After running the Rock n Roll Virginia Beach race for the past three years, I wondered if all the Rock n Roll races were just as fabulous. As you know from yesterday's post, I got to run the Rock n Roll Philadelphia race last weekend. Now I can see what the difference is between the same race series in a different city.
I will say I am partial to Virginia Beach since I used to live there for several years. My friends would always say "Nothing like paying to run in your own city where you run everyday".
So lets compare Apples to Apples, shall we....?
The Rock n Roll series is all about the bands and the concerts.
In Virginia Beach your race bib gets you in to all the concerts throughout the weekend. What is so special about Rock n Roll Virginia beach is that the race weekend is held in conjunction with the American Music Festival. The Music Festival Starts with bands on the Main Stage ( on the beach) Friday evening, Saturday evening, and Sunday evening and then the Headlining Act on Sunday Night after the race. Throughout the weekend there are other bands that play on the other stages along the ocean front then of course on race days there are some smaller bands that play along the course. Even if you are not running any of the races that weekend, you can still buy a ticket to any of the concerts that take place on the main stage. That is what our friend did this year when we went to see Train play.
I like that the main concert after the half marathon is later that evening. This gives you time to go back and relax before returning refreshed and ready to enjoy the show. Others may disagree. Depending where you are staying it may be too much to come all the way back to enjoy the concert. But personally for me, I don't like sticking around after the race. I want to eat more than a post race banana, take a hot Epson salt bath, and get off my feet.
In Philadelphia there is no Music festival going on. There are several small bands along the course and then the main concert is right after the race on Sunday. I did not stick around to watch the show.
I like that the main concert after the half marathon is later that evening. This gives you time to go back and relax before returning refreshed and ready to enjoy the show. Others may disagree. Depending where you are staying it may be too much to come all the way back to enjoy the concert. But personally for me, I don't like sticking around after the race. I want to eat more than a post race banana, take a hot Epson salt bath, and get off my feet.
In Philadelphia there is no Music festival going on. There are several small bands along the course and then the main concert is right after the race on Sunday. I did not stick around to watch the show.
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Parking
Parking
In Virginia Beach, I don't believe finding parking is an issue. I have always been fortunate enough to be able to ride my bike though. Even if you do have to pay for parking it usually is a set rate for the day, not hourly. There is always free parking at the Convention Center. If you park here, you are right at the start line but are a few blocks from the finish line. In the past there has been a shuttle to drive people from the ocean front back to the convention center if you didn't want to walk.
Philadelphia is another story. Parking will always be an issue. I can understand having to pay to park race morning ( which we did have to do) but to have to pay to park just to walk in to the expo to pick up your race packet is ridiculous. Especially for those people who plan to go right in and right out!
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Corrals
I think the starting line was a bit more congested at Virginia Beach. I think it was a bit smaller of an area than in Philadelphia. The lines for the port o potties at VA Beach race start are always SO long.
There was more room in Philly for all the corrals. I think there were 21 of them. The issue was getting into your corral for those who waited until the last minute. I saw people crawling in between the gates just to get to their corrals. On the other hand, there was no problem getting to a port o potty. Maybe they had more potties in Philly then they did in VA Beach?
There was more room in Philly for all the corrals. I think there were 21 of them. The issue was getting into your corral for those who waited until the last minute. I saw people crawling in between the gates just to get to their corrals. On the other hand, there was no problem getting to a port o potty. Maybe they had more potties in Philly then they did in VA Beach?
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The Course
Throughout both races I felt the bands didn't disappoint. There were bands every few miles in Virginia Beach and in Philadelphia. There was even a band there with saxophones singing the Philly anthem "Fly Eagles Fly". Other than that, I didn't hear much of the other bands just because I zone out listening to my own music.
Throughout both races I felt the bands didn't disappoint. There were bands every few miles in Virginia Beach and in Philadelphia. There was even a band there with saxophones singing the Philly anthem "Fly Eagles Fly". Other than that, I didn't hear much of the other bands just because I zone out listening to my own music.
Both courses were fairly flat, which was nice.
In Philly, it was pretty neat to run pass historical sites such as Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin's grave, Franklin Institute, and the Liberty Bell.
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And How about finishing the race in front of the iconic Rocky stairs? pretty Cool!
In Philly, it was pretty neat to run pass historical sites such as Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin's grave, Franklin Institute, and the Liberty Bell.
And How about finishing the race in front of the iconic Rocky stairs? pretty Cool!
But then again, there is nothing like a Boardwalk finish at Virginia Beach and enjoying a refreshing dip in the ocean after the race.
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Weather
Obviously weather is something that we can't control, but when we sign up for RnR VA Beach, we know it's always going to be hot. VA Beach is always over Labor day weekend, so hot and humid is just part of the race.
RnR Philadelphia is three weeks after VA Beach so I thought it would be cooler, but it was actually a bit warmer than what I thought it would be. I wore a tank top and didn't even need to have a long sleeve in the beginning. When I woke up it was already in the high 60's. By the time the race started it was in the 70's. A bit humid, but it was overcast with a slight breeze which was prefect for me.
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Challenges and Bling
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Weather
Obviously weather is something that we can't control, but when we sign up for RnR VA Beach, we know it's always going to be hot. VA Beach is always over Labor day weekend, so hot and humid is just part of the race.
RnR Philadelphia is three weeks after VA Beach so I thought it would be cooler, but it was actually a bit warmer than what I thought it would be. I wore a tank top and didn't even need to have a long sleeve in the beginning. When I woke up it was already in the high 60's. By the time the race started it was in the 70's. A bit humid, but it was overcast with a slight breeze which was prefect for me.
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Challenges and Bling
Both of these races offered the Remix Challenge.
In Virginia Beach the Challenge was to run the mile in the sand on Saturday ( which was a lot harder than it sounds) and then the half on Sunday. If you ran both, you walked away with three new medals.
In Philly the remix challenge was a 5K on Saturday and the Half on Sunday. Again, if you did the challenge you got three medals.
There was a bonus this year. If you ran both VA beach and Philly, You got the Beach to Bell Medal!
All the medals I've earned from these races are fabulous! Rock n roll gives out some great medals.
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In 52 days I will be participating in yet another Rock n Roll Re-mix challenge when I run RnR Las Vegas! Have you seen the super cool medals?
They glow in the dark. RnR medals never disappoint, no matter what city you get them in!
Have you ever ran the same race series in multiple cities? ~L
In Virginia Beach the Challenge was to run the mile in the sand on Saturday ( which was a lot harder than it sounds) and then the half on Sunday. If you ran both, you walked away with three new medals.
In Philly the remix challenge was a 5K on Saturday and the Half on Sunday. Again, if you did the challenge you got three medals.
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| Mile on the beach, Remix, and 1/2marathon medals for VA Beach. Bell to Beach and 1/2 marathon medals for Philly |
There was a bonus this year. If you ran both VA beach and Philly, You got the Beach to Bell Medal!
All the medals I've earned from these races are fabulous! Rock n roll gives out some great medals.
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In 52 days I will be participating in yet another Rock n Roll Re-mix challenge when I run RnR Las Vegas! Have you seen the super cool medals?
They glow in the dark. RnR medals never disappoint, no matter what city you get them in!
Have you ever ran the same race series in multiple cities? ~L