NWR: Chicago Rock n' Roll Half Marathon

LawyerLover810

Has anyone run this in past years?  FI wants to do it this year and I have a few friends who have signed up. I am considering doing it but it would require some serious training. I am curious if there are usually a lot of people who sign up? (For example, I ran the Hot Chocolate 5k Run in November and it was so crowded I couldn't run straight!) Any input is appreciated, thanks!

rachelc1985

I'm pretty sure this is the most popular half in Chicago. Also, I'd take a look at their course and figure out if that's right for you or not.  There are 2 other halfs in Chicago in June and September that run along the lake rather than through the city & out west.  Congrats on running a half, though!

MobKaz

It was one of the first my daughter ran several years ago.  Because of her "status", she did run toward the middle back of the pack.  However, she completed it, and had a great experience.  The weather was more of a factor than the crowd for her.  She did say it was a well organized race.

aimers1525

My friend ran one of the other half marathons. I can't remember when it was, but it was the one that is on the southside--starts near the Museum of Science and Industry, but most of it goes along the lakefront.  The Rock and Roll half goes right by my house and I went out to spectate this past year. It was definitely a lot of people.

Good luck training!

parrothead84

I've also done this one the past three years. The fact that they changed it to July is not affecting my decision to run it again whatsoever - I'll be running again this year. Especially with the crazy weather we've been having, you never know what it'll be like. I ran RnR last year in August with weather in the 60s and the full Chicago Marathon in October in 85 degrees!

There are a lot of runners, like probably 25-30,000, I think. But to me, that's what makes a race fun. It's great to have all those people around you who are doing the same thing and supporting everyone else. I wouldn't worry about comparing it to the Hot Chocolate - in a short distance race like the 5K you're never really going to lose the crowd because it's only 3 miles. In the half, it's way more likely that you won't feel so confined because you have 13 miles for the crowd to break apart.

In my opinion, the course for RnR is WAY better than the Chicago Half in September, as well as the crowd support. It's a very well-organized race and they are starting to give us women's-cut t-shirts this year. a plus!

Obviously I highly recommend this one!

runschicago

Even though I train all summer, I don't like the idea of a July half marathon. I always start my summer training runs super early in the morning, earlier than this race. I did it back in 2008 I think (it was owned by a different company than.) I spectated it two years ago, very hot and yeah it's a big race but I don't mind that. I would suggest you look into other local half marathons too.

Good luck!

hz80408

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_nwr-chicago-rock-n-roll-half-marathon?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:72Discussion:9021e0f2-8c92-4d42-bc17-bfaaacbb2c0fPost:2b9ceab9-8663-4728-a14d-26e1b2e08ee5">Re: NWR: Chicago Rock n' Roll Half Marathon</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Even though I train all summer, I don't like the idea of a July half marathon</strong>. I always start my summer training runs super early in the morning, earlier than this race. I did it back in 2008 I think (it was owned by a different company than.) I spectated it two years ago, very hot and yeah it's a big race but I don't mind that. I would suggest you look into other local half marathons too. Good luck!
Posted by runschicago[/QUOTE]

Ha, that is a valid point, but this is my thought too.  Plus I always run a 7mile race in my hometown the last wk of July and I don't want to 2 to interefere and break that tradition

LawyerLover810

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_nwr-chicago-rock-n-roll-half-marathon?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:9021e0f2-8c92-4d42-bc17-bfaaacbb2c0fPost:10b3a8a4-83ff-4aaa-bc9e-69f3689bba7b">Re: NWR: Chicago Rock n' Roll Half Marathon</a>:
[QUOTE]It started in 2009 and I've run it '10 and '11.  The course was updated last year and is much better than the previous years (the first 2 years you ran on the lakefront path which was much too narrow and really frustrating, however it was kind of cool b/c you ran by the fountains at McCormick place and Shedd). Having trained for both halfs and one marathon (used Hal Higdon), I definitely love the half.  It's a great distance for a race. This is a very populated race and I would think no matter what your goal time; you would always have numerous runners around you. However......the annoyance I have with RnR this year, is that they've moved the date from mid-Aug to the end of July. R<strong>eally-a half marathon in July?</strong>  B/c of that, I'm torn if I want to do it.  I think we may to due the Chicago Half in Sept instead. If you sign up, be sure to google for promo codes, I've always been able to find $10 in the past. Also, maybe consider training for the Soldier Field 10mi at the end of May and see how that goes?
Posted by hz80408[/QUOTE]

This is what I was thinking too! But, it starts at 6 a.m. So part of me feels like it could still be pretty humid, but maybe not as hot (although I am not quite sure which is worse, the humidity or the heat). Thanks for your suggestion on the Soldier Field 10mile, I hadn't heard of that before.

I would like to consider the other Chicago half in Sept. but the race is Sept 9th and our wedding is Sept 21st... I wouldn't want to risk hurting myself.

Thanks for all your input ladies!

hz80408

Are you in the city or burbs?  There are several half marathon in the burbs too btwn May and Nov.

From RnR website, the race starts at 6:30am; so it's really kind of hit or miss on the weather.

'11 race started off warm and humid; but then it started to rain (it felt amazing since I was at mile 7 or so); but by the time I finished and stood around, we were freezing and left right away instead of going to the afterparty.

Let us know what you choose to do!  I'm so torn on whether or not to do RnR too b/c it is a really fun race!