I swore I would not run this race again after traveling down from Maryland in 2015 and having the race cancelled in the middle of it. I found later someone passed during the race. I decided to sign up for this year's race since I now live in Atlanta and my cousin's run it every year. This year's race was much better organized as the stations were plentiful and the course really amazing. The organizers really did an outstanding job all the way around. I am taking one star off because out of all the Rock N Races I have run, the music sucked for this race. Besides that, I have no complaints and am looking forward to running this marathon again next year. read more

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I liked this race a lot. It helped that the weather was beautiful on race day. The course was nice and flat and went through a lot of beautiful areas of town (and some kind of industrial areas). There were a ton of positives about the event...the starting corrals seemed to be well managed, the volunteers were incredible, I loved all the bands and the people along the course were so friendly and supportive. The festival after the race was great. Forsyth Park was a beautiful spot and it was so fun to sit in the sun and listen to the band at the end. I had no problem finding my friends at the Family Reunion area and I got my bag pretty quickly. There were a couple of things that could improve the event. Shorter lines at the beer tent would be one! The other thing was the bib pickup. Having that across the river seemed like a nice idea but those ferry boats were incredibly inefficient. They were running them as fast as they could but with the volume of people on Friday, I had to wait a half hour to get on a boat to go there then even longer to get on a boat to come back. To be honest, when I'm visiting a city I don't want to spend an hour in line waiting for a boat. I'd rather be seeing the sights and spending money in the host city. Also, the exit for the expo was poorly marked inside the convention center. I know they want you to visit the booths but it was in the back corner and it was poorly marked. If you tried to go out another way they wouldn't let you. If they could work the bib pickup kink out, then this would be a five star event for sure. read more

I have run many half and full marathons and love the destination marathons. This was a great destination. Very scenic and lots of stations set up along the way. May only reason for not giving it five stars is the conditions of the road you have to run on. Extremely irregular with all sorts of dips and tilts on the ground. Very dangerous for running. Easily could see why so many twisted ankles were around. Worse in the begin when it's a big pack do be careful if your doing it. I know it's because it's an old historic town but a little more time should be taken as to which streets to use. But Savannah is beautiful and the run was well shaded. read more

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I finished the inaugural 2011 Rock n Roll Savannah marathon in Savannah, GA. Race day was 11/15/2011. It was my first time ever to the state of Georgia and to the city of Savannah herself. This was my 32nd marathon and 20th state on a crazy quest to knock off 50 marathons in all 50 states from Hawaii. The Competitor Group, which owns the Rock n Roll Marathon series, organized this one in Savannah, GA and proved to be one of the better ones in the race series. Along with the Seattle and Arizona Rock n Roll marathons I have also ran in the past, the inaugural RnR Savannah marathon seems to take a play from its organizer. It draws a vast amount of people wanting to run 26.2 or 13.1 in beautiful Savannah GA. Myself included. Here I was in Georgia and I couldn't have had a better race experience myself. Other than crossing the finish line and checking off Georgia for my 50 states goal, it was a good race with all the bells and whistles that the Competitor Group can provide. Most people arrive here either by air, arriving in directly into Savannah, or in other regional airports and drive from there. For me, the direct approach is usually the best. No fuss or drama. For the inaugural session of the Rock n Roll Savannah marathon in 2011, I was a little skeptical that they were going to put on a well organized event going into it. They really proved me wrong. With the miles and smiles on race day, it was clear that the Competitor Group did well with this one and everyone loves to run or wants to do their first marathon or half, or both, flock to this southern belle city to vacation, enjoy, and experience the thrills and spoils of their first half or full marathon. Competitor Group & the Rock n Roll Marathon series generally attracts the new and novice runners, while catering to the more experienced marathoners and racers themselves. The Rock n Roll Marathon expo is uniform in what they do and it's not limited to the specific city. They go large and make everything carnival like atmosphere, like you're the stars of the show. It's housed in the downtown convention center and it's quite an event. Plenty of running related gear to keep you mesmerized for days and months! While that may be awesome, your registration fees are surely paying for all the fanfare and ambiance associated with the race. There are a lot of bands out on the course and streams of Volunteers and ecstatic crowd support and spectators who are cheering you on towards victory! Remember that you are paying for this endevour, so best believe that you need everything you can get! Aid stations are roughly 2 miles apart and the Rock n Roll race officials love to use stretches of sectioned off concrete highway points for its course. I've been on that in RNR Arizona and Seattle. Not really fun, but it works apparently. The start is enamored with many thousands of runners eager to run. There is a coral system in place, where your coral is dependent on your estimated finish time. The finish line scene at Forsyth Park was adequate and there was several timing check points along the course to keep everything running smoothly. Parking for the race was okay. I parked the rental car at a shopping mall, where there were shuttles to take us to the race start. The finisher medals were pretty nice - at least with the inaugural running of the RnR Savannah marathon. If you like small town hospitality and yearning to come to Savannah to knock off your first marathon or half, this is the one to do it. Be advised that the race registration fees are pricey, so best bet would be to register once it opens up in the following year. I myself had a good time here and looking forward to returning in the future. Love the city of Savannah and hope you will too. I recommend this race for the first timers and the experienced veterans for BQ'ing and attempting a personal best. Be forewarned though, it gets crowded at the start! Run more! Support local! B read more

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"RUN FOREST, RUN!" That quote can only be said in Savannah, Georgia -- home of Forrest Gump. FERRY FOR THE WIN From the airport, I took the bus to Historic Downtown Savannah and hit up the expo first. The expo is held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center on Hutchinson Island. There are two ways to access the convention center, Highway 17 Bridge or The Savannah Belles Water Ferry. Entering by the highway can be a nightmare -- possible +2 hour traffic, and minimal parking. It is best to go to the expo on Thursday when it is significantly less busy or to take the ferry. I think your best bet is to take the ferry, especially if you are from out of town. The ferry is free, and runs from 7:00am - midnight. Granted, it comes in 30 minute intervals, but it is better than waiting in traffic. Ferries are fun, and a great way to get a feel of the city. If you have to drive, park downtown, then take the ferry. Either way, just take the freaking ferry. lol. DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH FOR THE WIN The highlight of the expo for me was the discounted tickets for the Old Town Trolley Tours. It is basically a narrated bus tour around downtown with the option of Hopping-On-Hopping-Off at certain destinations. Such a smart idea to advertise at the expo! All big tourist attractions should take advantage of expos like this. If you don't fall in love with the expo, there are tons of restaurants and bars along the riverfront where you could grab yourself an alcoholic frozen slushie from Wet Willies, and go wild. Lol. SATURDAY FOR THE WIN In Savannah, the full/half was on Saturday, and the 5K and 1 mile was on Sunday. I don't know if this is a midwestern/southern thing, but us folks on the other side of the country have our big races on Sunday. The Saturday races started at Bay Street at Bull Street and ended at Forysyth Park. The Sunday races were held at Daffin Park. Saturday definitely trumpet Sunday. In my opinion, they should work up to the bigger race. Have the 5K/1mile on Saturday and full/half on Sunday. By the time Sunday came around, people were already over it. Shoot, I was over it. FORYSYTH PARK FOR THE WIN Forysyth Park is the largest park in historic Savannah with its 30 acres of land, thus a perfect for race festivities spot. After the full/half, it seemed like the entire city showed up, setup a picnic and basked in the sun while enjoying the bands. It actually felt like I was at a outdoor event, and the heat and humidity was not an issue. There were multiple local bands, that were actually quite good. I loved the southern community town feeling. After the 5K/1 mile at Daffin Park on Sunday, people pretty much dipped after the race. And who could blame them? Daffin Park is in the middle of nowhere. Secondly, it doesn't help that the 5K is at 1pm and the 1 mile is at 2:30pm. Late and out of the way? No thanks. There is nothing wrong with Daffin Park, but like I said... maybe this race should have taken place before the half/full. Daffin Park is a nice yet small local park. I took an Uber there, and my pickup spot was at the Laundry Mat across the street for the past 2 years. lol. GEORGIA PIE FOR THE WIN If you do plan to run on Sunday, you might as well run both races (5K and 1 mile) to earn that complimentary Georgia Pie. The 1 mile race was not part of the Heavy Medal Package (*Heavy Medal Package, where you can run a unlimited amount of RnR marathons, half marathons and 5Ks within the year), so I choose to opt out of the 1 mile. I ran the 5K, and although I did get the remix medal (running on Saturday + 5K), I was not entitled to the pie. A part of me actually regretted not participating in the 1 mile even though it would be an added expense... although you can go to the actual bakery and purchase the pie yourself, but it's not the same! lol SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY FOR THE WIN Savannah is a beautiful city with its architecture, parks, and neighborhoods but the weather is terrible in November! The course was mainly flat, ran through some historic spots but my goodness the heat was killer. I don't even know how I was even able to run this race in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, it was so hot and humid that 1,100 marathoners runners at 9:45 a.m. were diverted to the half marathon course. There were multiple heats strokes, and there was even a death. One runner fell 200 yards from the marathon finish line due to exhaustion. He cut his face and legs, and almost did not finish the race. A cop actually helped him get up, and got the runner to cross the finish line. Who doesn't love Southern hospitality? RnR FOR THE WIN If it weren't for the RnR series, I don't think I would ever visit Savannah. In 2015 and 2016, if you run 3/4 RnR races (NOLA, Raleigh, Nashville, Savannah) within the same calendar year, you will earn The Southern Charm Medal. Race 15/15 for the Hall of Fame 2015! Race 14/15 for the Hall of Fame 2016! read more

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Half Marathon #1 for me. What a very fun race! *2017 review - Half Marathon* I personally stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Savannah... b/c the start line was SO close by. It was great. Woke up around 6:50am, walked out of the Hyatt Regency by 7:15am, started at like 7:40am. It was AMAZING. I felt super awake. In my past races, I hated waking up at an ungodly hour to get to the start line. Major note: My bf slept in while I raced - he said he didn't hear a thing/noise even with the start line being so close. However, we did bring our noise machine... When you finish at Forsyth Park, don't worry. You just need to walk maybe 10 mins straight past the beautiful Savannah Fountain and you'll walk right in front of the Hyatt. I saw majority people do this because there's no point in getting an Uber with road closures. Expo: I knocked off a star for this. Only the participant can pick up their bibs/race material. No one else. They also do not mail anything. I find this to be slightly overboard. I had friends who HAD to take off work on Friday and come on down. I also had friends who almost missed getting their stuff. This could easily be avoided if at least 1 of the options I just mentioned were given. I truly hope RnR series will consider these options down the road. My bf and I thankfully had a ton of PTO saved up and able to make it down without any time constraints. The good news at Expo: Hyatt Regency is right next to the Ferry entrance. No one was really in line (Ferry ride is maybe 3 mins). We got to the Expo at like 2pm. And left at 2:30pm. Not too bad. However, the line to check out (when buying shirts etc) was kind of long. I had hoped to get something but just the slowness of it made me leave. You can also drive directly to Expo but the Ferry is more fun :) Race itself: Loads of fun. Folks came out and cheered us on. Flat land mainly which is AWESOME. There were several water/gatorade stations/Bathrooms available throughout the race. The weather was PERFECT (Was around 60's temp-wise when starting.. was around 80's when I finished around 10am). It got a little hot around Mile 11 but... I only had 2 miles to go, haha. I felt kind of bad for the full marathoners. Scenery: Like every city - ran through some very pretty areas as well as very sketch areas... but people were really great and cheering. Make sure to have your red sticker on your shoe -- it tracks you... so that your friend/family member can get push notifications on where you are (start, 5k, 10k, 15k, finish). Pretty nifty. Finish line: There are tons of stuff to do and see (you'll get a medal!)... but I left quickly since my body was getting sore haha. But it seems like everyone was enjoying post activities. Oh and major props for organizations out there providing free water bottles/gatorades/cliff bars/etc post finish line - You guys rock!! read more

It was a good choice for my first marathon. I selected it because I favor big races with lots of participants and course entertainment, which all add up to much-needed distractions and motivation for me. Plus, a pretty city like Savannah seemed like it would be fun to run through. We arrived on Thursday, so were able to avoid the crowds and ferries and other general craziness that occurred at Friday's expo. The center had a lot of exhibitors, a fair amount of freebies, and some interesting stuff like Brook's giant booth set-up, complete with active volcano, and Geico's see-the-course fast-forwarded video. On race day, the corrals were easy to find (though not enforced at all). Lots of official picture taking at the start line. But oddly placed porta-potties. They all seemed to be on the north side of the road, with only a few on the south side, which was where I had lined up. Luckily, I was able to slip in and out of one as our corral was lining up for the countdown. The course does go through some poor-er and industrial areas in the beginning, but honestly, the course support there seemed to be just as strong as it was downtown. The locals really put a smile on my face! There was little-to-no bottlenecking in the beginning which was nice as well... the streets had been completely shut down for the race, with parked cars removed and everything. Water, Gatorade, and Gu stops were frequent enough and -- for the most part -- well-staffed. And the bands along the course were rocking out, as promised. My favorite part was running through the college campus; those two miles were full of enthusiastic students, and they gave me the pep I needed to go stronger a little longer. The worst part was the return trip on the Truman freeway. On the way back, the DJ was no longer on the overpass (though there was music playing). There were race clean-up crews cruising down the freeway in the opposite lane. The clocks had malfunctioned or something, so they were all reading a blank time, which was kind of discouraging. The crowd was sparse, the sun was beating down, and there was a headwind. Most people around me were walking. I was hurting. And it was just a bummer all around. Miles 22-24 are when most runners really need a boost, and it was like the opposite of that. But most of the scenery was great -- lots of pretty homes and moss-covered trees. We had great weather, and nearly an entirely flat course. The final two miles had encouragement from the last water stop (thanks, volunteers!), lots of cameras to smile for, and a finisher's chute that allowed you to see your destination and sprint about a quarter-mile to get there. Unfortunately, it was fairly narrow, so I had to verbally request permission to pass a couple of times. I loved all the race food at the end -- bananas, beef jerky, powerbars, chocolate milk. They had race blankets, but I didn't see any ice, which would have been nice. I may have missed it... or it may have been in the medical tent, which I didn't locate on the field. I thought the 2013 medals were ugly (rubbery looking) and oddly small (both the medal itself, and the ribbon it's strung from). However, the race shirts are great -- I liked the design, and the fact that they're Brooks tech tees! The after-party was also fun: a beer tent, live music, folks reclining and soaking in some sunshine and glory. They had the family reunion letter markers scattered around -- and this helped disperse the crowd and meeting points pretty well. A pretty positive experience, and I'm looking forward to the inaugural Rock n' Roll Raleigh event (although dreading the hills that come with it!). read more

Rock N Roll Savannah Marathon - Finisher party! - Races & Competitions Near Me

Rock and Roll Savannah Well...it's my 4th year running this race....and I can't say a bad thing about it! I love Savannah....and am SO glad that we have the opportunity to run the streets a bit! This year the route was changed up a little....but I still enjoyed the views! Expo: The Expo is quite a large event....so try to get there as early as possible. They have SO much to showcase and offer runners of all kinds. They play games, you win prizes, you get pumped up....to run. Run: Very crowded until people get their pace down and spread out. For the most part....this is a flat race course. You do have a slight upgrade coming out of mile 1...but it's small! The streets are lined with local bands to help motivate your run. They also are very encouraging as you pass their stage....cheering for you and wishing you the best. I love the spirit of the spectators that come out to support and cheer on the runners. They line the streets with signs that are always comical and keep you looking for more. The residents of Savannah come out of their houses to cheer us on, some have tables set up with snacks and drinks for the runners. The volunteers are, as always, friendly and happy to be there for the race. Their "good mornings" and "looking good" comments are just what you need at just that time! There were tons of pot-a-potties, water stands, Gatorade stands, sponges, fuel. And finishing in Forsyth Park with the fountain is such a reward for the run. Finish Line: Your medal....that is #1! There is always so much going on at the finish line. Tons of snacks: bananas, cheese its, granola bars, chocolate milk, water, Gatorade, beer.... They bring the merchandise to the finish line....just in case you forgot to get something at the expo. Smart thinking RNR!!! They have the stage set up and bands playing. All in all, the city of Savannah offers up a great destination run and the Southern Hospitality surly shines! Thank you Savannah for another great run....see you next year! read more

Rock N Roll Savannah Marathon - ARRG...running me booty off - Races & Competitions Near Me

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Such a great race! Perfect weather, awesome spectators. Everything was well organized from the expo to the end of the race. We stayed in the Hyatt Regency since the race started right out in front. The ferry to the expo was also very close to the hotel and our wait for the next boat was less than 10 minutes. As soon as you exit the ferry boat the convention center is right there. As far as expos go, it was pretty standard. I was able to pick up my race number and shirt quickly. The exhibitor choices were a little underwhelming, but it just means I didn't spend a lot of money there, which is good. The race was set to start at 7am, but since it was pretty cold outside, a lot of runners hung out in the hotel lobby until about 6:45. We were able to find our corral easily and it never felt over-crowded. The course takes you through some gorgeous parts of Savannah. It also takes you through some not-so-nice areas. The one thing that stood out though was how supportive the spectators were through every part of the city. They really made us feel welcome and made the race even more enjoyable. At the end there were plenty of food and drink options to help refuel. In fact, they had so much extra chocolate milk and muffins at the end that they were trying to give loads of it away to whoever was still around. I would absolutely recommend this race to everyone! It's a great way to get to know such a beautiful city. read more

I can't say enough about this race! This was my very first marathon. I had so much fun, the event staff was amazing. The route was awesome especially the first half, the second half had a tad and I'd say only a tad to be desired. But the entire run was fairly easy literally only 3 hills the entire way. The only reason I give it a 4 and not a 5 is because the expo, In my opinion wasn't spectacular and there were not enough specific race merchandise. It was very generalized for the whole series. I wanted more keepsake memorabilia specific to the Savannah race. Otherwise the area, the race and all great food through the weekend was spectacular!!! read more

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I have run the Savannah Rock n Roll half marathon now for three years and it is one of my favorite courses. It's a very flat course and goes through some scenic parts of Savannah. Savannah itself is a great town to visit, very walkable with many nice shops and places to eat. The race is very well attended, with over 12,000 runners in the half marathon. A very well organized. I like the free parking they offer at the convention center with the tug boat ride over to town. It was nice this year to have bananas and water bottles offered before the race. The snacks after the race were also pretty good, including a pint of Michelob beer. The race ends in a park where they have a rock concert after the race. There are lots of people lined up along the streets, and it's nice to have so many people cheering you as you finish. There are several water stations long the route with water and Gatorade, and one stop with GU gels. The Rock N Roll series has many races in different cities across the globe, and I am looking at some of their other locations outside of Georgia to register for, since the Savannah race is so well run. read more

This run was a good excuse for taking a trip to Savannah, and part of a two-weekend bi-coastal marathon series, consisting of the half in Savannah & then the Silver Strand half in San Diego on the following weekend. Now, at this time, let me preface this review with saying that I'm not a fan of the Competitor Group, the firm that's responsible for the worldwide Rock & Roll runs. Competitor tends to take over or simply crowd out locally-operated races, charge exorbitant run fees ($195 for the Las Vegas Half), and make a ton of money off those races, thereby offsetting the operating losses of other businesses owned by the private equity firm, Celera Capital. But, unlike most Rock & Roll runs, the Savannah half was reasonably priced, about $90. It was also one of the better organized R&R runs I've completed. Good stuff: * Start corrals not overly crowded; start line easy to access (OK, I'm responsible for the latter, for I stayed 2 blocks away). Much, much easier to get to than San Diego's. * I've always found going for a run in new town is the best way to discover it; this course was no exception. Course proceeded through diverse neighborhoods, from the pretty to the historic to the ghettorific. Incidentally, the best cheering came from residents in the less-than-pretty neighborhoods. * Lots of water, gatorade, GUs, etc. * Pretty damn flat course too, although some of the local & FL runners complained that the final 6 foot rise over some railroad tracks was just unacceptable. * Great finish location: Forsyth Park is huge, pretty, and had a big stage for the post-run bands, etc. * Combination of flat course, nice weather, and me overcoming some injuries got me shaving about 15 minutes off my previous few halfs... :) Could be better: * Beer wait: I finished at the right time, where the wait to claim my Free Michelob Ultra ("a half-a-real-beer for a half marathon") was nonexistant. A few minutes later that line was hundreds of people long. * Crowding at water stations: Some of these were on narrow streets which led to congestion -- one guy shooting for a 1:30 broke his toe in a pileup at one. * The maze-like mandatory expo -- there has got to be an easier way to get my run bib. Mail option please? While Savannah R&R is no San Dieguito or Carlsbad Half, I'm still a fan. And as other reviews will show, I'm definitely a fan of Savannah. read more

I've been to over 20 organized running events and this had been one of the best 2 years in a row!

This was a great event! I ran the half marathon with my girlfriend and we had lots of fun. This is a well laid out course with fun along the way (bands playing). There was also all the necessary items that races sometimes forget or skimp on (water / Gatorade stations, mile markers and clocks, etc). This was a race I'd love to do again! read more

This was an awesome race and a good choice for my second half marathon. Great running weather, enthusiastic crowd support, and a flat and fast course made this a good experience. Even though there about 17,000 participants, this was an organized race from the expo to the finish line. I decided to stay in a hotel near the airport (the hotels near the start of the race were ridiculously expensive) and utilized the shuttle service to get to the start line and back. The start corrals were clearly labeled and there were bananas and small bottles of water for people who needed it before the start of the race. The course did start in some of the not-so-pretty parts of Savannah, but people were still out in their front yards cheering us on. The one portion of the race that could be improved upon is the finish line-- it really got congested due to people trying to get their medals and recovery food. It would be helpful if they could have volunteers/workers there to keep traffic flowing. Also the race directors should consider putting some of the recovery foods in a bag so your not stuck carrying a bottle of water, chocolate milk, Gatorade, banana, etc. in your hands while trying to get out of the finish area. Like I said before, this was a great race and I look forward to doing it again next year. read more