PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Expo

I had more fun at the Rock 'n' Roll AZ Marathon Expo than I've had at an expo in a long time. Usually, I can't deal with the crowds, so I'm in and out as quickly as possible. Plus, I think I may have some left over PTSD from the Disneyland Half Expo cluster.

Lara and I headed down to the expo at the Phoenix Convention Center on Saturday afternoon. I haven't done RnRAZ since 2011. After doing so many runDisney events, I forgot that RnR does a pretty good job with their events.

The only thing I was actually disappointed in was that last year, the race shirts had an awesome design and were long sleeve. Boo hiss waaaah that they weren't good this year. The design is meh and they're short sleeved. Sadly, I couldn't find a good picture of the 2013 shirt online,

Ho hum.

We got our numbers really quickly and cruised around the expo. Those of you that have done a Rock 'n' Roll event, you're aware that Brooks is a huge sponsor. They now have this Run Happy Island thing where you get a passport and get various prizes for doing the different stations.

I don't know if it's different at other RnR events, but this one had 3 stations. If you do all three and get the stamps, you get an extra prize. The first one was a bucking shoe. Similar to one of those bucking bulls in a bar. Considering that Lara and I both ride horses, we had to do that one.

Not as easy as it looks!

Sadly, the other stations had such long lines, we decided not to do them.

We cruised around the different vendors and had to say hi to the dragon. A group of runners runs with the dragon every year and if you beat the dragon to the finish line, you get a prize. Spoiler alert: I did not beat the dragon. But Lara did and she got a PF Chang's coupon.

We also had to get in on this tomfoolery:

We stopped by the PF Chang's booth where they were passing out fortune cookies with a chance to win a prize. I won a $20 gift certificate to PF Chang's, so Lara and I decided to carb load there for dinner.

You'd think that since the race is called the PF Chang's Marathon (it was completely sponsored by PF Chang's until RnR took it over, but PFC is still a major sponsor) people working at the restaurant would be aware that their company sponsors the biggest running event in Arizona. But nope.

Anyway, we ate ourselves silly and went home to rest up for the morning. To be continued where I moan and cry about my perfect race turning into a non PR. Bet you can't wait for that!