I’ve started and re-started this post a few times. I knew this wouldn’t be the most fun race recap to write but I have to #keepitreal so here is goes..
This weekend I ran the Inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Brooklyn Half Marathon. This was my third and final Rock ‘n’ Roll race of this year. I was looking forward to this race since I had so much fun running through Brooklyn during the NYRR Airbnb Brooklyn Half Marathon earlier this year. The night before I laid out a nice bright outfit for the run!
I was really feeling pink for some reason… |
Finally it was race day! I’m usually a morning person but that 4:15 a.m. wake up call was brutal, but necessary to get to the race in time. We didn’t really hit any traffic until we were about a mile from the race start. Luckily I was able to hop out of the car to finish walking to the start while my parents went to park the car.
I think I’ll break this recap into the good, the bad and the ugly to make it a little easier to get all my thoughts down.
The Good
- Finisher Medal – Hands down, RnR has the best race medals, period. I have been pleased with all of their medals. They are super unique and heavy. Also this medal happens to do double duty as a bottle opener 🙂
Look at that bling! |
- Race Shirt – Again, great quality and the subway theme was different – I love it!
- Volunteers – All the volunteers I encountered on the course were joyful, super energetic and always smiling. This is very typical for RnR volunteers!
- Water/gatorade stations – I didn’t need to stop for water until mile 9 but the stations that I saw had enough volunteers. A few volunteers were in front of the table holding the cups and then there were tables stacked with cups. I felt like the stations were very well stocked.
- Race Course – Overall the course was flat up until Mile 11 in Prospect Park. That hill seemed to go on forever!
This was near Grand Army Plaza – look at all the runners! |
- Perfect Weather – We could not have asked for better weather. Sure, it was a little cold at the start but it warmed up. It was a prefect Fall day in my opinion (just a little windy!)
The Bad
- Post Race Food – For the life of me, I do not understand why getting a bagel after running for 2+ hours is so hard? This is one of my biggest pet peeves! After the race they had power bars, bananas, granola, water, gatorade and chocolate milk available. It was just a weird mix of items.
- Incorrect Tracking – RnR offers runner tracking through text message. Originally I signed up to get it on my phone so I could see my splits once I finished the race. As I was standing in the port a potty line, my phone buzzed stating I had crossed the 5K mark…even though I had not even crossed the start line yet! Eventually it worked itself out.
- Music – A definite lack of bands on the course, but I think this could have been due to noise ordinances in Brooklyn, I’m not exactly sure.
The Ugly
Okay, so before I start let me say that overall I like Rock ‘n’ Roll races, but what I and many other runners experienced on Saturday before the race was really unacceptable. I expect more from a huge racing organization that puts on races in many large cities.
- The Security Line – Weeks before the race, we were told that there would be a security checkpoint before entering the corrals. This was fine as the NYRR Airbnb Brooklyn Half had the same thing. It literally took me 5 minutes to get through that security line so I assumed it would be the same for the RnR Brooklyn race…I was wrong. I was in line for at least 45 minutes. Finally we were told that if we didn’t have a bag we could walk through the side entrance. So basically I just wasted almost an hour to not get checked at security. Yup, makes total sense. Look, I’m all for a security checkpoint, especially for a large race in New York, but that should have been planned way better. I still have no idea why the line was so backed up. Because if this, the race started 30 minutes late at 7:30.
- Port a Potty Lines – After I picked up my bib and started my walk to the security line, I hard to urge to pee (never a good thing). I was going to use the port a potty but the line was absolutely INSANE!! I cannot even describe how long this line was. Basically if I had waited in that line, it would have been an hour wait easily. I knew there had to be port a potties available by the corrals. There were only 12 port a potties near the corrals…yes only 12! I’m sorry but that’s total bullshit. Again, I waited on that line for over 30 minutes. Basically I crossed the start line at 8:15, 5 minutes before they were going to remove the start line mat. Also I had this exact same problem at RnRDC. Note to RnR – You can never have too many port a potties!!
Putting in work! |
Putting in work – part 2 |
See – I did have fun! |
A little blurry, but I picked up the pace at the end |
It’s over! |
Update: Last night Rock ‘n’ Roll sent a Congratulations email and also apologized for the laste start. Below is a snippet of that email:
We sincerely apologize for the delayed start and otherwise hope you had a great race experience. To ensure the safety of the event and its participants, local law enforcement put counter terrorism measures in place where athletes have to be screened prior to the start. There was a delay in getting all participants through the screening point and clearing the course which delayed the start of the race. We are already working at ways to address this issue and others for 2016 and beyond.
We hope you enjoyed the rest of the day’s festivities and we acknowledge and understand there are improvements we need to make for next year (we’ll be sending you a survey for your thoughts shortly!)
.I really appreciate the email and the apology. I think that was very classy on their part. I still will not run the race next year but if I hear good feedback after the 2016 race I will consider going back in 2017.
Have you ever experienced disorganization at a race? How did you push through to enjoy your run?
Erica @ Erica Finds says
Great job on getting back in the mood. I ran the holiday half in San Diego last year which inexplicably started ~37 minutes late for no stated reason and the course was a cluster. Years ago I missed an NYRR half in Central Park b/c I was still on the bib pick up line when the gun went off. These things are crazy making! RNR should know better!! But the first year can be hard. I do love that shirt!!
kookyrunner says
Thanks Erica! If was so hard to get my head back in the game after being super annoyed. Thats horrible about the race in San Diego and the NYRR race. Luckily I havent had any issues with NYRR races yet (keeping my fingers crossed). RnR Brooklyn will be back next year but I will not run it. I'll wait to hear feedback and then maybe decide on doing it in 2017.
Coco says
Great recap! I've heard mixed feedback on RNR races. There were security checkpoints at the ArmyTenMiler, but they mostly checked for bibs and peeked in bags so it went quickly. I've got a link up for recaps on my post if you want to join!
kookyrunner says
Thank you Coco! I've gone through security checkpoints before and they were pretty quick so thats why I was surpirsed about this one. I've done 3 RnR races this year and only enjoyed 1 so I'm not too sold on their races yet. I'll check out the link up for race recaps. Thanks!
Jenn13.1 says
I'm still on the fence about RNR races. They're a big enough race series to not have the minor issues I've experience with them. I have one more this year and 2 scheduled next year- I hope they listen to the feedback from the participants and make some changes.
Congrats on the finish! Awesome medal and shirt.
kookyrunner says
Same here. I've done 3 of their races and only liked Chicago so far (even though that also had some minor issues). I have 2 scheduled for next year and I hope those go better 🙂
Jenn13.1 says
Those will be better since I'll be there Ha 🙂 San Diego is a good one- great residential crowd support in the neighbourhoods we run through. My only complaint about San Diego was the early time we had to be at parking by to make the shuttle (4am!) so I might stay in a hotel year near the start line or Uber it in.
kookyrunner says
That's good to know about San Diego! Wow that's an early start time, I hope the hotel I booked it close enough to the start lol
Wendy Rivard says
Hopefully the race directors will work out the kinks for next year. I swear, the Chicago Marathon should give lessons on race logistics. It is by far the most organized race I have ever done, and by the far the largest.
Congrats on a great race!
kookyrunner says
I agree. The Chicago Marathon seemed super organized even though there were thousands of runners!
Abby says
Any time races start late I begin to get a bit ticked off because I am all about my race day schedule. Way to pull it out and bring it all together with a great finish. I hope they get it all sorted out before next year.
kookyrunner says
Totally agree! I will say that last night RnR sent a Congratulations email. In that email was an apology about the late start. I think that was very good on their part and I can appreciate that!
Annmarie L says
Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience to start the race but GREAT JOB kicking butt! You rock!
kookyrunner says
Thanks Annmarie! RnR did send over an email last night and they apologized for the late start and the other issues. I appreciate the apology from them!
Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says
overall, i've never been impressed with RNR races. they are okay but with such a big, for-profit organization, i always expect them to do better and they never seem to step it up.
kookyrunner says
I've done 3 of their races this year and I really enjoyed the one in Chicago. I'll give them another chance since I'm already signed up for San Diego. I'll keep my fingers crossed for that one 🙂
Susie Suzlyfe says
I've mixed feelings about RnR Races. I've done Chicago, and while it was well organized, there was no entertainment? And the course wasn't so good. I am planning on doing RnR NOLA with Team Challenge, though. I would love to run a race in NYC. I miss that city so much!
kookyrunner says
I also did RnR Chicago this year. I liked the first half of the course but agree about the lack of entertainment. I'm signed up to do it again next year so I hope that aspect will improve. Running races in NYC are usually so much fun. Join me next year for the NYC Marathon! ???