Seattle Rock n Roll

Race: Seattle Rock n Roll Half Marathon

Runner: Annelie Stockton

Race Date: 06/10/2018

Location: Seattle WA

Results: 1:26:12, 47th overall out of 9,066 runners and 14th female out of 5,359 women

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1629839715

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

Well organized, beautiful course, lots of water and gel along the course

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

SO MANY HILLS!!!! At one point there was a hill so steep almost everyone was walking up it.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

I’m not a fan of them changing the course every year. I ran the Seattle rock and roll half two years ago and remember it being hilly but not as hilly as this year.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

It was a beautiful day, the weather was perfect, and I felt good during this race. Although I didn’t get a PR (off by a minute), I took 4 minutes off my Seattle RnR time from two years ago.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Practice hills! Work on running strong up a hill and then picking up the pace once you reach the top and it flattens out.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Add in more hills to training. There is one final small hill at the finish that I wasn’t prepared for.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The course is a big loop, starting and finishing at the space needle.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Beautiful course- views of the water, city and space needle, Interlaken Park is gorgeous (although this part was hilly, it was very green and gorgeous trees lined the way).

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

This was by far the hardest course I have ever run on. Brutal hills from the start.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Very well organized! Definitely a fun race, awesome atmosphere, and pretty course. Although this race is challenging I will continue to run this race in the future and recommend it if you are ever in Seattle for it!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Lots of good competition. There are multiple corrals so it doesn’t feel too crowded, but because there are so many people you are never really running alone.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

I have family in Seattle so stayed with them before the race. My husband dropped me off at the start line which was easy to get to. If from out of town there are tons of hotels close to the race. I would suggest singing up early for the race because the prices do go up quite a bit!

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Tons of aid stations, water, and gel.

Weather and typical race conditions

Originally the forecast said rain but it turned out to be a great day. The weather this year was perfect, sunny, with a little breeze. Two years ago when I ran, it was cold and rainy. Seattle weather is hit or miss so you never really know how this weekend will be!

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Nothing special- wore shorts and a tank. Since it was sunny, I wish I would have also worn a hat or sunglasses.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes! Lots of places for people to watch.

How’s the Swag?

Cool t-shirt and medal, lots of food and drinks at the finish.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

4 stars- well organized, fun, and a pretty course, however I really did not like all the hills!

Race: Seattle Rock n Roll Half Marathon

Runner: Candice C

Date: 6/10/18

Results: 02:12:13

• OVERALL 3394 / 9036
• DIVISION 189 / 752
• GENDER 1457 / 5338

My time this year was only very slightly faster than my performance for the same race last year.  Differences were that last year’s heart rate/effort was much higher, and this year the hills were harsher (or so I assume).

Strava activity link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1629994091

3 Bests

• Met my goals to finish respectably and without injury (fingers crossed).  I feel like this was a solid stepping-stone to continue toward a full marathon.  I never have a problem with starting races slow and then ramping up.
• Good practice for prep, gear, eating/drinking.  I felt better than I did on my recent 11 and 14 mile long runs.
• I had a fun time.  It set the stage for an overall great day.

3 Not so Great

• I was conservative and didn’t really push and use all that I had for the day. By the end, I felt like I had done an “easy run.”
• The last hill was a disappointment. I thought I was done with hills and had picked up the pace only to get disturbed mentally and I even stopped briefly – twice even.  But it was near the finish line and I couldn’t stand the wimp out with spectators watching, so I salvaged it. Otherwise I handled the hills decently.
• It’s a fun race (you are never really alone in that course) but there are so many people you can barely pass the people you need to pass.  I started in a corral pretty far back in the pack.

Highlights

• It was the perfect set of temperature and conditions for me.  

Lessons Learned

• 6:30 am race start is pretty early.  I was kinda rushed in the morning prep.  Woke up at 5:30 am, had a banana, coffee, and one bite of a KIND bar whose flavor I did not like.  In general, I’m not hydrated enough and this was the case but it didn’t derail me. I would have hated to stop and wait in line for a porta pottie.  I barely went to bed early enough the night before. I forced down some spaghetti for dinner.
• The Nathan water pack/belt worked well.  At mile 7, I started drinking the water (never used the water at stations) and slowly consumed half of a honey stinger energy gel (I like the flavor more than chocolate GU, and maybe next time I’ll do gummies).
• Maybe see if starting in an earlier corral would make a difference.  Or run with pacers. Find a way to be near better runners.
• At the end of the race, I took and drank a chocolate milk – didn’t agree 100% with my stomach.  
• Had a nice breakfast at home after the race.  Took a 3 hour nap and then was totally fine for my opera performance in the early evening.  Afterwards had dinner with friends (below) who say that Asian people do not go running.

Race: Seattle RocknRoll Half Marathon

Runner: Bionda

Date: 6/18/17

Location: Seattle, WA

Results – 2:11:39

3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most

First one, I get to enjoy the run like I’ve never been before. I did all of the things I’ve learned since I start training. Second, I proof it to myself that I can do it and I did it well. Last one, I met so many cool people during my run!

Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

I started to feel a little pain on my 5th mile, which I thought was very early.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race

Nothing weird enough to talk about..:)

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

Even when I was in pain, I enjoy the fuck out of the run. I remember what you said about it. I also know that my body is ready for it.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Keep doing it. Listen to your body, pace well, and enjoy the fuck out of it..:)

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Never give up

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

It was a very pretty course. Arboretum was beautiful! I thing I shed a few tears when I passed the Japanese Garden. There was Japanese drum circle type of band, and they were AMAZING!!!

Difficulty – is it a tough course

No. I don’t think so. I’ve done Seattle HM (in November) and that one was hard

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

It was

Competition – is there a strong field?

I personally didn’t pay attention on that since

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

I don’t think so since I didn’t have to do much as far as registration. It was smooth sailing for me..

Weather and typical race conditions –

Weather was perfect. Not too hot, and the morning was cool.

Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

I don’t think so

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

Yes!

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it

6 stars!

Race: Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon – http://www.runrocknroll.com/seattle/

Runner: Dionne H

Date: 6/18/2016

Location: Seattle, WA

Results – 3:51.25 (PR!)

3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most

-It’s in Seattle. So the logistic is very easy and simple when the race is in your own hometown.

– Known for not a fast course, surprisingly it was not that bad. If you train on hills this course is relatively fun.

– It is a very spectator friendly race. People cheer you on everywhere.

Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

There is no restrooms to change after you are done. They have porta potty but it is tough to change in one of those.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race

There were none really.

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

Given the fact I just came out of an injury recently, to my surprise I set my PR in this race. I studied the course profile more so than before because I was nervous and felt slightly under trained (not enough time). And having your peers, in this case Daisy and Josh, throughout the course gives me boost of energy that help me finish the race strong.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Be patience. I ran conservatively, watched my pace and heart rate in the beginning. Then I really tried to push it for the last 2-3 miles. It paid off.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Bring more gels just in case. I ate well every 45-50 minutes. But the last hour or so I got hungry and ate 2 gels within an hour. I’m glad I brought enough.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

It is pretty overall when you ran along the water in Lake WA Blvd, around the Seward Park and in the beginning of the course when you run the viaduct looking towards the sound.

Difficulty – is it a tough course

As I mentioned it before, as long as you train well this course is not that tough.

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Yes it is a very well organized, except for the changing room area.

Competition – is there a strong field?

Very strong field indeed.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

I decided to register 6 weeks prior to this race and there is still spots available. I don’t think it is a sold out event at all. And if you are from out of town, I overheard some people were saying the hotels were not fully booked either and relatively available around town.

Aid Stations

I noticed there were several of them throughout the course.

Weather and typical race conditions –

Get ready with Seattle weather. I was training for hot weather only to find this year the weather was in high 50s to low 60’s and a slight rain. But it was perfect.

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

Very friendly course

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it

4 out of 5. 5 will be a completely flat course for me ???? with the same weather as this weekend.