Big races aren't always the best or most organized or well run. I ran the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco and I can tell you that the San Francisco Marathon was WAY better run and organized. Sure, there wasn't as much pep and palpable "Girl Power" cheer in the air, but my gear got to where it needed to be, it didn't take me nearly 40 minutes to even reach the start line and the busing system they have was superb.

Do I regret running the NWM? No, because it was my first race and it will always be memorable, but I wouldn't run it again.

They should make a men's marathon where you get a 6-pack and a basket of porn at the finish line.

Hah! Forget the porn. You should have legitimate strippers putting the medals on your neck at the finish line.

I think Stripper Librarians have their own corral at Vegas, just ahead of the Elvi.

In a related note, I just found out Meb is pacing the 1:30 group at the SD RnR Half.

I did the RnR half in Nashville this past weekend. It was expensive but it was pretty fun.

I got put in a slower coral and paid the price. I started in coral 30 and at one point I was with 13-14. This caused major problems with having to swerve around everyone and try to grab my water on the go while everyone else was taking it casual and walking. Plus it's a pain to find parking and get your legs massaged at the end of the race (way too long of a line). However, the higher volume of runners resulted in more bystanders cheering you on which I liked.

Bit late to the thread, but I ran the Philadelphia RnR last year, and am running it again this year. It is a HUGE race, and it is a lot of fun. While they do donate some to a local charity, it is a for profit race series. Some people don't mind this, others do. In terms of the logistics I was impressed. It was well organized, the people at aid stations were well equipped, and the energy along the course was fantastic.

If you want a smaller but still well run half marathon race in the Philadelphia area look up the races that Uberendurance Sports puts on. I ran a half in early November last year that was so scenic it was amazing, well staffed, and a lot of fun. I think the total number of runners was around 500. The entry fee was about $65. It was my fastest half last year. This group puts on several races throughout the year generally in the half to full to ultra range.

Since another poster mentioned one of the other big Philadelphia races - Broad Street, I'll put my 2 cents about that one. I ran it last year and this year. Last year things were fairly well organized, but the snacks at the end were bruised and over ripe fruit and the medical help was staffed by utter incompetents. My husband fell at mile 7 and managed to shatter his kneecap (he finished the race under his own power) and they put an ice bag below the injury, wrapped with saran wrap cutting into the kneecap. This year the race emails ended up in the majority of people's spam filters (if they arrived at all).

personally ive enjoyed their races. With the tour pass the cost isn't bad at all. I can see it being pricy for the half but if you look at prices for full marathons i feel its mostly comparable. All races are going up, Chicago is 185 this year, NWM is what 200. I paid 100 for RNR phoenix and 145 for RNR vegas. our local race where i live is 95 this year.

I recently ran the RnRRaleigh marathon and was extremely disappointed that they had not one, but TWO 3-mile stretches with no aid stations. THere was a med station, but they had only ice and no sports drinks or water to hand out. It was 80 degrees, no shade in these sections, and no aid. I did love the rest of the race, but I disliked miles 11-14 and then 14-17!!!!

(some marathoners on the facebook page defended this, saying there was plenty of water and you just had to "stop and fill your bottles.) 1) Some people don't bring bottles on the course because of the added weight. 2)When you are trying to BQ, stopping to fill your water bottles can be the deal breaker...

OK here's my rant on RNR:

As other people have said on this thread, RNR epitomizes the mega-race and everything that is wrong with new racing.

I've done RNR Vegas twice and will be doing RNR San Diego this year. I'm not a huge fan of RNR. When you have 30,000+ runners you're bound to run into logistical issues, like running out of water, poor hygiene in dispensing of water, and a long long walk through the finish chute to get to water, food, medical, Mylar and other support. With 30 or more race corrals, anyone who runs slower than a sub-2 half can expect to wait 30-60 min to cross the start line.

The Vegas race particularly kills me, as Vegas is not the right venue for HM and it was specifically chosen to make money. It's a Sunday night race and you MUST pick up your bib on Saturday, which I've heard rumors is something Competitor Group worked out with the Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau to ensure 30,000 runners have to stay Saturday night in Vegas. The Strip is only 4 miles, so you end up running through the seediest part of downtown Vegas and the poorly lit, pothole-laden neighborhoods of locals who don't like the race and don't want you there. Competitor Group makes millions from this one race. It left such a bad taste in my mouth for RNR in general.

I'm running SD RNR as a relay here in a few weeks (on a friend's request for her first race), and it was $220 for early bird registration. To run 6.55 miles each.

All the above notwithstanding, if you are either running for fun or are super-elite and start at the front, and you like the grand spectacle running with 30,000 friends, and the super-high race entry isn't an issue for you; OR if you can do it as a member of a fundraising organization, go for it. But maybe bring your own water.

OK here's my rant on RNR:

As other people have said on this thread, RNR epitomizes the mega-race and everything that is wrong with new racing.

I've done RNR Vegas twice and will be doing RNR San Diego this year. I'm not a huge fan of RNR. When you have 30,000+ runners you're bound to run into logistical issues, like running out of water, poor hygiene in dispensing of water, and a long long walk through the finish chute to get to water, food, medical, Mylar and other support. With 30 or more race corrals, anyone who runs slower than a sub-2 half can expect to wait 30-60 min to cross the start line.

The Vegas race particularly kills me, as Vegas is not the right venue for HM and it was specifically chosen to make money. It's a Sunday night race and you MUST pick up your bib on Saturday, which I've heard rumors is something Competitor Group worked out with the Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau to ensure 30,000 runners have to stay Saturday night in Vegas. The Strip is only 4 miles, so you end up running through the seediest part of downtown Vegas and the poorly lit, pothole-laden neighborhoods of locals who don't like the race and don't want you there. Competitor Group makes millions from this one race. It left such a bad taste in my mouth for RNR in general.

I'm running SD RNR as a relay here in a few weeks (on a friend's request for her first race), and it was $220 for early bird registration. To run 6.55 miles each.

All the above notwithstanding, if you are either running for fun or are super-elite and start at the front, and you like the grand spectacle running with 30,000 friends, and the super-high race entry isn't an issue for you; OR if you can do it as a member of a fundraising organization, go for it. But maybe bring your own water.

Actually they did offer race day pick up you just had to shell out about 40 bucks for it.