the results and runner tracking system. Many of these races have a runner tracking system that allows you to receive a text when your racer crossed certain points in the race. These texts did go out, but there were no times associated with these texts. They apologized for the glitch, but it was still a glitch. The race results were not readily available after the race. I was checking on line in the airport about 4-5 hours later and they were still not available. When I landed in Tampa, the results were up. Some glitch that caused some delay. Not sure what or why, but they are up now.
I was pretty pleased with my performance. I caught my pacer who was 1'14" ahead of me, so I would have gotten a PR if I started with him and stayed with him the whole race, but I was about a minute and a half faster than that!! YAY!! I was happy with the race, maybe because I had a good time, maybe because the race part was better organized, maybe because I could breathe. I felt really good, and I believe I can run faster. I tried to conserve energy throughout the race, and I think I could have pushed harder. Next race is New Orleans Feb 5. It is also one of the Rock-n-Roll series, so I am expecting something similar to this one. Wish me luck.
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