Whether you’re new to running or you’ve been running your whole life, the BMW Dallas Marathon Festival really does have a race for everyone. The BMW Dallas Marathon, Half Marathon, Half Marathon Walk and 50K Ultra Marathon courses begin and end in Downtown Dallas and highlight the best areas of …
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Whether you’re new to running or you’ve been running your whole life, the BMW Dallas Marathon Festival really does have a race for everyone.
The BMW Dallas Marathon, Half Marathon, Half Marathon Walk and 50K Ultra Marathon courses begin and end in Downtown Dallas and highlight the best areas of the city. Along the way, participants will pass through various popular neighborhoods with exciting cheer stations and on-course entertainment before finishing the race in downtown!
Other race options include a 5-person marathon relay and a 2-person half marathon relay. The concept is simple and a lot of fun: a half or full marathon relay, run by teams of runners. This race is perfect for team building or for those wishing to participate in race weekend at a shorter distance!
Saturday’s events will include an Eight K, 5K, 5K Team Challenge, 5K Walk and a 100-meter dash for kids! Part of the BMW Dallas Marathon Festival, all Saturday events will start & finish in Downtown Dallas, providing great views of the city. Whether a shakeout run for Sunday or to experience the joy of participating in Marathon Weekend at a shorter distance, these events are the perfect way to start the weekend off right.
And for those looking for an extra challenge, participants can choose any combination of events across two days to complete the BMW Weekend Series! This will include the Eight K, 5K, or 5K Walk on Saturday and then either the Marathon, Half Marathon, Half Marathon Walk or 50K Ultra Marathon on Sunday. Finishers of this series will receive a bonus medal and custom Asics finisher jacket! *Please note, registration for the BMW Weekend Series is limited and must be done in advance by selecting the series option during online registration.
The Dallas Marathon is a nonprofit organization with a focus on promoting health and physical fitness through running events and related activities. Established in 1971, the history of the organization encompasses tremendous growth and produces what has become Dallas’ largest and Texas’ longest running marathon, the BMW Dallas Marathon.
Running the marathon in Dallas highlights the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods, entertainment districts and iconic Dallas landmarks. Hundreds of thousands of spectators join in BMW Dallas Marathon Day – the second Sunday of December – lining the streets and neighborhoods to cheer on participants in a race that is recognized as the official marathon of the City of Dallas.
LESS
Pretentious and too many unsafe bridges
It's Dallas, so you know it is going to be overly pretentious: overbuilt start/finish area, multiple fireworks for each corral start, etc. The course is going to a lake, circling … MORE
It’s Dallas, so you know it is going to be overly pretentious: overbuilt start/finish area, multiple fireworks for each corral start, etc.
The course is going to a lake, circling that lake, and coming back. The lake part is flat but the back and forth are extremely hilly. There were no portapotties anywhere near the corrals so a lot of participants were stopping under bridges and other wild spots in the first few miles, which is never a good way to start a race. Around the lake there were multiple (long) pedestrian bridges that are NOT meant for that volume of runners. It just created a lot of resonance and was extremely unsafe to run (or even walk) on.
No comparison with either Houston (5 weeks later) or San Antonio (same week-end), which both are better options if you are looking for a large Texas marathon.
My first big production race
I usually do small local races. This was my first race with multiple start times and corrals. It went pretty smoothly. I was glad I wore my hydration vest because … MORE
I usually do small local races. This was my first race with multiple start times and corrals. It went pretty smoothly.
I was glad I wore my hydration vest because several water stations in the first half of the race had long lines, one ran out of cups. The ports potties mid-race also had long lines.
The course goes through the gorgeous Turtle Creek Neighborhood for the first half which is pretty up hill, but not impossible. The second half of the race is mostly on a slight downhill slant.
The people of Dallas show up, especially on the second half of the course near lower Greenville Ave. My headphones died at mile 11 and it was spectator energy that pushed me to finish.
Super cool medal and nice T shirt with the same design.
Hot Humid Hilly
This was my 91st marathon so I am not a beginner and have completed 30 states so I grade each race fairly and accurately. Expo was easy peasy and volunteers … MORE
This was my 91st marathon so I am not a beginner and have completed 30 states so I grade each race fairly and accurately.
Expo was easy peasy and volunteers who work the expo are amazing.
Course was hot, hilly, humid and angry drivers driving along the course were cursing at the runners. Some tried to drive on the course and create a disaster.
Stayed at OMNI Host Hotel and it was very conveniently located next to convention center.
Walk to race from hotel was about 1/2 mile but corral placement was a challenge. Signage was not good getting to the corrals. I was in Corral D and never saw a sign to get there and walked about 1 1/2 miles extra just to get to the corral.
Will not return.
Mostly good, but Cowtown is better
I love the timing of this race. Cowtown is a better race on almost every front, but training for Cowtown leaves you doing long training runs right around Christmas. I … MORE
I love the timing of this race. Cowtown is a better race on almost every front, but training for Cowtown leaves you doing long training runs right around Christmas. I love that the Dallas marathon happens in mid December, leaving you free to pull back from running so much and recover through the holidays.
THE GOOD: Route incorporates both city views and lake views. Race starts on time. Great expo. Super cute participant shirt. Plenty of water/gatorade stations. Easy bathroom access in convention center.
THE BAD: Corrals are too big. The first mile is very tight. If they doubled the number of corrals to make them more pace-specific, this would help. Lots of potholes on the road (not the fault of race production, just sayin). The finisher shirt has been ugly two years in a row. Mostly a fit problem, as opposed to design. U-can is the gel sponsor, which I don’t personally care for.
Overall, it’s a well run race – I can’t imagine all that goes into executing such a big event in the city. There are some serious hills in miles 19-20ish that make it a not-so-easy but interesting course. But if you’re trying to decide between Dallas in December or Cowtown in February, go Cowtown.
Fun Race
Well organized. Fun course. Some of the roads are in big need of repair. The expo was nice with several fun give aways. The start coral was very well organized. MORE
Well organized. Fun course. Some of the roads are in big need of repair. The expo was nice with several fun give aways. The start coral was very well organized.
Great Race with many hills
Several Hotels close to start area. Great Expo. Great Shirts and Medals. Cold start and windy with many hills. Great course management excellent aid stations with plenty of drinks and … MORE
Several Hotels close to start area. Great Expo. Great Shirts and Medals. Cold start and windy with many hills. Great course management excellent aid stations with plenty of drinks and gels. Great post race festival with plenty of food and drinks and music.
I will do this race every year
My 3rd time participating in the BMW Dallas half and it’s my favorite race. The course takes you through the most iconic parts of Dallas. There are tons of spectators … MORE
My 3rd time participating in the BMW Dallas half and it’s my favorite race. The course takes you through the most iconic parts of Dallas. There are tons of spectators and music and it feels like a giant party. Plenty of water, Gatorade, and snacks along the way. It’s a little bit hilly at the beginning with one major hill at mile 5-6, but it’s basically downhill from there. My first and second fastest halfs were on this course and I think the hype really helped me push through. The medals and shirts are always really nice. If you’re thinking about signing up for your first half or full, I can’t promise that you won’t be hooked forever after this race. So fun!
Awesome Weekend!
Would definitely recommend. An awesome race production and fun weekend all around. The 5k the day before was a great warm up. Lots of support along the course and was … MORE
Would definitely recommend. An awesome race production and fun weekend all around. The 5k the day before was a great warm up. Lots of support along the course and was sponsored by UCAN. Was kind of a mess getting to the hotel downtown on Friday night with the course blocked off and the Friday night lights happening.
Prefer the old route
Food is great for the half. Will run out of food for the Full and ultra runners (unless you're fast). Get 2 shirts for the race. Water stops are great. … MORE
Food is great for the half. Will run out of food for the Full and ultra runners (unless you’re fast). Get 2 shirts for the race. Water stops are great. Some hills here and there but mostly flat. The new route is confusing and too long. Watch says 13.85 and i try to run tangent. Good size race, with 8000 ish runners, good crowd support.
Fun, Challenging Race Needs More Soul
Positives: - Toughest half I’ve run yet. Feels like you are going uphill indefinitely - Well organized especially after the race. They do a really good job passing out food/drinks … MORE
Positives:
– Toughest half I’ve run yet. Feels like you are going uphill indefinitely
– Well organized especially after the race. They do a really good job passing out food/drinks immediately upon finishing
– Some neighborhoods had a lot of people out and cheering. Loved seeing the little kids with their power up signs
Negatives:
– The corral situation was more than a little nutty. Their A corral had too many different kinds of runners packed in like sardines. Haven’t been elbow bumped that many times since Disney (they really need more corrals)
– I think they really need to change up the course so it feels like you’re actually running in downtown Dallas. At the end of the course, as you come back to the start, you run thru city streets but for much of the race, you can’t tell you’re actually in Dallas, which is
– I took the public rail (recommended by organizers) and got to the race not super early but early enough in which I was outside long enough to be freezing by start time. I recommend taking a page out of Cowtown’s book and opening up the convention center so runners can stay warm pre race
Loved this race.
The race was top notch. The packet pickup was very easy and organized. They had plenty of vendors and freebies. The course was nice and I liked they had pickle … MORE
The race was top notch. The packet pickup was very easy and organized. They had plenty of vendors and freebies. The course was nice and I liked they had pickle juice on the course lol. The medals and jacket for those who did the challenge were nice. The kids run was so cute. The host hotel was right at the start line. The only thing I did not like was the beer. It was the worst I’ve ever tasted
Crowded Tour of Dallas
Very well organized race with a huge expo! The corral system was a little strange as there were people walking right off the bat in corral A which added to … MORE
Very well organized race with a huge expo! The corral system was a little strange as there were people walking right off the bat in corral A which added to the congestion of the first 2-3 miles. After that it wasn’t too crowded and there was so much spectator support!
Worth it!
Flew in from Austin and stayed at Omni. Perfect race day weather (upper 30s/low 40s). The course felt up and down throughout. The lake was a great flat place to … MORE
Flew in from Austin and stayed at Omni. Perfect race day weather (upper 30s/low 40s). The course felt up and down throughout. The lake was a great flat place to let the miles tick by at goal pace and not overdo it. The “hill” around 20 impacted me about 15-20 seconds/mile for 2 miles. My only recc is to enter Coral A a bit early so your navigating less people at start since they lump various races together (half, full, relay, ultra). Enjoyed Dallas and meeting many new and kind people.
Overpriced. Won't Get Fooled Again.
Not the first time the race promotion, the course and more were far less than stated. Having lived in Big D beginning in 1985, I've seen the race grow (good … MORE
Not the first time the race promotion, the course and more were far less than stated. Having lived in Big D beginning in 1985, I’ve seen the race grow (good news), yet, the quality has gone way down (bad news), the cost gone through the roof (thanks to having a Disney guy, an RD and more making 100K+ year). and the course….well, one year no White Rock Lake. Other years, including this one, no Swiss Ave. The race is in Dallas. It is a far cry for the wonderful and nationally respected Dallas White Rock Marathon. Suspect the founders and the former RD are rolling over in their graves. No, I will never come back which is sad as this was a go to race in Texas. Now, Cowtown and Woodlands!
Well Organized Race
The overall experience with the race was great. The ease of bib pickup and expo access created a good start to the weekend. Race morning, everything was easy to find … MORE
The overall experience with the race was great. The ease of bib pickup and expo access created a good start to the weekend. Race morning, everything was easy to find from gear check to your proper corral. On course support was great and everything was well marked. Getting two shirts also puts the swag top tier.
Two negatives – the corrals are waaaay too entirely large. Even with starting near the front of Corral A, I still had to weave through heavy traffic for more than a mile. The other negative was the lack of knowledge that the course was purposefully long and the true finish line was well before what you were to believe was the real one. I understand that they wanted people to still run to the end, but I missed out on my final push for a better time as my last push was after the real, unmarked finish line.
Overall, a great experience.
Easily a favorite race!!!!
BMW Dallas was #11/50 1/2 marathon races for me. It has easily tied Flying Pig as my favorite. Communication from the race directors was the best I've ever had so … MORE
BMW Dallas was #11/50 1/2 marathon races for me. It has easily tied Flying Pig as my favorite. Communication from the race directors was the best I’ve ever had so I felt very informed going into the race. The expo was good sized, so we were able to shop for extra merch and pick up any last-minute things from vendors that we needed. I did the weekend series with a 5K on Saturday and the 1/2 marathon on Sunday. The Weekend Series swag was amazing, and I loved it. The finisher jacket is beautiful, and I’ve been already wearing it around. Not super crazy about the T-shirts but I need another T-shirt like I need a hole in my head so no big deal. The production for these races was top-notch with great organization. Wonderful volunteers. They did an awesome job hyping up the runners at the start and even had fireworks.
The course for the 1/2 marathon went through some beautiful neighborhoods with the homeowners coming out to cheer you on. There were many “extra” stations from the neighbors. I saw whisky, beer, jello shots, and much more. The spectators were phenomenal. Very few parts of the course were empty of support. It was very motivating. One house even had a giant inflatable snowman with fake snow shooting all over. There are quite a lot of hills but for the most part they were gentle rolling. I trained moderate hills, so they didn’t feel like anything much to me.
The after party and post-race had 2 free beers, plenty of snacks and even a warm breakfast burrito that was delicious. Lots of space for people to hang around and watch the finish line with a huge screen.
We also managed to somehow be invited into the BMW VIP tent which was absolutely amazing. The runner’s lounge was very similar, and I would highly recommend spending the extra money. They have food and a warm tent. Love. My only con for this race was that it was sold out and kind of crowded. Most races thin out after a few miles but here I found myself navigating around people for the entire race. I found that annoying.
Dallas itself is a wonderful little downtown with lots of things you can wander around and do for the weekend. Unfortunately, they have quite a large homeless population which made walking around at night feel uncomfortable. It gets dark t 5:20 so it made for early nights, but we were so tired it wasn’t big deal.
I would highly recommend this race!
Corral Organization is a MESS
The shirts are good. I actually like the participator shirt better than the finisher shirt. The neck hole on the finisher shirt is bizarrely small. I'm a normal sized woman. … MORE
The shirts are good. I actually like the participator shirt better than the finisher shirt. The neck hole on the finisher shirt is bizarrely small. I’m a normal sized woman. It should not be hard to get this shirt over my head and around my neck. But I digress – I don’t run for the shirts.
The course is ok. I only ran the half, so I didn’t get to experience the part around the lake, which I know is beautiful because I’ve run other races around it. The half is mostly in downtown with part through the bordering neighborhoods. Dallas is pretty ugly so I liked the neighborhood stretches the best. There are some hills throughout but I wouldn’t personally call this a hilly course.
There is water/gatorade every other mile but I think the nutrition could definitely be offered more frequently. For the half, the only gels are on mile 8. Apparently there was supposed to be gels at the start, but I never saw any.
The spectator support is great in the neighborhoods (a contributing factor to why I liked those stretches best), but there’s not a lot in the way of race entertainment otherwise. I’m comparing it to Cowtown I guess, where there is entertainment almost every mile for the entire half.
The big issue, and the reason I would hesitate to run Dallas BMW again, is the corral organization. There are only 4 corrals, and corral A contains people running 5:00 pace to 10:00+ pace. There is no organization by time within the corral. I spent the first two miles dodging runners going 12 minutes per mile. I did so much weaving in the first two miles that my half marathon race actually ended up being 13.5 miles! Dallas needs to figure out a better way to do this. Corral A should be separated into 5-6 different corrals with tighter pace ranges.
Lastly, this race is EXPENSIVE. It’s the most expensive race I’ve ever run (including my fulls!) and I just don’t think it was worth the premium cost. Next fall I’ll probably go back to running DRCs the half and stick with the Cowtown full (which I do highly recommend!! A great course!!).
Great Racs Production
The convention was great. Enough vendors with great prices for running gear. Lots of freebies. You also get a race shirt and a finisher shirt. Medal was nice also. My … MORE
The convention was great. Enough vendors with great prices for running gear. Lots of freebies. You also get a race shirt and a finisher shirt. Medal was nice also. My only complaint is the course is very hilly. Lots of hills. I had no idea Dallas has so many hills. Must run marathon.
13.294 miles is not a "Half Marathon"
This new course was certified as 21.3947 km which equates to 13.294 miles. I don't understand why the course was longer than 13.1 miles? Also, the corrals were a mess … MORE
This new course was certified as 21.3947 km which equates to 13.294 miles. I don’t understand why the course was longer than 13.1 miles? Also, the corrals were a mess and the start was just so crowded. I saw two people fall down it was so crowded. Great swag as always and I do like finish area.
New course design was not good
This use to be one of my favorite races and I have ran it since 2018. They changed the course to run down Ross Ave instead of Deep Ellum. This … MORE
This use to be one of my favorite races and I have ran it since 2018. They changed the course to run down Ross Ave instead of Deep Ellum. This led to more hills and a lot of congestion for Marathon runners having to weave in and out of slow group. Very dangerous and I hope they change that in future. The shirts and swag is always great. The after party was pack and led to a congestion on the bridge to get to the back of the convention center. Poorly ran which is surprising because it didn’t use to be