We ran the half over MLK weekend (2016) and, as is customary for all Rock n' Rolls, the event was well organized and runners took home a nice little haul of goodies. The expo is probably the only thing that was actually in Phoenix at it's downtown Convention Center. Runners can look around for metered parking, but there were some $5 dollar lots maybe a block or two from the expo.
The run itself had a late'ish start, 7:50 am. The weather was perfect, 40 degrees in the am and about 65 degrees when the sun came out. The course is mostly flat with a good sized hill mile 9. There are bathroom stops pretty much at most mile markers and plenty of water stations throughout, especially in the first half of the race.
Miles 7-12 are the most scenic of the the course, runners really took in the desert landscape.
The Rock n Roll series organizers do a good job at seeking out nearby hotels. We went with their recommendation and stayed at the Aloft Tempe hotel about a mile from the race start, it made for a nice warm up and cool down walk.
#ontoursince2008