Overall Rating
Overall Rating (32 Reviews)
3.9
(32 Ratings)  (32 Reviews)
DIFFICULTY
1.9
SCENERY
2.7
PRODUCTION
4
SWAG
3.8
Welcome to Speed City, USA! Nicknamed after the legendary San Jose State track teams of the 60s, San Jose is all about speed. United Airlines Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose is no different. Run at PR-setting speed on a course that’s bursting with San Jose spirit and loved by the … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Oct 05):
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H (°F)  95  81  76  86  73
L (°F)  64  55  57  58  46
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Recent reviews

    dbierness FIRST-TIMER '22

    Rock n Roll Clearwater was cancelled with a week to go (hurricanes), so I quickly transferred my reg to Rock n Roll San Jose to bag the #10 Heavy Medal. … MORE

    Rock n Roll Clearwater was cancelled with a week to go (hurricanes), so I quickly transferred my reg to Rock n Roll San Jose to bag the #10 Heavy Medal.
    Good points: Downtown is pretty cheap to stay near the start/finish lines, and pretty easy to get to with public transport. The usual good level of Rock n Roll logistics support (though one band was kinda bad, TBH). Course was not memorable either way – no killer stretches, but not a cakewalk.
    Frankly, the only bad point was that the downtown area seemed to be dying, which is not the race’s problem

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    uijikuat FIRST-TIMER '22

    This is definitely one of the flattest race I have ever done, there were only very gradual climb, nothing strenuous. I personally like running by the water and scenic views, … MORE

    This is definitely one of the flattest race I have ever done, there were only very gradual climb, nothing strenuous.

    I personally like running by the water and scenic views, and this route mostly feature different residential neighbors.

    Like any other RnR races, this is very well organized pre and post race.

    DIFFICULTY
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    4
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    2
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    5

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    pbegno FIRST-TIMER '22

    We were originally doing Savannah, Georgia that race was cancelled and we chose San Jose. Weather was Gorgeous! The race started late and it was seemed to get colder. First … MORE

    We were originally doing Savannah, Georgia that race was cancelled and we chose San Jose. Weather was Gorgeous! The race started late and it was seemed to get colder. First corral was supposed to take off at 8am and I think it was about 20 minutes late. Our corral finally took off around 8:45am. Plenty of water stations and crowd support along the route. We stayed at the Signia Hilton and was absolutely perfect to walk to start of 5K and Half Marathon and end of both races. The after race events were right in front of our hotel! Great restaurants in walking distance. We took an uber to San Francisco one day to visit Pier 39 and Alcatraz. It was a great trip to complete State #8

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    wbegnaud FIRST-TIMER '22

    Nice course, and truly perfect course to set PR for sure. Relatively flat throughout without too many sharp turns. Crowd support along the course was awesome as well. The end … MORE

    Nice course, and truly perfect course to set PR for sure. Relatively flat throughout without too many sharp turns. Crowd support along the course was awesome as well. The end of race was nice and supportive to everyone!

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    pbegno FIRST-TIMER '22

    Great 5K Run! Flat course - one water station - I run with my own so I didn't stop. 2 Music Areas on Course - One DJ and One Live … MORE

    Great 5K Run! Flat course – one water station – I run with my own so I didn’t stop. 2 Music Areas on Course – One DJ and One Live Band. Had a Live Band at the Finish that was Amazing! Finished 6th in my Age Division and Watched a 95 year old women cross the finish line

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    lindayoung REPEAT RUNNER '19

    This is my third Rock n Roll race (2nd Rock n Roll Half Marathon distance). As always, a fantastic experience with Rock n Roll - always a great race execution … MORE

    This is my third Rock n Roll race (2nd Rock n Roll Half Marathon distance). As always, a fantastic experience with Rock n Roll – always a great race execution with this company. For San Jose specifically, the run is a pretty flat course that goes through parts of down town and residential areas.

    NEGATIVES:
    -Mile markers could have been more prominent. There were 2 mile markers that I knew was approaching due to my Nike running app tracker, but I never saw due to crowds, etc.
    -The last Rock n Roll Half distance I ran had also included our times at the 5k, 10k, and possibly 15k, check points in our results. Did not see this included this year which surprised me, it looked like they had the timing set up on the course at the 5k and 10k checkpoints. However, we got our total time + pace posted online very quickly (was posted same day as race day).

    POSITIVES:
    -FREE parking at the SAP Center from 5am – 1pm for the race. This was SO convenient and very well executed. Rock n Roll even coordinated with Waze (popular navigation app) to mark all road closures!
    -Multiple days of Expo for bib pick up (including bib pick up 2 hours before start time of race day!)
    -As always with Rock n Roll, fantastic medal designs and dry-fit tech shirt designs. They also customize the shirts and medals to the actual distance you are running!
    -Corral assignments were pretty efficient (not strictly enforced). A bit of a wait if you’re in the later corrals, but makes the overall race experience so much better. Easy process to switch corral assignments if you want to.
    -Overall great course support. I believe 6 water stations for the half distance: 3 stations with water and 3 stations with both water/gatorade, had GU energy gels as well.
    -After race snacks. This is the most improved category compared to the past Rock n Roll events I have done! They had gatorade bottles, water bottles, chocolate milk, cheez-its, pringles, granola bars, peanut butter crackers, multi grain crackers, bananas. And of course 1 free beer per runner at the finish line.
    -Great weather in San Jose!
    -Tiered pricing. The early bird pricing for Rock n Roll races is a great deal for the very high quality production they put on. Early bird ~$59 up to ~$179 for last minute registration at the Expo (2019 Half Marathon prices, EXCLUDING taxes and fees).
    -Plenty of volunteers, well stocked water stations.
    -Lots of residents and local schools cheering us on.

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    philld2 REPEAT RUNNER '18

    This is a flat fast course to get a PR. It is crowded at the start so pick your spot accordingly. Unfortunately people tend to get up front even though … MORE

    This is a flat fast course to get a PR. It is crowded at the start so pick your spot accordingly. Unfortunately people tend to get up front even though they are going to be much slower, so the start is crowded. But people spread out within the first straightaway and then there is plenty of space. Lots of turns so be careful not to do too many extra yards. The finish area is great with lots of post race goodies to grab. Nice shirt and huge medal.

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    Lani FIRST-TIMER '18

    In a nutshell, this is a very accessible race that serves as a great entry into running events for the newer or infrequent racer. Experienced racers may want to run … MORE

    In a nutshell, this is a very accessible race that serves as a great entry into running events for the newer or infrequent racer. Experienced racers may want to run this for the fast course, or use Rock ‘n’ Roll races as a reason to travel to different cities. The course is lined with musical bands and cheer squads, adding an entertaining and fun atmosphere. Each mile is marked with a big marker, and most of them also have a digital clock so you can see how long you’ve taken.

    For those who have done runDisney races, the Rock ‘n’ Roll is kind of like Universal Studios to your Walt Disney World. Similar, but with some differences. The accessibility of the RnR races means this is a great race for a “friends weekend getaway” group event. And like runDisney, RnR provides different distances. And a Saturday 5K means you can participate in two races over two days, which can earn you a special medal of recognition.

    EXPO

    The expo is held on Friday and Saturday at the local convention center. I was told it would be HUGE…. but apparently for this year, it was shrunken by half, and a big part of the space was taken up with official branded gear. Perhaps because Brooks is a primary sponsor of the RnR races, I didn’t see a lot of vendors from its competitors.

    The sheer amount of souvenir swag was pretty impressive, though, and almost matched runDisney in scale. If this was a special half marathon and you wanted to commemorate it, you could choose from shirts, hoodies, jackets, to mugs, stickers, and bags. I already own so much race gear I didn’t see a need to get anything beyond the official participant shirt, but I wound up finding a great backpack cooler that came with folding beach chair (the chair was incorporated into the backpack itself as a single unit). I plan to use this as my gear bag for future races.

    PARKING/LOGISTICS/PRE-RACE/CORRALS

    The half marathon starts at 8:00 and if you can get there by 7:00, you can find free parking at the SAP Center. This is a great deal, and the starting area is probably only a half mile away.

    Although you are assigned a starting wave, this race is very lax and there are no officials to verify that you are in the right place (such is not the case for other large races). I was told the only RnR race where you are limited to your own wave is at their marquis race in Las Vegas.

    Just be mindful that if you move forward ahead of your assigned area, those around you will be moving much faster. For everyone’s safety, move to the side of the course and let the faster runners pass. That way, you’ll avoid being pushed and jostled, and the faster people won’t trip trying to get around you.

    THE COURSE

    The half marathon course weaves through downtown San Jose and into the local community. There’s nothing particularly remarkable, except there are some neighborhoods with incredibly huge homes. With the high cost of housing in the Bay Area, I can’t even imagine how much these homes might sell for (but well in the eight figures, I’m sure).

    The entire course is on paved roads, on wide roads. Even in the neighborhood communities, the course winds through bigger streets. At no time will you experience poorly chosen turns or narrow portions that cause bottlenecks. Other than the occasional crack or reflective road dot, there are also no hazards to trip over.

    The highlight of the race is all the different musical bands along the course. I think they had one at least once a mile, and they were of all different types of music. If I had more time I would’ve stopped to take pictures, but I definitely appreciated this “race soundtrack.”

    CHALLENGES/MEDALS/SWAG

    The medal for the race itself was OK. It wasn’t too big. Interestingly, the straps for all their medals are much narrower than traditional ones. But RnR is known for its flashy medals as long as you’re willing to sign up for additional races or challenges. For example, if you ran the previous day’s 5K, completing Sunday’s 10K or half marathon gave you a third medal as a reward for the extra challenge of running back to back.

    FINISH/POST-RACE

    As you come into the finish, you are instructed to go one way if you were finishing the 10K, and the other for the half marathon. Both groups rejoined after crossing their respective timing mats, and you walked through the post-finish line area, where they provided you with water bottle, energy drink bottle, chocolate milk, and various packaged snacks. They still had a lot of inventory when I finished, so I can’t say how well-stocked they were for the duration of the race (I’ve been told they run out for the slower participants, unfortunately).

    Speaking of a slower pace, as I was walking back towards my car, I saw that there were trucks going to the various band stages to start taking the stages down. And this was while the 3-hour racers were still finishing! I realize 3 hours for a half marathon isn’t going to set any world records, but that’s still a solid pace and well ahead of their cutoff time, so I was really surprised and somewhat disappointed that they thought it was OK to start turning the entertainment off while so many people were still on the course.

    The race finishes by the Plaza de Cesar Chavez, and they take up the entire space for the race. They have large signs in the reunion area so you can meet back up with your fellow runners or with family/friends who came out to support you. There was a very large tent where they were selling all the race gear, as well as a very large stage where a band was performing. If you’re there with friends, this is a wonderful post-race area that encourages you to linger. They even had free beer for race participants.

    All in all, it was a fun race. I don’t know if I’ll do it again, but I’m glad I finally had the chance to run a RnR race.

    Footnote: One race shirt design particularly stood out, and it made a poor impression on me (as well as to everyone else, apparently). The design looked like a California vanity license plate that said “San Jose” on the top (where it normally says “California”) and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon San Jose” across the bottom — that is, this shirt was specific to THIS race. However, the main “vanity letters” across the middle said “RUN SOCAL”, as in Southern California. Somehow, some wires got crossed when they designed/ordered this shirt, because San Jose is part of the Northern California Bay Area, and is definitely not in SoCal!

    When I looked through the merchandise tent at the post-race area, I saw that they were selling these shirts for 40% off. I guess nobody else wanted these mistakes, either. It actually managed to insult both Northern AND Southern Californians at the same time! I almost feel like I should have bought it just as a joke shirt, but I’ll be happy just posting a photo of the boo-boo.

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    PeteSinCA Oct 11, 2018 at 6:10am

    RnR San Jose Half is "accessible" in a couple of ways. Car access doesn't suck (Lani mentioned the free parking), and there are a couple of Light Rail stations near… MORE

    RnR San Jose Half is "accessible" in a couple of ways. Car access doesn't suck (Lani mentioned the free parking), and there are a couple of Light Rail stations near the start and finish areas. San Jose Half was my first and third half marathon, so I've done both, and it's pretty good for new Half Crazies. The most challenging "hills" are a couple of freeway underpasses, a pretty gentle intro. LESS

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    bayna6 FIRST-TIMER '17

    I really like running in San Jose, I would definitely do this race again. The scenery was nice, the temperature was really good and the participants we fantastic. MORE

    I really like running in San Jose, I would definitely do this race again. The scenery was nice, the temperature was really good and the participants we fantastic.

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    bayna6 FIRST-TIMER '17

    This was my first trip to San Jose and I really enjoyed it. It is a great place to run, the course is very nice, the scenery is nice and … MORE

    This was my first trip to San Jose and I really enjoyed it. It is a great place to run, the course is very nice, the scenery is nice and I would definitely run this one again.

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    frankhwu REPEAT RUNNER '17

    This was my PR (to date). So I have only positive things to say. It's flat, which accounts for it being fast. I also had a personal pacer, someone I … MORE

    This was my PR (to date). So I have only positive things to say.
    It’s flat, which accounts for it being fast. I also had a personal pacer, someone I run with often who is much faster but nice to me. We finished with the exact same time.
    Mass start. Bit of a wait for your turn. Not complaining; just noting.
    I am spoiled by San Francisco. I can’t say I really am dazzled by the sights of San Jose. However, it is fine.
    I probably will run this again.

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    Angela REPEAT RUNNER '17

    This race was my 3rd half back in 2010 & I though it hardly seems possible I was back this year for my 20th! ***LOCATION*** San Jose, CA ***DATE*** Early … MORE

    This race was my 3rd half back in 2010 & I though it hardly seems possible I was back this year for my 20th!

    ***LOCATION***
    San Jose, CA

    ***DATE***
    Early October (Oct 8, 2017 this year)

    ***PRICE***
    Competitor shows only the current price rather than the entire fee schedule and I was not diligent enough to track the various price increases, BUT I can tell you that a) I paid $79.99 + $11.99 transaction fee (!?!) in March, b) the price has risen to $175 for last-minute expo registration, and c) they offered a limited 2018 pre-registration special race weekend for $59 (a price I consider actually reasonable for a half marathon).

    Truthfully, the cost of Rock ‘N Roll races makes me a bit ill, but it is worth noting that RNR now offers a kind of refund insurance that covers things like illness, injury, pregnancy, etc. that might foil your race (I don’t see the amount listed on the website anywhere now, but one assumes it would be less than the cost of the race?), and you can also defer for $45.

    ***DEADLINES/SELLOUT FACTOR***
    I feel like this race has sold out in the past, but as of the day before the race, there were still spots available if you signed up at the expo. (Online registration was closed on Friday, I think.) It makes more sense now why I saw promo codes floating around the internet a few weeks back.

    ***FIELD SIZE***
    Half Marathon – 6,483
    10K – 2,403
    5K – 1,767

    ***STAGING***
    The start is at Santa Clara and Almaden, just a few blocks north-west of Cesar Chavez Plaza, and the finish is pretty much at Cesar Chavez Plaza, so I was quite happy with my decision to stay at the Four Points Sheraton, less than a block from the finish. Yes, it’s an additional expense, but for a bigger, longer race, I really prefer not to have to drive and deal with parking or public transit on race morning if I can possibly justify it. (Also, more sleep!)

    Gear check was maybe two short blocks away, and it was nice to see that they had several smaller banks of toilets scattered around the staging area rather than one GIANT PORT-A-POLLY GALLEY. I never had to wait to use them.

    ***PARKING***
    As of 7:30pm the night before the race, the parking info page still said “Coming soon!” Oops. When I ran this race back in 2010, I didn’t stay within walking distance, and found it very easy to park in municipal public parking within just a few blocks of the start, and it was even free! (The caveat being that since I was driving & am paranoid, I arrived quite early & apparently beat the rush). I’m not sure if it’s that easy anymore, but there are definitely a BUNCH of large public garages in downtown San Jose as the staging area is right near the convention center. If you’re staying at hotel near the start (and there are MANY to choose from), you’re good; you’ll just probably have to pay. (Eg, I stayed at the Four Points Sheraton, a couple blocks from the start, and parking was $29/night.)

    ***THE COURSE***
    Let’s just get this out of the way: The course is USATF certified, folks. People run Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying times on it. It is 13.1 miles. Your GPS is not God.

    This course is pancake-flat, and actually has relatively few turns for an urban race. (Don’t let the elevation graph fool you, look at the scale.) Both times I’ve run this race there has been a pretty awesome crowd presence (see: urban races), plus there are the bands if you’re into that. (Personally, I’m not. You run by them so fast that you barely catch any of what they’re playing, and I don’t know about you but when I’m racing I’m a bit too preoccupied to pay attention to that kind of thing anyway.)

    Aid stations were sufficient, well organized, staffed by super with-it volunteers, and–be still my beating heart–pouring real actual sports drink with real actual calories in it. Lemon-lime Gatorade 4eva. I carry my own gels but the later stations were handing some out along with maybe shot blocks or something, not totally sure.

    ***SWAG***
    Not that I need more of them but I am happy to say that the tech T situation has much improved since 2010! This one actually fits, and doesn’t make me feel like I look like a can of Sprite if I wear it in public. And of course it wouldn’t be a Rock ‘N Roll race without a goofy rock-themed medal. (Then again I guess if you run a gimmicky race you can’t complain too much about getting a gimmicky medal.)

    ***AWARDS***
    If you are super speedy, it might be relevant to your interests that there are prizes for male and female overall winners 1st-3rd, plus 1st, 2nd, & 3rd male & female in five-year increments. At 6,000+ runners, including a fair number of elites and pros, though, they were definitely not relevant to mine! (I believe the men’s race was won in 1:03:xx & the women’s race in 1:12:xx hoooooly Jesus! AND she was in my age group!)

    ***IF YOU DECIDE TO RUN***
    – If you can swing the additional $$ I definitely recommend staying nearby as it is just so easy with the approximately 10 gazillion hotels within a five block radius. It saved me so much time & stress in terms of sheer logistics & variables to manage.

    – The thing about this race is that yes, it’s a fall race, but just barely, and it’s still in San Jose, so it is unlikely to ever be particularly chilly (though it did rain a bit in 2010). The high this year was forecasted to be 87F, so although it was not super hot during the time I was actually running (8:00am start), it was full sun on asphalt so it felt warmer toward the end of the race than it actually was.

    – Officially there is no race day packet pickup, but I overheard some race staff talking and it seems to me that they will definitely give you your bib on race morning if for some reason you weren’t able to get it at the expo, but they don’t advertise that fact since they don’t want 400 people going, “Pshhh, I’ll just be a slug & pick it up in the morning.” So be a good person & pick it up at the expo if you can, but don’t panic if disaster strikes.

    ***OVERALL ASSESSMENT***
    You know, for all that I am not a fan of Competitor Group and some of the Rock ‘N Roll races have gotten bad reports in the past, I have to admit that this was a really great, really well-run and convenient race for me. My only complaints are that the website needs to be updated with key information (ie, parking, aid station info, etc.) in a few places and maybe put the trash cans a bit closer to the tangents. All in all, though, it’s a pretty great Bay Area option if you’re looking to run a fast race, and I can see why so many elites and other super speedy folks run it. No, it is not the cheapest race you could run, but I just took advantage of that $59 2018 pre-reg deal myself, which I think is pretty fair.

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    PeteSinCA Oct 13, 2017 at 2:29pm

    San Jose weather varies considerably around that time of year. I did a 10K the weekend before in central San Jose (a block or two from the 2012 and 2013… MORE

    San Jose weather varies considerably around that time of year. I did a 10K the weekend before in central San Jose (a block or two from the 2012 and 2013 RnR start area) and it was still in the 60s at 11AM. OTOH, there was 2017 Trail Hog weekend. LESS

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    trainwithv FIRST-TIMER '17

    5K on Saturday and you can pick up your bib there and not go to the Friday night expo. Great flat courses with close parking for both the 5k and … MORE

    5K on Saturday and you can pick up your bib there and not go to the Friday night expo. Great flat courses with close parking for both the 5k and 1/2 marathon, later start for the 1/2 at 8am. Great friendly race with lots of support and cheerleaders.

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    PeteSinCA Oct 11, 2017 at 11:40am

    For locals who don't like parking in central SJ, VTA Light Rail has a stop or two close to the start area.

    For locals who don't like parking in central SJ, VTA Light Rail has a stop or two close to the start area.

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    littlebvt FIRST-TIMER '16

    This was one of the smaller RnR races but still was nice. The race went along the streets and neighborhoods of the city and the residents cheered us on, along … MORE

    This was one of the smaller RnR races but still was nice. The race went along the streets and neighborhoods of the city and the residents cheered us on, along most of the race. The beer garden was seamless and made the race even more rewarding!

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    Ymer REPEAT RUNNER '16

    Its a nice flat course and goes through some nice neighborhoods in the San JOse area, but smaller than most of RNR other races. The usual standards for medals and … MORE

    Its a nice flat course and goes through some nice neighborhoods in the San JOse area, but smaller than most of RNR other races. The usual standards for medals and entertainment,

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    RunKMacRun REPEAT RUNNER '16

    Great to do with the 5K on Saturday. Both courses are flat and fast. I believe some records have been set with the course. I'm already signed up for my … MORE

    Great to do with the 5K on Saturday. Both courses are flat and fast. I believe some records have been set with the course. I’m already signed up for my 4th year.

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    RunKMacRun REPEAT RUNNER '16

    I love running around all the expensive old homes. The 5K course is quick and pretty flat. 5K is a great run and you earn the Remix challenge if you … MORE

    I love running around all the expensive old homes. The 5K course is quick and pretty flat. 5K is a great run and you earn the Remix challenge if you do this along with the 1/2 on Sunday

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    fabe46 FIRST-TIMER '16

    There were only a few (three if i had to put a number on it) significant uphills on cousre. The course went through nice neigborhoods. The bands and spectators were … MORE

    There were only a few (three if i had to put a number on it) significant uphills on cousre. The course went through nice neigborhoods. The bands and spectators were good. Weather got little warm but nothing too bad. Cool medals and shirt logo. Plenty of hotel options downtown near festival, expo, and start/finish lines. I would do again in two or three years.

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    amandasava FIRST-TIMER '15

    This was my second Rock n Roll race and it was a huge let down compared to San Diego. The course was flat and easy and well marked, but it … MORE

    This was my second Rock n Roll race and it was a huge let down compared to San Diego.

    The course was flat and easy and well marked, but it was hot and uninspiring.

    As usual for a Rock n Roll event, the expo and swag were fantastic. And I did love doing the 5k the day before for the Remix medal.

    Overall it was a fine road half, but not one that I’ll be looking to do again.

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    fabe46 Oct 05, 2016 at 12:14pm

    Of three cities I have done with rock n roll or for any race and city... San Diego has been best hands down..

    Of three cities I have done with rock n roll or for any race and city... San Diego has been best hands down..

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    lindayoung FIRST-TIMER '15

    Ran the half marathon in 2015 (their 10th anniversary year). Overall, this was an A event! Pros: -Reasonable and logical price tiers, usually starting at ~$60 for the lowest pricing … MORE

    Ran the half marathon in 2015 (their 10th anniversary year). Overall, this was an A event!

    Pros:
    -Reasonable and logical price tiers, usually starting at ~$60 for the lowest pricing (unlike disney which starts at almost $200 for first tier pricing)
    -Nice course (flat, enjoyable, good variety)
    -Quality bling
    -water stations were well stocked
    -volunteers were great
    -got a promo shirt for early sign-up 🙂
    -they allow people to change corral assignments; was a quick and painless process
    -good finish line snack variety (water, gatorade, nesquick, bananas, nuts, power bar, beer)
    -perfect northern california weather

    Cons:
    -think they really skimped in the goodies inside our bib pick-up bags at the expo (only got a 15% sports authority coupon; which btw previous years had a 20% off sports authority coupon)
    -Had a hard time carrying my water, gatorade, banana, and other snacks in the finish chute; would have been nice if they gave out a small baggie to help us carry the snacks, especially as we were not allowed to re-enter if we wanted another water or something
    -saw the porta potty lines in the first 5 miles or so were crazy long, maybe could use more potties? the ones in the second half of the race had no lines though..

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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  1. Races
  2. Rock 'n' Roll San Jose