Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah
Savannah, GA
- Marathon, Half Marathon, Half Marathon Relay, 5K, 1 Miler
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Experience A Charming Escape Welcome to the most beautiful course in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series circuit. Escape your routine and join us for a Southern getaway in the heart of Savannah. Run this flat, fast course and you’ll uncover all that this charming city has to offer, from … MORE
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Historic Savannah
Savannah in general is absolutely beautiful. My personal experience with this race was tough. It was 40 degrees with torrential downpour the entire time which I was not expecting. Powered … MORE
Savannah in general is absolutely beautiful. My personal experience with this race was tough. It was 40 degrees with torrential downpour the entire time which I was not expecting. Powered through & completed in a good personal time considering the circumstances.
Love Rock N Roll!
Always love Rock n Roll, and Savannah was beautiful. The course map ended up looking like a giraffe which was kind of neat. Lots of turns but they were all … MORE
Always love Rock n Roll, and Savannah was beautiful. The course map ended up looking like a giraffe which was kind of neat. Lots of turns but they were all gentle. I won my AG and was a little sad that they didn’t offer any AG awards, but otherwise it was a great production as always. TONS of photos for a 5K, too!
Miserable is the only word
Gosh the weather was absolutely miserable. We stayed at The Thunderbird Inn (will definitely be back!) and walked to and from the start/finish. The expo was lame, and even though … MORE
Gosh the weather was absolutely miserable. We stayed at The Thunderbird Inn (will definitely be back!) and walked to and from the start/finish. The expo was lame, and even though we were there with hours to spare, we got NOTHING extra free like our friends who came through a little earlier. Also despite mentioning I’d already registered for another RnR race, I didn’t get an extra shirt like people who registered on site. The start was a disaster as we waited forever in the rain before the wave start and then spent a mile passing slower runners and walkers since the corrals were nonexistent. Needless to say this may always be the race I compare others to: “Well I ran 13.1 miles in the 40 degree rain, so I can do this…” We’re not running this race again this year, but we’ll be back some day to enjoy the city in better conditions!
Great Course, not a great production
First off, Savannah is beautiful! When running downtown, you can't go wrong with the sights and the course is super easy. My only recommendation, find a race in Savannah that … MORE
First off, Savannah is beautiful! When running downtown, you can’t go wrong with the sights and the course is super easy. My only recommendation, find a race in Savannah that isn’t a Rock n Roll.
The 2021 race was a weather disaster, so I am going to write my review in stride knowing that they have no control over that, but there are things they had control over that didn’t go great.
The expo didn’t feel like it was planned well. I understand we need to do COVID checks but it was a 15-minute wait to get into the expo, after sitting in traffic to get there for 10 minutes before that. At the expo, you had to wait in a line to get an ID check for a wristband for your free beer at the end – all fine and dandy if the beer wasn’t Heiniken 0.0 beer. 1) Why check IDs for an alcohol-free beer? 2) who gives out an alcohol-free beer?!
Now for race day… I understand that weather was an issue but it was pretty obvious weather was going to be an issue days before the event, so some of the issues day of were pretty frustrating. They cancelled the full an hour before it was supposed to start (I was only running the half) but I know people that were very frustrated that there wasn’t even a warning that they were considering it the day before.
As for the start, let me remind you it was cold and pouring. We stood at the start line for 25 minutes in the pouring rain and “feels like” 37-degree weather without a legible explanation as to why. about 15 minutes into the wait, it looked like we were about to head off, so we stripped the trashbags to get going, only to stand freezing for another 10-15 minutes.
I do want to give a HUGE shout-out to the volunteers this day. They were so nice, supportive, and mostly looking happy to be there! Even though it was pouring and freezing. Thank you to them for the high energy and support!
Wet-N-Wild Savannah
The Rock-N-Roll Savannah was a bit disorganized dealing with weather they knew was coming but did not prepare. With 10 years under their belt, you would have thought they would … MORE
The Rock-N-Roll Savannah was a bit disorganized dealing with weather they knew was coming but did not prepare. With 10 years under their belt, you would have thought they would have contingency plans for major rain and cold temperatures but they lacked that planning. Although they did cancel the full marathon race morning at around 7:00am, the half started 40 minutes late. With all the rain, Rock-n-Roll still kept the bands playing which was a much appreciated distraction.
The finish line is where everything fell apart. Besides heat blankets, there was barely any food or drink. The Gatorade bottles that were available required you to take off the lid and remove the seal – hard to do when your hands are cold and wet! No shelter (or heat lamps) at the end to help keep you warm. Oh did I mention the lack of food – they had potatoes chips, granola bars and bananas, separated far apart. Volunteers were scarce so it was help yourself. Truly a race to leave the finish line to get back to your hotel to warm up!
Would I do it again – absolutely! Hope mother nature will be kinder next time.
Pros:
1. Decent Covid Expo
2. Nice Swag (Shirt & Medal)
3. Great course (loved the diff neighborhoods)
4. Host city
Cons:
1. Race organizer (Rock-n-Roll)
2. Expo vendor participation
3. Rock-N-Roll Savannah Race Site (not user friendly)
Spanish moss...
This was my first race after the disaster that was 2020. The race had been deferred to the following year 2021. There were a lot of precautions in place, like … MORE
This was my first race after the disaster that was 2020. The race had been deferred to the following year 2021. There were a lot of precautions in place, like having to show our vaccination cards when showing up at the expo. This was the first expo I noticed was lacking. Usually they were pretty impressive, but it was lacking the usual vendors and was much smaller. I was still really happy to be there, because I missed being with other runners. The expo was also pretty out of the way, but I didn’t mind taking an Uber to get there.
Race morning, it was raining like crazy! I had never run a race in the rain and I also hadn’t anticipated bad weather which means I didn’t have a rain jacket, just a hoodie. Most of the runners hid in local hotels for shelter from the downpour. Eventually we all had to get to the starting line and get soaked. Despite the rain, I had a wonderful run! It seemed relatively flat and it was a fun run! I felt free, because I knew I wasn’t trying to run quickly, I just wanted to finish. The race ended in Forsyth Park, which is beautiful.
The race is discontinued, but if an opportunity to run in Savannah arises, you should go. The city is beautiful!
Made the best of a rainy day
It was the coldest day in Savannah - and it was pouring. Savannah is a gorgeous city and it was amazing running through it even with the rain. Expo: The … MORE
It was the coldest day in Savannah – and it was pouring.
Savannah is a gorgeous city and it was amazing running through it even with the rain.
Expo: The Expo was OK – I stayed in the city so I had to take ferry over – painful since it was cold and rainy and there wasn’t a place to wait for the ferry. The bib pick up was quick and easy. There were vendors but not as much as I expected.
Race Day: Unfortunately, on the day of the race, there was torrential rain and it was freezing. The marathon was cancelled but they kept the half – this was disappointing for the runners who just spent 3 months training for a full but it was understandable given the weather.
The water stations were OK and lacking in some areas – probably due to the lack of volunteers due to the freak weather. But there were volunteers there who were battling the cold and rain for those crazy enough to run -very much appreciated.
The lack of volunteers and crazy wet finish area were due to the weather and you can’t fault RNR for that. I read that the race was discontinued which is sad because on a nice day, it’s a beautiful race. Hopefully, it comes back!
Either way, find a way to run this city. =)
Hard to say due to weather conditions
As others have said, it's difficult to give this a fair review. For the 2021 race, weather conditions were just absolutely miserable. 40 degrees, 20mph winds, heavy heavy incessant downpours. … MORE
As others have said, it’s difficult to give this a fair review. For the 2021 race, weather conditions were just absolutely miserable. 40 degrees, 20mph winds, heavy heavy incessant downpours. They cancelled the full marathon ONE HOUR before the start. The half marathon was delayed by at least 30 minutes, so we stood in the miserable rain getting soaked to the bone. I couldn’t feel my body when we finally did start. Somehow, I still managed to pull off a PR by some miracle. I like to imagine that Savannah is a charming city, because even in the rain, it was absolutely gorgeous with it’s giant southern oaks and Spanish moss lining most major streets. It was very beautiful, just unfortunate timing. The decision to cancel the full, I’m sure, was difficult for the race directors, but as you can imagine, completely unfair for those who travelled for the race. ONE HOUR before the start. I ran the 5K the day after the half, and that was fine. I have always loved the Rock n Roll race series, and hopefully this was just an exceptionally unfortunate circumstance.
Miserable race day conditions
The course is perfect for a PR (fast and relatively flat) if the conditions cooperate. This year the conditions did not cooperate - heavy rain, wind and wind chills below … MORE
The course is perfect for a PR (fast and relatively flat) if the conditions cooperate. This year the conditions did not cooperate – heavy rain, wind and wind chills below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The race communication and production from Rock n’ Roll has not been good over the last few years. The expo parking was unorganized and lacked signage. The expo preached social distancing, but had you stand in a line to get your vaccination card checked. Race day parking had no signage and had I not seen the trolleys that were to transport us to the start, I would not have known, I was in the correct spot. On race day because it was raining heavily, there was little signage or communication. Unfortunately, for full marathon runners, their race was cancelled while most of us were heading to the start because course conditions were just that bad. Despite the bad weather, on course support was EXCELLENT. Much better than races I’ve done in perfect weather conditions. The finish area (not the same as the start) lacked signage clearly directing you to busses or gear pick up. I still think RnR has a long way to get back to where they used to be from a production standpoint. The medal was okay. Not really that unique. The race shirts were definitely lackluster and will probably become yet another race shirt I wear under other shirts. I really wish the weather would have cooperated because this would have been a great race to PR at especially after not being able to race in person for so long.
Solid half marathon in the southeast
Overall this is a solid half marathon/marathon option if you live close to Savannah and has the potential for some pretty fast times. I wouldn’t necessarily travel very far for … MORE
Overall this is a solid half marathon/marathon option if you live close to Savannah and has the potential for some pretty fast times. I wouldn’t necessarily travel very far for this race, but overall it was a great experience I would recommend.
The weather on the day was pretty miserable with decent wind and rain and temps at about 45C. They actually cancelled the full marathon about an hour before the start because of the risk of hypothermia but allowed the half to proceed. Despite the weather I felt like the energy was still pretty high and there were a fair amount of supporters on the course, which was nice.
Some big takeaways were that the scenery really wasn’t as pretty as I was expecting, especially for the first few miles. This portion of the race also had us going through a part of Savannah that is known for having quite a distinct smell from as nearby paper treatment mill. Once we got into downtown the scenery really picked up and we went through several nice neighborhoods and of course there’s all the squares and architecture of Savannah. The race also finished at Forsyth which is great for a post race celebration.
The course itself was really flat and the few hills that were on the course were more noticeable to my legs than to my eyes. I also felt like the footing was kind of tough on this course, especially around all of the squares. The uneven surfaces certainly took a toll on my ankles.
I didn’t really stick around for the post race festival because of the weather, especially because the free beverage ticket was for the non-alcoholic Heineken. I get the appeal to runners, but post race I wan’t the real thing.
My only other complaint would be I felt the pace groups were kind of disorganized. At the expo no one could really tell me which pace group would be in which corral and the wrist bands they were giving out for the pace groups seemed to be different than the actual pace groups on race day. I got a 2:20 wristband at the expo but there was only a 2:15 and a 2:30 on race day.
Love my runs around Savannah
I have run the Savannah marathon many times. The race is predictable and the course is mostly interesting. I enjoy running the race because the city itself is a fun … MORE
I have run the Savannah marathon many times. The race is predictable and the course is mostly interesting. I enjoy running the race because the city itself is a fun place to go. I always enjoy finishing the race and then eating great food in Savannah.
Southern Charm
This was a very scenic course through the Historic district of Savannah. Passing many of the squares in town with statues, monuments and trees covered with Spanish moss. We stayed … MORE
This was a very scenic course through the Historic district of Savannah. Passing many of the squares in town with statues, monuments and trees covered with Spanish moss. We stayed downtown which was very convenient to the start of the race and about a mile walk back from the finish in Forsyth park. The town of Savannah was welcoming to the runners and very friendly and encouraging along the course. Would highly recommend this half marathon for Georgia!
Best one so far
Flat, lots of nice looking neighborhoods and a little industrial/ road work. I keep trying to go back, but Covid and weddings get in the way MORE
Flat, lots of nice looking neighborhoods and a little industrial/ road work. I keep trying to go back, but Covid and weddings get in the way
Pleasantly surprised!
I was not a fan of Rock and Roll races, but needed to complete a marathon on this weekend for the NYRR Virtual Marathon. I was pleasantly surprised at how … MORE
I was not a fan of Rock and Roll races, but needed to complete a marathon on this weekend for the NYRR Virtual Marathon. I was pleasantly surprised at how well this race was organized. They had great recommendations for hotel rooms, shuttles to the start, and plenty of resources at the start line.
Fun, flat course
This was my 4th Rock n Roll race. If you want bling, do multiple Rock n Roll races! Production is always well organized. Lots of course entertainment and support. The … MORE
This was my 4th Rock n Roll race. If you want bling, do multiple Rock n Roll races! Production is always well organized. Lots of course entertainment and support. The Rock n Roll races usually have race shirts for sale on which the participants names are screen printed. The print is tiny, but it’s possible to find your name. Transportation was, for the most part, well organized. Just be aware that the race start and finish lines are at separate locations. Unless you want to walk another mile back to the ferry for transport to the convention center parking, you need to prepay for a shuttle pass. Overall, I really enjoyed this race. It is also walker friendly, especially for the half marathon, which my husband did (he had a full knee replacement and the doc won’t let him run).
Fun, Flat, and Nice Scenery
Overall, this was an enjoyable race with nice scenery around a beautiful city. There are some things to know before racing to set expectations and help plan. The course is … MORE
Overall, this was an enjoyable race with nice scenery around a beautiful city. There are some things to know before racing to set expectations and help plan.
The course is basically flat with the smallest of inclines, although I heard some Floridians says they noticed those small grades:). You get to see a lot of the city and there are the typical Rock n Roll event bands around the course. Spanish moss and old live oaks were everywhere and the route was wide almost everywhere for lots of personal space.
One thing I learned the hard way is to be careful of the uneven footing. The streets in town are cracked in spots and have some bumps in the macadam. For the first time in almost 50 distance races I took a tumble when not paying close enough attention resulting in a bloody knee. It was my fault, but I recommend extra caution on some downtown streets.
The other aspect that needs consideration is parking. There are a number of garages downtown, but I chose the convention center parking lot. That facility was the site of the expo and was across a narrow river from the race start. I hoped to exit the city easily after the race with many downtown streets closed. The exit to Hilton Head to the north where I was staying was easy. The challenge is that he finish line was a 30 minute walk so I took a trolley ride from the finish. The trolley was $10 and was per-purchased. There is a public ferry between the downtown start area and the convention center, but be aware that the ferry only runs every half hour. So it took quite a while after ending the race to get in my car – roughly 1:15.
Finally, instructions are to be in parking garages 1:30 before the start of the race. This means early rising and finding something to do until the start. I’m the weather was perfect for a race – 49 degrees , but chilly for standing. I chose to go to a McDonalds a few blocks away to keep warm and have a seat and breakfast.
The race media and t-shirt we’re fine and themed to Savannah, but were not first rate. Overall, I’m glad I did the race, was able to adapt, but could have been better prepared.
Best Around!
I have run this race every year since it's first in 2011. The city of Savannah really rolls out the red carpet to the running community. Everyone is on a … MORE
I have run this race every year since it’s first in 2011. The city of Savannah really rolls out the red carpet to the running community. Everyone is on a “runner’s high” throughout the town. The local support while running down Oglethorpe is like running the NYC Marathon. Fans lining the street! It’s always a Sat race, so gives you the chance to enjoy the great cuisine Sat night for a victory dinner.
Savannah
I really enjoyed the first half of the marathon running through the Historic Savannah streets, greeted by several spectators. However, I would have ran the first half twice rather than … MORE
I really enjoyed the first half of the marathon running through the Historic Savannah streets, greeted by several spectators. However, I would have ran the first half twice rather than the second half which was a lot of out and backs…the highway really threw my mental game off. Aid stations and finishers medals were good, but the T-shirt’s design just didn’t cut it (a giant peach with a headband).
Love savannah
We had a wedding to go to later that day so we didn’t have a lot of time for the post race stuff, but it was great running in Savannah, … MORE
We had a wedding to go to later that day so we didn’t have a lot of time for the post race stuff, but it was great running in Savannah, the course had us running through a lot of the squares and there is a lot to look at. It is a beautiful place.
Great city and fun race!
Nice and reasonably flat race in the historic city of Savannah. I hope they pick a different route for the future. The finish was over a mile from the start … MORE
Nice and reasonably flat race in the historic city of Savannah. I hope they pick a different route for the future. The finish was over a mile from the start and the course had almost no water views. The spectators were great though and I had fun.