Throughout the years, Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah has become a landmark event for the Hostess City of the South, featuring charming, scenic courses through the historic downtown district and southern hospitality at every turn. Marathon: Enjoy the prettiest marathon course yet and be entertained by music as you cover your …
MORE
Throughout the years, Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah has become a landmark event for the Hostess City of the South, featuring charming, scenic courses through the historic downtown district and southern hospitality at every turn.
Marathon: Enjoy the prettiest marathon course yet and be entertained by music as you cover your 26.2 miles.
Half Marathon: Join us at the start line of the most charming race of the South! Run through downtown Savannah, amongst manicured town squares, by historical buildings and along Spanish-moss-covered tree-lined streets.
Relay: The first relay team member will run the first leg of the half marathon with the commemorative Rock ‘n’ Roll Relay drumstick in hand. The exchange will take place roughly midway through the 13.1 mile course, at the designated relay transition at Oglethorpe and Price St.. From there the second relay team member will run with the drumstick through the remainder of the course an to the finish line at Forsyth Park.
5K: Come along for a fun run, or complete the Remix Challenge with the Sunday 5K. Either way you’ll enjoy a route around Daffin Park, ending with a family fun celebration.
BONUS: Take on the Remix Challenge by running ANY distance on Saturday (relay included) AND ANY distance on Sunday to earn a third medal, the Remix Challenge Medal!
LESS
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!
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.
Y'all Run Fast!
I love Savannah. It is a great town. This was the inaugural race, so I had to check Georgia off my checklist. It was my then PR after PR-ing a … MORE
I love Savannah. It is a great town. This was the inaugural race, so I had to check Georgia off my checklist. It was my then PR after PR-ing a few months ago. I just got under the new BQ time (3:05 at the time for my age). I love Savannah and hope you will too.
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.
A race with Southern Charm
I ran the inaugural Rock N Roll full marathon (in 2010), and went back this year (2017) to run the half marathon. This year I also ran the 5k and … MORE
I ran the inaugural Rock N Roll full marathon (in 2010), and went back this year (2017) to run the half marathon. This year I also ran the 5k and 1-miler the next day (with my Mom). So lots of medals this weekend!
Rock N Roll knows how to do this. It is organized. The expo is medium size (no doubt many vendors go to the larger NYC Marathon, happening the same weekend). And they got decent swag – medals and shirts.
The course is mostly flat. I found the 5k course to be more scenic than the half marathon. Not a lot of spectators, but those that are out are enthusiastic and fun.
It was warm, but not too humid.
Savannah is a nice city to visit and it is an enjoyable weekend.
Mediocre race, weather partly to blame
It was unseasonably warm the day of this race, and partway through, to my great dismay, the race organizers ran out of water! Thank goodness for the kind people of … MORE
It was unseasonably warm the day of this race, and partway through, to my great dismay, the race organizers ran out of water! Thank goodness for the kind people of Savannah who came out with their hoses and bottles of water to support the racers. Savannah is such a lovely city, but except for the end of the course, which ran through the historic downtown, the course was not very scenic. Overall, the race was crowded, poorly run, and generic.
A disappointment
Let me preface this by saying that I was registered for the full marathon. Due to the weather (heat index hit about 90) the course was cut so I was … MORE
Let me preface this by saying that I was registered for the full marathon. Due to the weather (heat index hit about 90) the course was cut so I was only able to do the half. The thick fog in the morning combined with 80 degree temperature should have been a clue that it would be a horrible race.
Being put on by Rock ‘n’ Roll, the race is very well organized. The expo is huge, free ferries are provided to get you there, and the swag is awesome.
The course, however, was meh. The only scenery would have been the start along the waterfront in historic downtown (if not for the fog) and the finish at Forsythe Fountain. Since 2015 the course has been changed to incorporate more of historic downtown Savannah.
The course itself isn’t challenging…the weather is what made the race very difficult. Some runners were even passing out along the way and one runner died during the race, one after returning home later that day. 2015 was a train wreck in Savannah. I hope future years are better.
First timer in Savannah
Great run, great spectators with lots of enthusiasm and energy to cheer runners along. Beautiful city and easy to run. Will likely run this again. MORE
Great run, great spectators with lots of enthusiasm and energy to cheer runners along. Beautiful city and easy to run. Will likely run this again.
A True Destination Race
In our opinion, Savannah is one of the most beautiful cities in America. The charm of this city combined with the race experience that is Rock n Roll makes for … MORE
In our opinion, Savannah is one of the most beautiful cities in America. The charm of this city combined with the race experience that is Rock n Roll makes for a tough-to-beat event. In our opinion, the most important thing to know going into Savannah is that accommodations here are expensive. Our advice is to splurge and stay at the Hyatt right at the race starting line. You’ll save yourself the trouble of fighting traffic getting into town, finding parking, and waiting in endless port-o-let lines. Because the race is on a Saturday, the expo is held on Thursday and Friday. Use this as an opportunity to take some time off of work, tour Savannah, and enjoy a long weekend. You won’t regret it. For more detailed information and photos of the race expo, course, places to eat, places to stay, and the post-race party, visit http://www.serialrunner.com/half-marathon-race-recaps/rock-n-roll-savannah-half-marathon
Great inaugural race and a personal best
Savannah is a great city. It was a flat course and the weather was perfect at this time for the race. I enjoyed seeing the sites of the city while … MORE
Savannah is a great city. It was a flat course and the weather was perfect at this time for the race. I enjoyed seeing the sites of the city while running.
Best Spectators I've seen
I completed this race in 2013. The race started at 7am in the morning. The course goes through numerous neighborhoods throughout Savannah. You start out in the historic district where … MORE
I completed this race in 2013.
The race started at 7am in the morning. The course goes through numerous neighborhoods throughout Savannah. You start out in the historic district where there are numerous people at the starting line. Next, you leave downtown and head into the different bordering neighborhoods. Throughout the course there are numerous people out cheering for you. These were some of the best spectators that I’ve ever seen. Everyone was so friendly, from the individual outside in their pajamas to the people dressed up in suits.
A long stretch of the race is through the wealthier neighborhoods in Savannah. There were wide streets lined with Spanish moss covered trees. The houses were huge and many of them historical. It was a nice change of scenery. The views were quintessential Savannah.
Hot weather that day
I've run this race several times and normally the weather is perfect. This year it was extremely humid and lead to a slow time. it was apparent early on that … MORE
I’ve run this race several times and normally the weather is perfect. This year it was extremely humid and lead to a slow time. it was apparent early on that the goal was to finish and not worry about the clock. I had no problems at water stops, but I heard those at the end of the pack were finding stops out of water. The race was cut short because of the conditions. I had already finished by the time that happened. For those that had a bad experience, give it another shot. Normally this is ideal running conditions, a beautiful course, almost perfectly flat, and awesome experience.
HOT AND HUMID SAVANNAH
Small expo, especially considering the size of the marathon. Not a big deal to me. To get to the expo, you must catch a small ferry, which takes you directly … MORE
Small expo, especially considering the size of the marathon. Not a big deal to me. To get to the expo, you must catch a small ferry, which takes you directly across the river to the expo. Kind of a fun experience. The organization seemed well done. The forecast weather was for a hot and humid day. They were not joking. I decided to just go out easy, drink lots of water, and pour as much cold water over myself at every step. It seemed to work, as I had a decent run in the hot weather. The race was cut short for a large number of people, although I was fortunate to stay ahead of the closures. I think I had heard they had finally closed the course altogether due to a couple of deaths. The finish line was well marked, but the park was a big party. The swag included a finishers jacket, which the lines were incredibly long to get to. One free beer, but again, the lines were not worth it. Food sampling and other drinks everywhere, but because there were such large crowds, it was difficult for the runners to get any of the freebies, unless you were patient. I unfortunately had to catch a flight, so ran back to my hotel. Overall, a great race in a beautiful city. Unfortunately the heat and humidity will be what most people remember.
Racing in the History of the South
Nice flat historic run. This was a great race. You run a lot in underprivileged areas but there is some historic areas as well. Race starts on Bay Street and … MORE
Nice flat historic run. This was a great race. You run a lot in underprivileged areas but there is some historic areas as well. Race starts on Bay Street and Bull Street in front of city hall.