I ran this one before 2020 so I can't speak for later years. But I can say it was pretty fun. It took place around the Museum of Flight on a hot summer day. Use sunblock and shorts. I had to pour water on my head because of the heat. Friendly people throughout the race. 5k was a day before and marathon next one. I was expecting a little more of a celebration afterwards though. The Expo was great. Bigger than Hot Chocolate's good old years. I found many interesting things and vendors. Take your time. It took the day before in the theater or event spot in the Seahawks Stadium. There was a line before it was opened. It was worth it. read more

This is a pretty nice race. I've run a lot of Rock N Roll races (Nashville was my favorite) but this was okay. Registration was easy but looking up your bib on line was way harder with this race than with others. Need to work on that user interface. The expo was fairly large but they didn't have vendors selling Gu, which is the brand of goo I use when running. That's the first expo I've ever been to where I can't find some! Getting to the start of the race was pretty easy. From the monorail it wasn't well marked and there weren't a lot of volunteers around directing people but by following the crowd I was able to get to my corral. Start was well organized and smooth. Once the race started, it was okay. The course is narrow in some places, only one car lane wide and that caused some bottlenecks. Additionally, some of the water stations didn't have any water or volunteers left by the time I got there (I was running slower than normal). There was not much crowd support along the course and the hills were obscene! Oh my gosh, that one short, steep hill at mile 9.5 almost killed my friend. Also, I ran the half and counted only four musical acts, one of which was a DJ. Most Rock N Roll races do better with the music. Finish line was fairly well managed, but again, not much signage or direction to family reunion area. Race day was beautiful so I can't complain too much. Other races are better organized and have more course support (and fewer hills) but I am not holding that against the Seattle race. Overall, it was pretty fun. read more

Rock n Roll Seattle Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Really underwhelming expo. I feel like once you been to one Rock N Roll expo, you would have been to most. It feels like most vendors want your info for a freebie and gets pointless when you don't want a car insurance estimate or to share your info with an agency sponsoring a "free vacation" / timeshare. I have been to larger marathon expos (LA / Chicago) and liked their expo more. (+) for organization of the race (-) disappointing expo experience (-) often always the wrong corral listed than "requested" read more

Oh RnR Seattle I just can't quit you, with your majestic mountains and crisp clean fresh air you make running back home in smog filled LA seem so lackluster. I chose to run Seattle again this year with my tour pass because it's pretty much a no brainer as far as convenience is concerned. A hop skip and a jump from Los Angeles, super easy expo to attend on your way downtown from SeaTac and always organized. I also love the VIP access to the expo ahead of all others when you have a TourPass. I keep kicking myself for not doing Portland so I can have the Pacific Peaks medal but this year we were in San Fran running Bay to Breakers so I tossed out the idea, but hey! Third times a charm I think 2015 I'll hit both. I was not disappointed in anyway with this race. It remains a 5 star for me although I didn't PR on the course this time around, which was solely on my part. I loved the bands and cheerleaders, plenty of water and Gatorade stations (although I don't use them), excellent pacers, amazing runners. What's not to love?!?! I can't find a single thing. I highly recommend this race. It's one of the most excellent ways to celebrate the first day of summer and I love that it's on a Saturday (ummm hello! RnR must be rollin in the dough to afford Saturday street closures ;) Run it! If you're disappointed find me after and I'll buy you a few rounds. read more

The Seattle Rock n Roll is such a great experience. This was my first half marathon and it was great. I was most impressed by the community. We are running through people's neighborhoods whose streets are closed for the race and they are so supportive cheering us on from their houses, giving us high fives on the street, playing music for us from their own speakers, and some even handing out food and beverages. Local cheer team was encouraging during The King of the Hill. Plenty of water stations. 4 stars because I thought there was going to be more live music along the course. The bands and artists that were there though were fantastic! read more

Rock n Roll Seattle Marathon - Starting line - Races & Competitions Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Beware of cancellation policy. I was scheduled to run in 2020 and they cancelled without refund. Now I have to either run this labor day weekend (original was in June) or else I lose my money. No option to defer. read more

Did this one yesterday...new favorite! Expo - yes, somewhat challenging to find if you aren't familiar with the city. But once in...excellent! Spacious and good energy. Music was motivating and not deafening. Course - this is my new favorite city for RnR Half event. The course was iconic - Space Needle! And we got a text the day afternoon before saying "Surprise" at the start line. The surprise was: Boom! Space Needle as starter gun! National Anthem - acoustic version. I apologize, I have to get the names because they deserve a shout out. Brilliant! There's also a large Armed Forces presence here and it was wonderful to see full respect. Back to the course- beautiful start through DT Seattle, headed out to a loop and then off to Lake Washington. This part blew me away. (This is a section where the full and half course run along side each other) Out on the lake, you see a barge with a giant RUN HAPPY on it. Then the green-canopied path gets more solemn - lined with photo after photo as you are running by - I'm realizing - of servicemen and women, killed in the line of duty. Just as it sinks in, a girl and guy ahead of me have swerved over to one of the photos and I hear... "Is it really him?" And she sees the photo and she bends at the waist. She's sobbing but then she stands up and you can see that she is so happy he's being honored. After the photos, there were individuals holding flags - one hundred in all! I nearly took a digger looking at the flags (foot caught one of those giant reflectors - gotta watch those!) It continues to prove a great course as you run the expressway. I seldom like running tunnels, but these were so cool. Literally and fig. (Mind you, not complaining about sun in Seattle!) Whoa! Already mile 10 and there's Safeco Field. Takes you to 99 and more waterfront. The Great Wheel etc. Finish - best finish in a long time!! Medal-handers actually congratulating runners and smiling. Long exit so you can leisurely acquire bevs and snacks. Spill out finally into International Fountain, with Space Needle in the distance. Restrooms in the Armory v potties. Perfect! read more

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My 17th halfie and my 6th RNR race event. I had taken a trip to Seattle earlier this year to check out the course, and low and behold, the course changes a month before the race. The race was well organized and information regarding the transportation services and options were available for runners beforehand. With some research, traveling in Seattle was easy peazy and cheap! Packet pick up was at Century Link Field Event Center, which is several miles away from downtown. Took the link to Stadium and it's only about a block walk. Lots of goodies at the RNR expos and it was big. It was great! I stayed in downtown and everything is walkable. My timeshare was about a mile from the start and finish from the Space Needle so it was a great warmup walk. Luckily it didn't rain the day of the race (rained the day before). Race morning, the corrals were easily identifiable and I was able to start in between corrals (this is the way to go). I didn't utilize the port-o-potties or the gear check so I cannot comment on those at the event. Expect HILLS!!! I was truly surprised with the amount of hills on this course. And just not any hills - STEEP hills! There was a time where there was complete bottlenecking after running Washington Lake and we were running single file. There was a tunnel that I felt claustrophobic in, and expect a lot of concrete vs. asphalt terrain, bridge and freeway running. NOT FUN!!! This was one tough run. In fact, this race I experienced the worse pain I have done in any race. By the end of the race, I was experiencing lower back, hip, ankle, feet, hamstring and glut pains. My muscles were tight and I was cramping significantly in my hammies. What hurt the most were my hips. When I crossed the finish, medical personnel had to carry me to the medical tent for treatment. I was carried to a cott and when I opened my eyes, there were about 6 medical personnel assisting and trying to stretch me out. IT WAS AWESOME!!! The medical volunteers get 5 stars!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I was then led to the massage area and was given a light massage to loosen up the very tight muscles. Post-race goodies were great with the Snickers marathon bars, chocolate milk, Gatorade, etc... Decided to eat post-race grub at the Seattle Center, which wasn't crowded. Even got to use the bathrooms inside and not the port-o-potties. YIPEEE!!! The concert with Gym Class Heroes was BOMB! LOVE THEM!!! RNR Seattle is worth doing once. Great experience and definitely a fun city! ========================================= STATS: Overall: 3896 out of 14089 Division: 409 out of 1772 Gender: 1782 out of 9470 10 Km 56:45 10 Mi 1:32:46 Pace 9:37 Chip Time 02:06:04 read more

2015 Seattle Rock N Roll Wow just wow!! The start line was near the space needle, where they had fireworks to start the race. The course is beautiful great way to showcase this beautiful city. It didn't hurt that mother nature cooperated and gave us a pretty perfect day! A day before the race went to pick up my gear from CenturyLink its a bit of a walk from the city center but a nice walk you'll pass by Union Square. The Expo was great, lots of things to buy and see. The shirts were nice love the grey color. The course takes you from downtown Seattle, to several nice neighborhoods, around Lake Washington, and on the highway, several tunnels and back to downtown to finish back near the space needle. The support for this race was awesome, from local to volunteers. Water stations were awesome, lots of water and gatorade. The medal is always great with any Rock n roll so if you're running for the bling add this to the list. The finish line festivities were awesome great way to celebrate peoples running accomplishments. I would highly recommend this race. read more

Rock n Roll Seattle Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This was my 3rd full marathon and my 2nd RnR event and I LOVED IT! I had run the RnR half in New Orleans the year before and based on that experience, I was wary of doing another RnR event. However, I do belive that the volunteers make the race, and you cannot get a nicer, friendlier and more helpful group of folks than in the Seattle area. I took the free shuttle from the hotel (Mayflower Park) and it was a breeze. Got there in plenty of time to use the porta potties several times, meet up with friends and find a good spot in my corral. The wave start went off without a hitch and it was nice to not have to fight crowds for the first few miles. The music was fantastic! Most of the bands were playing as I ran by, so I had an almost constant soundtrack. I train in FLAT Florida, so I was very nervous about the hills. I did miles and miles of hill repeats over a boring and traffic-clogged causeway in preparation and as it turns out, the hills were nothing. Very gentle, rolling hills that did not put a dent in my pace. The only bugger was the hill at mile 25, but let's be honest, anything you encounter at mile 25 is going to be a bugger! The crowds were great, especially in the middle of the full marathon (which is around the finish for the half). Here are the only negatives: -The last 5k or so of the full marathon is very boring. It's an out-and-back through the commercial part of the port. Not only that, mile 25 is all uphill, so you get a preview of what's in store for you as you're on the "out" part of the out-and-back. There is one band and a water table, but that's it. No access for spectators. -Post race food is just OK - not very exciting. And once you're out of the area, that's it for food. I can't comment on the aid stations on the course because I always bring enough fuel and water with me, so I never had to stop. But I didn't hear any complaints. Post-race concert was Everclear this year and they were AWESOME! Edited to add that there are 3 tunnels and if you use a GPS watch, you will lose the signal. It picks up again, but your mileage will be off a bit. Not a big deal, but something to keep in mind so you don't think you're close to the finish when you're not! read more

I bonked out hard at mile 8 and never recovered. I walked the remaining 18.2 miles while sucking packets of recovery gels. I should have trained on more long distance runs prior. I did too much resistance training and not enough cardio. A grueling portion of the course takes place on the freeway over looking Puget Sound. This seemingly never ending stretch of road with no landmarks gave the impression of being lost a sea. This was my most challenging marathon. read more

Rock 'n' Roll Seattle had it's inaugural run on June 27, 2009 and it was a success. The race was sold out with more than 30,000 people on the road and running their hearts out. This was my 2nd half marathon and definitely one that I am glad to have been a part of. It was had getting up early to take the bus to Tukwila where the start was, but seeing the turnout brought a smile to my face. The course takes you by Lake Washington and Qwest stadium. The part that hurts is when you run through the freeway tunnel. It's hot and difficult, and when I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, I couldn't have been more excited. There's also a portion towards the end where you run on the freeway ramp, so if you're scared of heights, don't look down. Overall the course had a good mix of challenging uphills and more relaxed straightaways. The weather was pretty fair as well, but towards the end the sun did peak so I would advise a good coat of sunscreen. This race was really put together well for a first run. It's part of the Rock 'n' Roll series so there are bands at random intervals that play music. I didn't really get to hear them since I had my iPod on, but they definitely pump up the mood. I'm definitely glad I went and can't wait to do the race in 2010! read more

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Beautiful course... definitely one of the best I've seen in the RNR series. We had a start and finish at the Seattle Center, which was very easy and accessible via public transit. My friends and I took the bus in and we were dropped just a couple of blocks away. This is one of the larger RnR races and this year had THREE distances: 8K (about 5 miles), half and full marathons. One of the pros of starting at Seattle Center is the option for real bathrooms instead of portapotties if you are willing to wait. I was and was thankful for that extra pit stop since we commuted in from the suburbs. The course had some hills, but overall not too bad. It was a picture perfect day and fortunately there were only a couple of sections that had us directly into the sun (I wear sunglasses, but on a bright day it's still tough to have direct light). We went through a number of neighborhoods, but by far, my favorite section was along Lake Washington. WOW. Simply stunning. And on top of that, a large portion of that section had folks from Wear Blue to Remember standing with American flags cheering us on. We did spend a section in a freeway tunnel on a long incline. It got pretty steamy in there (yuck) and then continued on the highway back toward downtown. I appreciated the wide course, but it's hard to run on concrete and on a sloped surface. Be warned... there is one last hill at about mile 12.5. Yes, I'm serious... it was tough to turn a corner and see that when you just want to run into the finish, but it was there. Conquer that beast and you're done! Solid volunteer support and overall good crowd support. HUGE finishers area with plenty of snacks, photo opps, booths, etc. It took me a little while to find my heavy medal booth to get my medal for my 5th RNR of the year, but I did find it. Didn't like the finisher concert... it just sounded like loud noise. This is one I'd definitely consider returning to! read more

RUNNING THROUGH DEPRESSING SEATTLE Jane runs through Seattle. This was my 9th 1/2 marathon of this yr since 2016 started. It was my first time running a race in my old stomping grounds. I expected hills but they weren't that bad. I expected rain and I got that. Some of my CR.ew flew up to run the course too and provide extra company. THE EXPO. It was held at Century Link aka Seahawks Stadium. There wasn't any free parking and you had to pay for street parking or public parking. The cheapest I found was behind the Pyramid Ale House 1.5 blocks away for a few dollars - closer parking lots were charging $10. The expo was spacious, organized, and easy to pick your stuff up and leave. The cool area of the expo was the RUN HAPPY section. They had games you can win prizes such as new shoes. They even had the "RIDING THE SHOE" similar to riding a bull machine but it was a shoe. I literally laughed watching people holding onto a big shoe and then getting flinged off. THE COURSE. 40 corrals... that's alot of corrals and ALOT of people. This was probably the biggest race I've ran. So many people it was ridiculous. Parking was easy to get around Seattle Center if you arrive 30-45 minutes in advance. The air quality was good, nice and cool. The weather was gray, gloomy, "moist", and it rained towards the end. Lots of port a potties and water stations on the way, you won't get dehydrated. At the beginning we were running down small hills, after mile 1 was the first tunnel... dark and creepy, then onto the viaduct. I have driven on the viaduct countless times but it was actually pretty cool to run on this freeway because the view is spectacular (even when its gloomy and gray). Then into downtown with one small hill and then a descent on the outskirt of Chinatown/international district. Heading towards Rainer Beach neighborhood around mile 4 was this small but long incline. Running through Rainer Beach was boring... a little excitement picked up when we were running through the beginning of Seward Park. So why did the water station at the beginning of Sward Park have the nastiest taste. It tasted like toilet water, so many people around getting water were complaining how awful it tasted. Moving forward, through Seward Park had me in awe, I called it "Memory Lane or Flag Mile" because they posted up pictures of fallen soldiers and then volunteers held flags up down the stretch. After that cool moment came the hills. Hill leading to another hill which eventually leads you to the i-90 tunnel. This was around mile 10ish - One Mile of incline in the i-90 tunnel was tiring. It was humid in that tunnel so the sweat game was heavy. Once you break from the tunnel you are running on the i-90 freeway towards the stadiums... THIS IS A COOL VIEW. You descend down the highway and see an amazing view of downtown Seattle and the their two stadiums. It started to rain when I was at this point of the course and it felt SO good. Nothing spectacular at the finish line, it was in the Alley area infront of the stadium with so many spectators. I did like the course, except through Rainer Beach neighborhood. The medal was just OK. I wanted something better than a fish on my medal but kudos to RnR series for putting on an organized race. THE AFTERMATH. Didn't stay around. Dipped out real quick, caught an Uber, and out to Din Tai Fung for some dimsum. If you need to catch an Uber, it's best to walk about 3 blocks out of the area. Not sure if I'll run SeattleRnR again. I'd prefer to do other races. read more

Rock n Roll Seattle Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Seattle, Washington

In 2015 this was my 7/15 race for the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. I meant to write a review at the time, but I never got around to it... and now we are in 2016, and I am here again. SEATTLE, YOU SNEAKY LITTLE DEVIL... Seattle is one of my favorite cities to visit, so participating in the half marathon was a no brainer. I have been to Seattle a couple times, and I didn't really get to know the city until I ran the half marathon. Seattle is one sneaky little devil -- it is full of hills! They are not just regular hills either, they are steep hills! For a runner, that makes all the difference! I was prepared for the rain, and gloomy weather, not the hills! In 2015, the weather was actually nice and sunny, yet filled with hills. In fact, the finishing line was on a hill. This year, it was gloomy and rainy. Although the finishing line was not on a hill, the amount of hills did not change. The starting line was at The Seattle Center, with The Space Needle as your backdrop. Nothing is more iconic Seattle than The Space Needle. To commemorate the start of the race, fireworks went off. Other than Disney Races, I don't think I ever experienced fireworks at a half marathon. There were around 40 corals that were made up by 8K, half marathon and full marathon participants. The course was a bit difficult, but it was quite scenic. For you San Diegans, we ran on a street named Genesse. I work on Genesse, and was getting phone calls for to work an extra shift that weekend. Irony at it's finest. Glukos are the official performance nutrition product for The Rock n Roll series for the next 2 years or so. As much as I enjoy the on-course gummie support, I did not like how they had all the gummies open in a giant trash bag. You had to dig out a gummy, and the Seattle rain made everything even stickier to touch. In 2015, I really enjoyed the post-race festivities. The race started, and ended at The Seattle Center. The Seattle Center is huge, and there is so much to see and do nearby. You can lounge on the grass, around the water fountains, walk to the nearby sightseeing spots (ie Space Needle, Chihuly Gardens, Children's Museum) and so on. You were in the middle of everything! Toyota even had a crane machine, and I won a Sponge Bob plush! lol. This year, the race ended at the outskirts Centurylink Field. We were not able to go inside (or even run!) the stadium. Centurylink Field is a little out of the way from downtown Seattle, and the outskirts of a stadium isn't exactly exciting. After I was done with the race, I pretty much left. It was quite disappointing. 2015 would have received a 5-Star review, and 2016 is a 4-Star review. Hopefully next year will be better. read more

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I've run this race every year since the inaugural in 2009 and I'm SO glad they changed the course for 2012. In the past, the course was point to point and it started in an awkward business park in Tukwila. The start line was hard to access, and traffic would be backed up for miles because there were no exits off of the freeway. Last year my husband and I got dropped off on the shoulder of the freeway and walked to the start. This year, the start/finish lines were easily accessible at the Seattle Center. We were able to approach from all directions. Me, my hubby and brother in law parked in Pacific Place and took the monorail to the start. 6:30am, no lines and it was surprisingly easy and fast. The full marathon course is scenic and puts most of your miles along water: Lake Washington and the Waterfront downtown. I didn't get bored of the scenery, even as a Seattle native. I'm also a cheapskate, and refuse to pay for races with courses that I can run for free. So it was nice that they closed off the I-90 bridge and Alaskan Way Viaduct just for runners. It makes me feel like I'm getting my money's worth. The course is more than doable for a hilly place like Seattle, in my opinion. Keep in mind, however, that because I live and train here, I'm used to the geography and elevation. Plenty of water and medic stations/medics on bikes, as well as multiple volunteers, cheer squads, bands and observers encouraging you along the course. My only complaint is that they ran out of GU and salt packets in the second half of the course for the slower full marathoners. I got hungry and was annoyed by that. But this was the first time I've had that problem in this race, so I hope it was just a fluke. I thought this year's RnRSEA was much better than the years past. The free samples from the expo to the finish were bountiful, it was fairly well organized (except for running out of GU) and had lots support and encouragement from beginning to end. read more

Rock n Roll Seattle Marathon - Full marathon course- I-90 bridge. - Races & Competitions Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This was my first half marathon, and I finished! Success!! The Rock 'n' Roll, while a little disorganized was an invigorating experience. PROS: - Online coupons codes available when signing up online. I just googled "Rock 'N' Roll Seattle Half Marathon discount" and voila, $10.00 off, not bad, not bad. - Mile 6 - 9 was scenic and gorgeous, a leisurely wind through Seward Park while hugging Lake Washington - Plenty of water, cytomax, and goo offered along the course to keep my energy high - Sweet t-shirts to prove to everybody "YES I DID THIS!" CONS: - Not enough porta-potties...the line for the bathrom at the start was RIDICULOUS, seriously like 30 people per porta-potty line, I have never had to go to the bathroom as bad as I did this day! - Some of the course was less than scenic - i.e. the run through Tukwila/Rainier Beach freeway, Seattle is much prettier than we led on via this course - The half marathon course was ok, but the marathon course passes the finish line 3 times before actually finishing - talk about teasing! - Not enough people manning the ice station at the finish line, when you have 25,000 sore runners, you need to make sure you've got people to mend your aches and pains. Overall I'd definitely participate next year, the weather was impeccable and the thrill of being a race finisher was pretty incredible. read more

Rock n Roll Seattle Marathon - Leading the pack - Races & Competitions Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This was my 10th half marathon but first one out of state. I'm typically not a "fan" of the Rock 'n Roll series of races simply because they're so crowded and expensive. But this one was well-worth it! The course is awesome and gives you all the best sights and sounds of Seattle ~ Space Needle, downtown, through some neighborhoods, along Lake Washington, I-90 tunnel, freeway with view of stadiums, along the Alaskan Way Viaduct with views of Elliott Bay. I mean, seriously ... the 13.1 course packs in a lot to see along the way. It does all this without being super-challenging. Though Seattle has a reputation for being hilly, this course isn't. There is ONE steep path around mile 9 but it's so short ... it's done in a minute. I didn't attend the Expo so I can't comment on that. Since this race was on a Saturday and I was coming from out of state, I wasn't able to get to the Expo but was able to pick up bib at solutions tent that morning so ... that was really nice! The race started on time and in typical wave fashion. Obviously, crowded but nothing extraordinary or unusual. My only complaint with the finish is wow, where were the snacks!? No bag of anything. No banana even. There was a 'pretzel mix' pack from Alaska Airlines and some kids handing out slices of bread. Slices of bread?!? For the cost of admission to this race, entrants deserve better than that. The PowerBar folks were also handing out stuff but that was it so ... guess my point is, where were the food baggie options?? It was very cheap-of RnR organizers to have such limited options. Otherwise, this race was fantastic!! The course and crowd support were among the best I've seen. Water stations were plentiful. The bands were ok. Weather was spot-on perfect but .... I guess with Seattle, it's a crapshoot. We lucked out for sure! read more

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I am totally being a Debbie Downer here but this was one of the lamest marathons I've ever ran. 1. It was too crowded. 2. The bands were not consistent, mile "whenever" was where they were. AND HEY, DON'T SMOKE around people with asthma and people who are running for cancer. *warms up the back of my hand* 3. The porta potties were a cluster-fuc* of bunched together messes. 4. Cookies and snacks at mile 8ish? Really? Try 18 next time - When we are HUNGRY! 5. Pretty much 20 miles of concrete freeways and boringness. I almost stopped to use my cell to Yelp it. 6. The porta potties were sometimes "hidden" to the side of the bands, so you had to look for them. LOOK! Who has time for that, maybe a volunteer...or ? Not me. 7. The Expo was way too expensive for what you got. We had to search for stuff to put in our goody bags- I appreciated the Adams peanut butter. 8. Drop off locations were 1 mile away. Gee, I want to park then walk at 6 am to run 26.2 miles. People were being dropped off from the freeways and the cops were waiting to ticket them (No, I didn't get a ticket but was told I should have my license ready so that I could be ticketed). Eff you Ponch, my name is Pho Q!! Pro's: Baggage check was great and easy to drop off and pick up, the medals were pretty, Seward park was the best part with the reminders of fallen soldiers and flags (They are the heroes!). It IS for a good cause. It was a super flat course (compared to the Seattle). You accomplish an awesome personal and meaningful goal before most people are doing the walk of shame from the craziness of Pride. This concludes my Badger Beat-down of the Day. read more

Great event! I had great time! It's very well-organized. All the volunteers are very friendly. They did great jobs cheering up all the runners and provide them water, energy supplies, and medical support. Every a mile or so, there will be a band playing rock n' roll music. I love it! If you sign up the next year's half-marathon or full marathon at the expo, you get a good discount! read more

The Rock 'n' Roll series is excellent for runners of all distances. Seattle is a beautiful city and great venue for a half or full marathon. The course was laid out pretty good but there are some challenging hills. read more

I did the Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Full Marathon last year. This was my second RnR marathon, and it was a great race. The expo took place at Centurylink field, and was quite a big event. Parking was easy to find at the venue. Getting the race bib and swag was a breeze, with no waiting in line. Lots of free samples. Even a free photo booth with props and a green screen. Fun times. Elevations were very doable for the novice marathon runner. This race is almost always in June/July, and Seattle is beautiful this time of year. I was new to the Seattle area, and this race gave me an opportunity to tour 26.2 miles of the area on foot. It started downtown and ended downtown. I recall passing by the Space Needle. They also closed off part of the freeway that is a bridge over water, and it was really quite beautiful. A majority of the course had a view of water, as part of it ran through a park trail (on concrete) surrounded with trees. Part of the trail went through residential areas, which wasn't bad. As RnR events go, there were ample amounts of water stations. Great live music throughout the course. As the course got closer to the finish line, it passed through freeway ramps and tunnels (only open for runners, no cars). The medals were beautifully crafted. If you're looking for a great Full Marathon race in the Pacific Northwest, this is one is comfortable and a lot of fun. read more

Look for your finisher's certificate in the mail! They made a great little certificate complete with your time, where you placed in your age and gender group as well as in the overall category. read more

I have run this Marathon every year since it's arrival to Seattle in 2009, some good times, some not so good times. But my personal fitness aside, here are a few important considerations: 1 - It's Seattle, it's gonna be hilly and ya, it may be humid and/or rainy, even if it is the end of June. Expect hills and rain. Honestly, the worst rain/humidity was in 2012 - other years were pretty pleasant. 2- The course has improved somewhat, but can still use some work. The start in Tukwila for some 25,000 people just does. not. work. period. The start and finish at Seattle Center is convenient, but the uphill finish at Mercer just sucks - especially after doing 20 some miles (altho' the Seattle Marathon has the exact same finish area). And, ALL those miles on the freeways - yes, I-90 is pretty, but do we have to go back up and down and all over 99? When the finish area was by Century Link Field, there was a lot less congestion. 3- For the newbie, The Rock & Roll Competitor Group usually puts on a well organized, 'fun' show. There are cheerleaders, bands, lots of volunteers, lots of SWAG and nice medals. 4-It's not cheap. If this is something you really want to do, sign up early, when it's discounted. They have sold out each year, but it's usually available until at least March -- and they do lots of promotions, you just have to look for them. 5- Most of the runners do the half, so if you are doing the full, do yourself a favor and get in an earlier corral so you have more space & time to run (if you are afraid of being passed, just stay off to one side). 6-Or, if you are in it just for fun, and not concerned with time/splits/BQ &/or PR, just hang out in the back and enjoy it - it's meant to be fun and the Rock & Roll does not disappoint - just leave the serious runners plenty of room to pass on by (they may be searching for that elusive BQ) read more

3.5 stars ... SATURDAY! You know, I think I like the Saturday race days, it gives you all of Sunday to play!! expo -- very cool. i loved every minute of it ...everything from the free odwalla bars (i snagged many), lara bars, odwalla drinks, more snacks and more freebies... the half marathon -- a repeat runner told me to get there early. so we did.. 1.5hrs early and i still ended up late. O.o it was the longest, most horrendous wait ever to get though. people started walking off the freeway ramp to get to the start (another 3miles). TOTAL WASTE OF GAS and TIME! ... what's annoying was there was no traffic enforcement so it was mass chaos on the streets. OK ... now that i'm done with that. :) the start is really lackluster. but wait... it gets better ... (no really, it does!) mile 3-13 are actually really awesome. you run by seward park and basically around the coast of lake washington. it wasn't too hot and it was actually quite breezy. course markers were obvious. full/half marathon dividers were noticeable (unlike sd rnr). and best of all RUNNING ON FREEWAYS, ON RAMPS, and FREEWAY TUNNELS! Ends with a beautiful pano view of safeco & qwest stadium. not a lot of people dressed up. :\ i totally forgot my sailor mercury outfit or i would've ran in it! i didn't see more than a few interestingly dressed people. TONS of great foodie swag at the end. :) I left with a box full of quaker oats granola bars... my fav. :) so while it started out kinda meh, the end did make up for it! read more

State# 16 6/25/11 I love the Rock n Roll series of marathons. This was my fourth RnR marathon and it was well organized just like the others. The expo, pre-race shuttle, post race food/event were all world class. Lets get to the other other pros: water/aid station were well placed scenic course with many point of interest lodging options/ ease of transportation festivities/music/ROCK N ROLL! wave start mitigates crowding the cons: very crowded (fight for porta potties at start) the course The website said "The marathon and half marathon courses are as flat and festive as they come - perfect for runners and walkers of all ability levels." Festive, yes, flat? LIE! I wish I had looked more closely at the course more closely prior to setting my sight to PR in Seattle. FAIL! EIGHT SECONDS (YES SECONDS) OFF MY PR! This course was fairly difficult. I'd rank it from my experience (21 marathons) a "7.5" on a scale of 10 for difficulty. Besides the hills, (and there are too many to count), there are several long stretches of mind numbing tunnels, and several out and back turnarounds coupled with hills. (down on the way out while seeing the hill on the way back) Most notable is mile 24-25 where someone very evil decided it would be cool to plant another hill at 25. While I did not PR at this course it was a super well organized race. Can be recommended for both the novice all the way through the experienced marathoner. Probably not if you are looking to PR... http://thepedestrianrunner.blogspot.com/ read more

Formerly part of the Virginia Mason Seafair half marathon, this converted over to the Rock and Roll series last year. It's become a larger event and instead of running across the 520 bridge, now runs from Tukwila to Seattle. PRE-RACE: Seemed well organized, as you'd typically expect from this group. There were two shuttle points from downtown to Tukwila and a huge fleet of buses were lined up to accommodate everyone. This is a change from the old Seafair Marathon: I remember when the shuttles were inadequate and a number of people missed the start one year. COURSE: It runs from an office park in Tukwila to Qwest Field in Seattle. While the office park isn't terribly scenic, there is a fair amount of space to stroll around pre-race. For the Seattle area, the course is reasonably flat with a few small hills; mostly the on-ramps to various highways. I think the scenery for the Seattle Marathon in November is better, but there is a small stretch along Lake Washington as well as Pioneer Square and next to the stadiums. POST RACE: Nicely organized and efficient with separated waiting areas for family reunions. Since it finishes at Qwest Field, there's easy access to the light rail and bus tunnel. I'm only going with four stars instead of five because the course could be better. Since you're starting in Tukwila, it's mostly running through back roads and residential areas. You wouldn't be entirely sure that you're in Seattle until you exit the Mt. Baker tunnel near mile 11 (for the half marathon). Otherwise, a well run race. read more

This was my first half marathon race experience. After training in the hot, humid weather and steep hills of Atlanta, this was a refreshing change of weather and scenery. The weather was ideal at sunny, dry, breezy 68 degrees most of the morning. The path included a good portion of downtown including the over ramps near the stadiums, inside the tunnel, along the lake, and a view of the majestic mountains in the distance. I was pleasantly surprised that it was a fairly flat course though there was a slightly annoying hill on the last half mile of the race. For those who have never done a half marathon, I would recommend this race given the mild weather and fairly flat course overall. read more

While certainly not the best race course in US, recent course changes have really improved this experience. Leaving from Seattle Center is a drastic improvement, though it best to stay downtown if at all possible. (Pan Pacific was saweeet.) Course runs through several different neighborhoods, including a gorgeous trek along waterfront and some scenic views of downtown. The Rainer trek can be hot and sticky, a tough start to the race. Ditto the 99 stretch towards the end. The downtown location means a fair amount of bottleneck at the start and a crowded finish line, though their new tagging system got most of us out of there quickly. (Make sure to get your medal -- lots of people missed that step in the departure.) Room for improvement but a relatively fun route and great crowd. read more

I've done this race twice now (half marathon) in 2009 and 2014. The inaugural year course was terrible as the start was in Kent and the finish in Seattle, but now that they have the start and finish in Seattle Center it is a much more enjoyable race. It's price is on the higher end but it's a fun way to see Seattle and log a race. A few things: running through the tunnels is dreadful. I really wish they would cut out these parts of the course. When it's hot the air in there is not great to breathe. Also, it would be nice if Expo hours ran later. I didn't even travel in for this but getting to South Seattle isn't easy and would be nice if they were open longer and might help to spread out the crowd. The bands along the course in my opinion don't do much for the runners as you zip right past them and hardly hear their music, but I am sure it's a lot more fun for spectators so that's cool. The post-race concert is fun but you have to wait around quite awhile for it so if you are good with public napping you may be able to regain some strength on the Seattle Center lawn before you enjoy the show. Also FYI, if you haven't run a Seattle course before get ready for some hills! Not holding this against the race at all, I love some variation in courses. Just be sure to train for it! read more

Question: Am I writing this review to brag? Answer: Well, yes. I am also writing this review to tell you what a fantastic event this was! This was my first Rock 'n' Roll event, and my first half marathon ever. Everything was so well organized! There were tons of staff/volunteers to cheer you on, and to provide you with the proper amount of electrolytes along the way. The bands were so fun to watch, and they were a nice distraction when the going got tough. :) I would definately do this race again. read more

The 5 stars could be based solely on the fact that I PR'd at 1:57 on the half marathon with little training - which made me super happy! I am a regular at the Rock n Roll event in Phoenix, so I knew what to expect as far as race organization. The other reviewer is correct, the start line was horrible to get to! We had a ride and even then we had to walk almost a mile and then try to find our corral. This course was more hilly than I expected, but the cool weather was great! Support was adequate and the finish line festivities were well supplied and easy to get to. I would love to do this race again! read more

My first rock and roll marathon experience was here at the Rock and Roll Seattle Marathon, running this one in 2010 in its then 2nd year. It was exciting to visit Seattle and get to know the city through running the marathon. I did not know what to expect the first time at these events, but I soon realize that they try to make the marathon experience quite memorable for those who sign up. The Competitor Group, which owns the Rock and Roll marathon series, pitches the concept of a live band at every mile to make it the quintessential key component of a well run event. I went into this race with my eyes open and I didn't have any knowledge of what was to come. The initial tell tale sign that the Rock and Roll events was something else was that the amount of race registration fees they were charging for the race. While I do realize how much race related supplies and other expenses do add up, I was still surprised as how much they do charge. Starting from $85 when registration opens every year, it can spike up to $125+. There was no way I would pay that much for a race, unless it was a very popular one - like the Chicago Marathon. I was starting my 50 States Marathon club journey and I did love a good sized race and chose to be a part of something large and fantastic. The Rock and Roll Seattle Marathon race expo was held that year in one of the Qwest Field's huge conference rooms. Race day is held on a Saturday. The highlight of the Rock and Roll experience for me that year was when I got to meet up with Olympian marathoner Bryan Sell, whom signed my race bib and autographed a poster for me. I thought that was amazing! Also that year, I got to meet up with John "The Penguin" Bingham, who advocated slow and purposeful running. He also coined the phrase, "It's not a miracle that I finished. It's a miracle that I even started." I found that to be so profound and true, especially with my own life. The race itself I found a tale of two coins, where the first half was amazingly beautiful, where we ran from Tukwilla, WA, around Lake Washington and around the beautiful subdivisions before heading into the city of Seattle proper. After the full and half marathoners saw the Qwest field in the distance, the half and full route splits, and the half marathoners veer towards Qwest field and the finish. The last half for the marathoners was a series of out-and-backs, along with 3 tunnels that ran on basically the concrete and part of the Alaskan Way viaduct. Let's just say that I did not enjoy the last half when my legs were consistently pounding on concrete. The scenery wasn't helping either, but I did meet friends - new and old - along the way, so that made it more comforting as the miles left ticked away. Plenty of crowd support in the first half, but not much so in the later half, which did bite hard. The heat started to come after the 5 hour mark and it started to become just uncomfortable. I very much wish that they change this course, especially with the ugly out and back sections of the course. Since I did finish and picked up Washington state for my 50 States goal, I don't have to come back and run this race again, but even if I did, I would rather see something different than what I saw in 2010. The finisher's medal was pretty nice and I felt I had earned every bit of that finish, when I ran it in without much energy left. I was glad to get it done and the feeling was utter exhaustion and elation that I did do another 26.2 miles on foot. The rock and roll marathon experience does make you feel alive like you are definitely a rock star. I did not have any trouble with the shuttle buses that were staged at the Westin hotel in downtown Seattle. I just had to make it a point to get up early enough to get ready and haul ass to the buses to make sure I get to the start in plenty of time. I have mixed feelings of this one. C+ #Yelp Marathons read more

I really like this run and it's a lot of fun. I've done it the past 4 years and am planning on doing it again in the near future. The only thing I don't like about it is that you have to go to the expo the day before the race. It's an hour drive for me each way to get to Seattle with no traffic so going down Friday after work before race day on Saturday takes 2-3 hours each way. I would rather have the option to pay to have my bib mailed to me. read more

After three half marathons, this was my first full marathon. I traveled from San Diego to run in my home town with family and friends. It was quite an event. pros: -great race support when possible. large, expansive water stations. -very cool scenery for the first half or so. -the ability to run in some crazy places (I-90 floating bridge, alaskan way viaduct). -great finish area cons: -terrible, terrible, terrible start area. damned near impossible to get to. had to get dropped off nearly two miles away from the start because traffic wasn't moving and there was no one there directing traffic. -the second half of the full marathon is pretty lame. out and backs up and down highway 99. -no spectators or much support on all of the freeways. which make up nearly half of the race. -sadistically runs you past the finish line twice at early points in the race. did i mention out and backs suck? overall i enjoyed it once i actually got started. it irritated me to start 20 minutes late. and it irritated me to have to walk/jog an extra two miles just to get to the start line. running a full marathon was a stretch to begin with. it didn't help that i ran 28 instead of 26.2. the course was petty flat, though, and pretty scenic. running along lake washington and through downtown was cool. from what i could tell, the 1/2 marathon course was outstanding. read more

This was my first half marathon ever! I'm so glad I chose this to be my first. The event was VERY well organized for having close to 15,000 people out. Bib pick up was the day before at Centurylink Field, and the dozens of free samples and swag was great. On race day itself, gear check was easy to find and basically line free, and the corrals/waves to start went off every two minutes, keeping the herds small. Parking was easy to find, but unnecessarily expensive. I could have bought all day parking for much cheaper a few blocks away, but I guess that's the point of having guaranteed parking. The start and finish this year were at Seattle Center, and the course was fairly easy with no major hills. The scenery was amazing! Coming out of the tunnel on the freeway and being able to see the Sound, Centurylink, and Safeco fields was perfect! Can't wait to do it again next year! read more

June 26, 2010 - This was my third full marathon - 2nd Rock 'n' Roll Series (first SD). What I like: - weather! the perfect running weather. can't ask for anything better. - beautiful first half - Lake Washington on your right side for the first 9 or so miles, floating bridge, viaduct, and SEATTLE skyline - bands! great bands, one at almost every mile, great beats (better than the bands at SD) - awesome supporters (the people along the road) - thanks so much for the many cheers and for coming out! - liquid stations - so many helpers, you know how i like my cytomax (good job with mixing it - not too sweet or watery) and thanks for adding ice (the station between mile 16 and 19) What I didn't like: - the 3 tunnels - are you for real? so hot, smelly, hard to breath, dark - highway - second half of the marathon was just highway the whole way - starting line - I had to wait for 20 mins to across the starting line, while my other team mates had to wait for almost an hour - not cool - and last BUT at least.. the final hill at mile 25 .. wow that was tough Overall, GREAT run and i would totally do this again (after i finish the other rock 'n' roll)! even though this was a tough run, the scenery during the first half, the bands, and the supporters made this run worthwhile! LOVE IT! read more

This was my first half marathon and my second race ever. I couldn't have asked for a better run! I look forward do doing it next year! The bands really keep you going and the cheerleading really kept me excited! :) I blogged about my journey to get there! http://www.journeytothemiddle.blogspot.com read more

I'm frustrated with their refund services. I purchased the insurance, had a legitimate injury, had a doctor sign their refund form. All I've got from them are automated, generic messages. Since all I get is automated messages from them, I've decided to vent my frustration on Yelp. This race was really fun last year but don't buy the insurance. It's a waste of your time and money (Grrrhhh)....I do feel just a little bit better! Thanks Yelp. read more

Compared to other races, this one was a particular disappointment. The course was taken through unwelcoming locations and there was little to no energy from bands on the sidelines. Water stations were spaced out quite far. Lack of signage at starting line. Smallest medal I've ever gotten for a race. All in all, I expected more for the price. Especially in a major city. The afterparty was good. Expo was... Large so if you're into that it was good. Volunteers were great and we'll coordinated. Police and medical personnel per usual were amazing at keeping us all safe. read more