Whether you’re new to running or you’ve been running your whole life, the BMW Dallas Marathon really does have a race for everyone. The BMW Dallas Marathon, Half Marathon and 50K courses begin and end in Downtown Dallas and highlight the best areas of the city. Along the way, runners will …
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Whether you’re new to running or you’ve been running your whole life, the BMW Dallas Marathon really does have a race for everyone.
The BMW Dallas Marathon, Half Marathon and 50K courses begin and end in Downtown Dallas and highlight the best areas of the city. Along the way, runners will pass through various popular neighborhoods with exciting cheer stations and on-course entertainment before finishing the race in downtown!
Other 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 a 10K, 5K, and a 100-meter dash for kids! Part of the BMW Dallas Marathon Weekend, 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.
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.
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Great first marathon experience
It was an awesome first marathon experience, can't wait to do it again. The course went through several beautiful neighborhoods, the downtown Dallas skyline and a nice lake. It was … MORE
It was an awesome first marathon experience, can’t wait to do it again. The course went through several beautiful neighborhoods, the downtown Dallas skyline and a nice lake. It was mostly flat with a few hills around the lake area. It is really an excellent run for your first attempt.
I love this race
One of my favorites. Dallas is awesome, this race is awesome! The start in the city, then the transition into white rock lake is great. The hill at mile 20 … MORE
One of my favorites. Dallas is awesome, this race is awesome! The start in the city, then the transition into white rock lake is great. The hill at mile 20 is a great little test! This is a race which I will continue to do each year!
Dallas Is Not My Fave
This is my 4th time to participate in Dallas marathon and/or half and every time I swear I will never go back but somehow I get talked into returning. Race … MORE
This is my 4th time to participate in Dallas marathon and/or half and every time I swear I will never go back but somehow I get talked into returning. Race production and organization is some of the very best I’ve seen in 10 years of running races. Aide stations are more than sufficient in quantity however I would recommend offering pickle juice or salt at least the last 7-9 miles as people were dropping like flys with cramps. The route is a psychological whip as you spend 9 or 10 miles running around White Rock Lake, looking back at the Dallas skyline seemingly 100miles away. Also, mile 20 starts up a good size hill, mind you this is also your mile 10 mark running out so you KNOW that when you come back around you will be going UP. The first corral doesn’t start until 8:30am which feels super late especially when you are going to be running for 3-4 hours and the temps will change drastically in that time (thank you Texas weather). They did a good job on the swag as both shirts are wearable and good looking. The exit to the race/finish line is well thought out as you take a long stroll in a “safe space” around a bend with all the vendors nicely laid out, to find family and friends (after the blood has returned to your brain). Dallas – you do a lot of things right but you’re just not the course for me.
They Know What They’re Doing
This is a very fun race that is well organized. The inaugural 50k was perfect. Course support is pretty good. Packet pickup was flawless. This is an urban ultra that … MORE
This is a very fun race that is well organized. The inaugural 50k was perfect. Course support is pretty good. Packet pickup was flawless. This is an urban ultra that feels leisurely with the flat course.
One of the best races I've experiences
BMW Dallas Marathon Race Review The BMW Dallas Marathon is officially in my top three favorite races. I honestly have nothing but positive things to say about my experience with … MORE
BMW Dallas Marathon Race Review
The BMW Dallas Marathon is officially in my top three favorite races. I honestly have nothing but positive things to say about my experience with this race, which is rare for me because I am excellent in identifying issues. Every part of this race, though, from the expo to the post-race finish area was executed perfectly. I want to share how things went down for me at the race. But first, I want to share all of the things I loved about the marathon itself, because I hope it’s a race that you consider running in the future. This is going to be an abnormally long post, so thank you for indulging me in my full BMW Dallas Marathon review.
The Expo
We got to the expo mid-afternoon on Saturday, and picking up my bib and t-shirt took a collective 3 minutes. They had plenty of volunteers, and everything was incredibly organized, so there were no lines for either area. I will say that the expo was fairly quiet at the time that we got there, but it was all laid out so efficiently that it seemed like it would operate smoothly no matter how many runners were there. The number of vendors at the expo was very reasonable; there were enough vendors to explore and grab a few goodies without feeling like you were trying to escape the labyrinth. Picking up a last minute item like fuel, a hat, or Body Glide would have no problem.
What I really appreciated, though, was the dedicated kids area. The expo organizers included a bouncy house obstacle course for kids to run through, and it was great. I love being able to share the race experience with my 6 year old, and having little things like this included just helps him enjoy the sport even more. Samuel Adams is one of the races main sponsors, and they also had a nice area set up with a complimentary bar and patio games. The boys played cornhole and connect four while my husband and I shared a beer, for electrolytes of course. Overall, I’d say this was the BEST expo I have seen, and it was perfectly executed.
Staying Downtown
My husband booked a hotel downtown near the expo and start, and I’d have to say I highly recommend that anyone running this race do the same. My mom lives driving distance to the race, and she booked herself a room downtown as well to avoid the road closures and race day traffic. This is a HUGE race, and it gets really hectic downtown. I will say the organizers do a great job guiding traffic, and it seemed like there were a lot of parking options, but being able to use a real restroom and then hop down to the start is a convenience that doesn’t have a price tag in my opinion.
We chose to stay at the Residence Inn down town, and I’d HIGHLY recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a reasonably priced accommodation. The rooms are clean and comfortable, the complimentary breakfast has so many options, and the indoor pool and gym are very nice. When I looked at hotel rates, the Residence Inn was booking at $155, which is super reasonable for an event weekend. We used points, but I would have gladly paid full price.
The hotel is less than a quarter mile from the start and finish, and less than half a mile to the expo location. Valet parking can be fairly pricey at $32 a night, but there are several overnight lots that are much cheaper but do not offer in and out privileges. We chose to self-park and just walk everywhere for most of the weekend. With the hotel being downtown, we had plenty of options for lunch and dinner. There’s also a Starbucks on the corner, which is not unusual, but certainly convenient for caffeine addicts like myself.
Starting Coral
Once again, the starting coral is something that the Dallas Marathon executes just right. In order to be seeded in coral A, women need to have a verified marathon completion of four hours or less. I believe there is also an approved half-marathon time, but I couldn’t find that information on the marathon website. The coral A entries are well monitored, which I appreciate, so that you don’t spend the first mile weaving through runners.
A short video was played on a large monitor right before the start, and it was really inspiring. A few fireworks pop right before the start, and it honestly just feels like such a well thought out and special event. Usually I hate being stuck in the sea of people that are involved in marathon starts, but the coral moved quickly and I wasn’t standing around for a long period of time, which as so nice.
Race Course Highlights
The race is very well spectated, and most of the course is very scenic. The crowds are great, and I noticed that there were so many people cheering on the more difficult sections of the race, which is always really nice. It starts at 8:30am, which is much later than most races I’ve done in the past. The late start is nice in terms of not having to wake up at a ridiculous time to get on the course, but it can mean a later (and warmer) finish than other races.
The race is profiled as “roller,” and starts on a slow downhill, which is the best way to start a 26.2 mile run. The first few miles include a good amount of reasonable rolling hills that conclude right around mile 10. There were one or two uphill portions that felt somewhat challenging, but nothing that interrupt pacing. The first ten miles are a net uphill, but the rolling hills give some downhill sections to break it all up, so you aren’t just running straight uphill for a long period of time.
After mile ten, the course begins a very gradual descent that lasts until right around mile 12. Miles 12-19 are fairly steady, flat miles around the White Rock Lake. This year it was slightly windy around the lake, and for me steady, flat miles can get a little boring, especially at that point in the race. But the lake is so scenic, that I honestly felt really great through this section and had some of my fastest miles here.
At mile 19, you hit a short descent, and then a rather imposing uphill section at mile 20. Miles 20-21 are the most challenging section of the race, with the steep and long uphill on tired legs. This is forgiven, though, as the last 10k of the race is almost exclusively gradual downhill. It is not the type of downhill that requires any sort of technical training or adjustment in stride, but definitely gives the runner a little pep in their step in the last section.
It seemed like there was water about every two miles, and fueling stations about every four miles. I really like this strategy, as I always stop at water stations, and water every mile can be a little tricky with pacing and avoiding bathrooms. Water every other mile works well in cooler temps, but might be more challenging for some runners on warmer years. I would encourage runners to really ensure they are well hydrated and have taken an electrolyte supplement beforehand.
A link for the Dallas Marathon course map can be found here.
Finish
The last 400m of the race have markers at 400m, 200m, and 100m, which is really great motivation for the last hard push. The spectators in the finish area are great, and the emcee seemed like he announced every single marathon runner finishing. My husband said that the race is really well organized for spectators, and it was very easy to find the finish line area. After the finish line, there is a fairly long walk through the medal, finisher shirt pick up, and fueling area. It was a bit longer than I wanted to walk after running 26.4 miles, but it forces you to not sit immediately after, which is tempting but not great for recovery.
The finish area volunteers, though, were great. I stopped a couple of times with stomach cramps, and while I was asked if I was ok, no one was pushy and told me I needed to keep moving. I’ve experienced this at several races, and honestly, if I had more energy after a marathon it would be hard not to throat punch someone. I know I just ran 26 miles, and I’m trying really hard not to die, pee my pants, or fall on my face. I don’t need to be told to keep moving when I just 7 seconds to get my shit collected.
The finish line goodies are also well done. The staples of water, PowerAde, and bananas are all available fairly quickly. TacoDeli provided breakfast tacos, and there were lots of other options, including UCAN bars and chocolate milk. What I really appreciate with this race, is the fact that they give runners both a t-shirt and long sleeve technical shirt for finishers. Both shirts are great quality. I can’t tell you the number of race shirts that I’ve gotten that are just garbage in terms in quality, and I love the fact that Dallas gives you something you will actually wear in the future. Not just a trash bag shirt with the race name on it that turns into a carwash rag.
There are plenty of areas close to the finish for sitting and getting yourself back in one piece. Samuel Adams also does things right and has patio games set up for families to enjoy, another nice feature if you have kiddos that are spectating. Every runner had two coupons for free beer or Truly seltzer, and there food trucks conveniently located. Friends and families could have spent a very comfortable morning spectating and hanging out without getting bored.
VIP
My mom was kind enough to score us VIP passes, and my husband really enjoyed hanging out in the Pegasus lounge area for most of the morning. They had a great breakfast/brunch buffet, Samuel Adams refreshments, and heat lamps for the cooler morning. I arrived right at the start of the race, but if I had driven in I would have really loved being able to hang out in that area. After the race, I grabbed some fruit, a muffin, a beer, and got a nice calf massage. We didn’t hang out for too long, but they had private port-a-potties and a great covered area to block out the sun. The VIP passes were well worth the money, especially for my husband who spent all morning on the course cheering and spectating.
Fantastic Organization, Great Race
This was the first time that I had ever been to the state of Texas. Coming from the mountainous west coast the scenery was definitely different in Texas flying in. … MORE
This was the first time that I had ever been to the state of Texas. Coming from the mountainous west coast the scenery was definitely different in Texas flying in. I was expecting a very flat course when in actuality it had a pretty decent amount of hills. I will review the race itself next but my main takeaway from this race was a huge lesson learned in terms of knowing the conditions on a race day and adjusting your strategy accordingly. This race has a later than I am used to start of 8:30am probably so it is actually light out when people run but it was unusually warm in the morning, 70 degrees by 10am…in December. The start of the race was cool with overcast skies which led to me and many other runners taking off hard and fast and going for a PR. Texas is more humid than the northwest and the warmer temperatures meant that going out at PR pace for the first half especially during the long uphill middle section was a mistake. I bonked at mile 9 and slowly dropped from 7 minute pace to 7:15 pace by mile 11. Then I things went really south and my final mile was nearly 9 minutes and I wobbled to the finish and am still recovering from cramps and dehydration a day later. Essentially don’t make the rookie mistake of going out too hard in any race and then run a responsible pace in a race when the conditions are different than what you run in at home. As I continue to run races around the country, especially in the south I will take it much easier and only go for that PR when the course and conditions suit it. On to the review…
EXPO/Packet Pick Up: The expo was at a convention center only a few hundred yards from the start line. I went on Saturday afternoon and had zero issues easily getting inside and finding the expo. The convention center is huge and many other things were going on including a youth cheerleader/dance competition so among the hundreds of runners walking around were dozens and dozens of young girls in bright outfits and makeup. Parking is limited in the area, I had friends drop me off but the DART (commuter type train) drops off right at the convention center. Bib and event weekend shirt(not a tech T-shirt) were easy to pick up and seamless. The rest of the expo was pretty large and had some really nice BMW(event sponsor) cars inside that you could get in and check out.
Parking/Access: As with any downtown major city race parking is going to be a real issue. I took the DART (commuter train). This worked fantastically as I was staying with friends near Plano. Parking was free at the train station and the ticket was only $3, I was able to use it both ways because the ticket was good for the entire AM, if you run the full you will likely need to buy the $6 all day ticket. After getting off the train at the same convention center as the expo I spent quite a bit of time warming up and stretching in the event center along with many many others, plenty of room and warm with real bathrooms.
T-Shirts/SWAG: I really liked the medal for this race, it is something I had never seen before (see attached picture). It had picture of the Dallas skyline including the event center and the cattle drive statues that area near the start. The really unique part is that there is a hinge in the middle of the medal that folds back the sky above the skyline so that the top of the medal is a jagged skyline and the sky now becomes something that you can use to prop up your medal for display, it was also attached to a high quality ribbon. I like to wear event shirts for my races however I could not do that in this case as at the expo you get a Dallas Marathon weekend T-Shirt (not a tech Tee). The shirt had a great color and design and is definitely something that I would wear outside of a running event. You do still get a Tech Tee, but you get this in the finishers area after the race because it is a finishers shirt. This design was less interesting and a little plain but I have a hard time criticizing the swag in a race where they give you two shirts at no additional cost. Great SWAG.
Aid Stations: The aid stations were well stocked and spaced every 1.5 to 2 miles they all had Gatorade and water. There were even several aid stations from local community groups along the course. The aid station around 7 miles also had liquid energy packs that were given out. I didn’t hear anything about things running out at any time during the race.
Course Scenery/Elevation Difficulty: This was run mostly through downtown and surrounding neighborhoods in a large loop, no out and back repeats of scenery which is nice. Near the beginning of the race you run through the famous triple underpass and past the book depository and grassy knoll where JFK was killed (I also recommend the trolley tour around town that focuses on the assassination, it was really interesting as an out of state tourist). After a rather quick and slightly downhill first 3 miles the next 5 or so miles is filled almost entirely with uphills. I kept my pace up through those uphills when was just too much effort expended and I paid for that in the end. Around mile 7 we entered highland park which my friends who I was staying with tell me is a rather historic and very expensive part of town. I did find it very pretty. The last few miles of the course were a pretty non de-script trip through neighborhoods and downtown.
Weather: Surprisingly hot, at least surprising to me, I know its not unheard of to have highs of 75 in Texas in mid December but the cool start temperatures led to a lot of people going out too hard (i saw lots of walkers or people stopping to stretch on the course which I rarely see at my pace because most runners are quite experienced if you are running in the 1:30’s. I didn’t stick around to see many marathon finishers but I fear that the heat likely led to some carnage as people were trying to finish in the afternoon. It was humid, normal Texas humid which isn’t like the deep south but certainly more than I am used to in the northwest.
Race Management: This was very well run. Great EXPO, SWAG and organization. The corral control was very strict and something that I am not used to seeing outside of extremely large marathons, they had people checking to the gates to make sure you were in the right corral and the fences were 6 ft tall keeping people in so it would be hard to skip into the wrong corral. My only complaint would be there there were only 4 different corrals and they were long and narrow. I probably should have entered the corral sooner but even getting in 15 minutes early I wasn’t quite able to weave my way to the front where the quicker pacers were. The start of the race was quite an event, a very talented national anthem singer, and giant 40 foot tall arch over the start with a huge video board playing a get psyched video and fireworks being shot off the top of it that made it feel like I was at a football game. Very cool. The finish area was well stocked with tons of freebies that you would expect at a race including an area to get your finishers shirt and then gear check pickup was a breeze. They also had a well organized family reunion area. I also give this race credit for having so many types of events. They had a 50k Ultra, Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, Kids Race, Friday Mile as well as 4 man Marathon relays and 2 man Half Marathon relays (I saw several people ran the first leg of relays and then continued to finish the race on their own as well. Races were held over 3 different days with only the Half or further on Sunday but they really did have an event or distance for everybody.
This was a great race, don’t try to PR here and just enjoy the organization and course. Also make sure to get some BBQ in the area after the race, food after any race always tastes amazing but BBQ in Texas was something else. The brisket that I had at Hutchinson’s was something that I probably could have eaten with a spoon because it was so tender, the knife was not needed.
I would definitely recommend this race, and it is one I would like to do again someday, pace myself better, and better enjoy the finish.
Just Another Long Run
This race used to be run around the Dallas White Rock Lake. I found that course to be rather boring, as there isn't much but a lake to look at … MORE
This race used to be run around the Dallas White Rock Lake. I found that course to be rather boring, as there isn’t much but a lake to look at for the majority of the run. While the lake is beautiful, the majority of the locals run around this every day. I was glad they decided to change the course of this race to include more of the city.
Great marathon course
Loved this race. Very lively, even the police officers were dancing and having fun. Music on the loud speakers road after road after road towards the very end. It was … MORE
Loved this race. Very lively, even the police officers were dancing and having fun. Music on the loud speakers road after road after road towards the very end. It was the absolute BEST! Had a steep hill and wind around the lakes, don’t get me wrong this was no cake walk. But you should totally do the full!!!! First time to Dallas and was surely wow’ed!
Great race!
Dallas us a great race!! It is HARD!! The hills!! Going all around the lake. It is so pretty, but really hard since you can see how far you have … MORE
Dallas us a great race!! It is HARD!! The hills!! Going all around the lake. It is so pretty, but really hard since you can see how far you have to go! Think next time I will stick to the half.
I'd run it again.
OK, it was scenic and GREAT crowd support. I swear this one gladiator club thing was EVERY MILE AT LEAST!! Awesome!! I read it was "flat and fast" but there … MORE
OK, it was scenic and GREAT crowd support. I swear this one gladiator club thing was EVERY MILE AT LEAST!! Awesome!! I read it was “flat and fast” but there was a couple hills in there that were a doozy!! And they came when you are spent after 20 miles!! I was NOT HAPPY. I came into this race after two weeks of resting a strained gatrocnemius muscle (calf). I’d say I was at about 80%. I had signed up for the weekend series (5k on saturday) and I did complete that too. ran about a 10 minute pace on that one. But it was important, because the BEST SWAG, was from the series. The participant shirt was “eh” the finisher shirt was “eh” the weekend series jacket was my favorite, cute, cut well, looks water repellant (haven’t tested) and clean. The series MEDAL was awesome too! The 5k medal was good, but nothing SUPER special, and the marathon is NICE, stained glass bit, hinged part acts as a kickstand, etc… Here are my complaints: the expo was good, but they SPECIFICALLY state NO ONE CAN PICK UP YOUR PACKET FOR YOU. but there were SO MANY PEOPLE with multiple packets. Also, expo was open on saturday, but no saturday packet pickup for weekend series, which means extra hotel day, extra day off of work, etc… They could have done the 5k/10k later in the day and offered morning packet pickup. Easily. And with less rain. This was my first run with my Garmin in a big city where the buildings screwed with the signal and my time/distance was off. Oh! and UCan was a sponsor and handed out their bars at two spots on the course- but they were thrown down on the ground ALL OVER, because the texture is REALLY DIFFICULT during a run!! I managed mine but it’s like compressed sawdust. FLAVORFUL, but sawdust. Need LOTS of water that you may not have because you have already passed the aid station, etc… No gels were distributed. Glad I carried my own. Anyway, I’m glad I did it, I got a good time considering my injury- (would have been under 4 hours, but I fell apart after the hill I mentioned in mile 21). My brother ran the ultra, and he said that was good too (they just had a pigtail off of our course where they picked up the extra mileage to make his a 50K.
BQ but....!
I would really like to rate this event higher but there are things preventing a higher rating. I would actually rate it lower had I not gotten the VIP package … MORE
I would really like to rate this event higher but there are things preventing a higher rating. I would actually rate it lower had I not gotten the VIP package – well worth the money. There are things outside the control of the race director – traffic and construction. The Metromess is a disaster most of the time traffic-wise but it was even worse this year. Downtown has so much construction, road closures, one way streets – almost impossible for someone from out of town to navigate. Worse Expo by far of any large event I have attended. Parking is expensive and while the city needs money – why gouge people for 10 minutes worth of parking after they just endured one hour or more of stop and go traffic downtown for packet pick up. I got the wrong size t-shirt at packet pick up and could not exchange it.
VIP – package – AWESOME!!! SWAG Awesome (even my oversized tshirt)!
Course – difficult is an understatement – and it was long (both the 5k and the marathon courses were long – not a Garmin error) 24.46 – .53 by most finishers. The hill at mile 6 (Beverly in Highland Park) was interesting and expected. Hill at mile 20 (Lakewood Blvd) was a monster hill. The Garmin hill challenge was only the first half of the hill. The worst part was the second half of the hill to the top of the street. I get hills but that one needs to be gone or at least half of it. I did set a PR and more importantly, got a BQ time but I honestly thought I would have run it about 5 to 6 minutes faster. The Lakewood hill took it all out of me. UCan bars are great for people that have tender stomachs but the rest of the world needs something that does not taste like compressed sawdust. My wife swears by UCan but I will swear at UCan. I needed something so I took what the race provided.
Overall, some improvements can be made but I am just one runner and this is the 48th time this event has been held so they may not be too interested in changing much.
My First Marathon
This race did not disappoint! This was my first marathon. I stayed in the sponsored hotel which was walking distance to the start line, had a sky bridge to get … MORE
This race did not disappoint! This was my first marathon. I stayed in the sponsored hotel which was walking distance to the start line, had a sky bridge to get to the expo and had several restaurants inside the building. This made the stay so easy and the prices were very reasonable. The expo was so exciting-I met Shalane Flanagan and got her to autograph my race bib. Great vendors, very organized. The start line was one of the best I’ve been at–corrals organized well, starts well staggered. The course was extremely difficult around miles 17-19ish. Two really big uphills that crushed my pace–I wasn’t prepared for them. Course support was awesome, plenty of water stops, tons of cheering, no dead zones. The weather was perfect and I would recommend this race to anyone!
Great Event, Special Showcase of Dallas
The event was well organized, plenty of aid and direction to Corrals. Parking was available, for a fee, right next to starting/finishing line. Great showcase of downtown Dallas, with support … MORE
The event was well organized, plenty of aid and direction to Corrals. Parking was available, for a fee, right next to starting/finishing line. Great showcase of downtown Dallas, with support from all the local sports teams. First half was almost entirely uphill, but the last half gets to finish on a downward slope.
Great Race & Great SWAG!
As most would expect, this is a well organized large metropolitan area race. The route takes you through all the different areas that the downtown Dallas area has to offer … MORE
As most would expect, this is a well organized large metropolitan area race. The route takes you through all the different areas that the downtown Dallas area has to offer which is nice. I did the weekend series and the swag seemed to never stop coming. I look forward to making this an annual run for me and my family.
Tough first marathon but loved Dallas!
Race expo was the best! Loved the city itself - clean and metro was nice to get back and forth through town; so hot day of the race and then … MORE
Race expo was the best! Loved the city itself – clean and metro was nice to get back and forth through town; so hot day of the race and then it snowed the next morning!
I loved it!
The city of Dallas is quite boring, but Dallas Marathon was really nice! I liked it very much even though it was raining. The course is flat, the atmosphere is … MORE
The city of Dallas is quite boring, but Dallas Marathon was really nice! I liked it very much even though it was raining. The course is flat, the atmosphere is fantastic and while running the half marathon I got a very good impression of the different parts of the city. I also liked the expo very much. Nice T-Shirt and Medal!
Unpredictable
The weather is unpredictable and the courses are hilly. It can be windy and humid. Miles 4-8 are a beating. There is one u-turn. Parking is not easy. MORE
The weather is unpredictable and the courses are hilly. It can be windy and humid. Miles 4-8 are a beating. There is one u-turn.
Parking is not easy.
26.2 Miles in Dallas
The Dallas Marathon, always wanted to run it since I live in the area. Great event and would run again. Location is in Downtown Dallas. We stayed at the Aloft … MORE
The Dallas Marathon, always wanted to run it since I live in the area.
Great event and would run again.
Location is in Downtown Dallas. We stayed at the Aloft Hotel, great place and decent rate. Plus the start/finish line was right in front of the hotel. the expo was across the street. It was kind of cool to see the set up of the race Friday and Saturday. There are many places to eat within walking distance so we were able to park the car at the hotel and just walk.
The expo, I have been to it before just to check out the booths but this was my first year as a participant. Expo was okay, seemed smaller than in years past. Did not seem to have as many vendors selling running items. Lots of other events there to let you know of their runs and a few odd ball vendors selling home improvement and electricity?? Packet pickup was smooth and easy. Swag in the bag is a long sleeved shirt.
Raceday – Once again our hotel was right by the start/finish and my corral was just a short walk up the street. There were four corrals and each had a nice amount of runners so that they were not packed. As with most marathons, they had pace teams available. The weather this year was almost perfect. The course was mostly flat with only a few small elevation changes. It winds through parts of downtown Dallas, Highland Park, out to White Rock Lake, and back. There were places where lots of crowd support was evident and others there were none. Great traffic and support from the community. There were ample water stops and two gel stations. There were also some unofficial refreshment stations, a few handing out beer and some residents handing out water, cookies, oranges, and candy. There were several bands on the course as well as several of the local professional sports teams had their promotional staff on the course. The finish line area, you get a medal, it was nice but in the day of big bling, seemed like it could be a tad bigger and it appeared to me that the medals were the same size if you ran the half, full relay or full. Not a complaint but have run other events were the medal was bigger depending on the distance. Post race food, you were given a draw string backpack with some cookies, pretzels, and a cliff bar, along with water, Gatorade, and power gels. There was a post race party with a band and if you drink, you got two free beers.
My performance was okay, I had hoped to do better but had a last minute cold to deal with the week prior and I am actually training for Houston in January so this was kind of a bonus (was supposed to run a 20 miler and figured its only 6 more).
They have a new race director that was previously with Run Disney and he says he has big plans so I am anxious to see where this race improves. As it is I would run it again.
Windy Day in Dallas
This year's Dallas Marathon was blessed with almost perfect weather. The day started in the low 50s with clouds and fairly calm. However, as the day progressed the winds kicked … MORE
This year’s Dallas Marathon was blessed with almost perfect weather. The day started in the low 50s with clouds and fairly calm. However, as the day progressed the winds kicked up and were well over 20mph with 30+ mph gusts about 3 hours into the race. That’s totally out of the RD’s control and really didn’t diminish a great day for running. It made the finish quite challenging in spite of it being a fairly flat course. The race highlights:
THE EXPO: Fairly typical for a large marathon in that there were tons of vendors and tons of stuff. I really enjoy spending time at expos and this one did not disappoint. With BMW being the title sponsor this year, there was some really cool car stuff to play around with.
THE COURSE: Having lived in Dallas for about 10 years, I am very familiar with the course and it definitely went through a lot of the best neighborhoods in the area. However, the out and back at White Rock Lake is a little repetitive and ignores the section that would include the arboretum which is a beautiful part of the lake. The worst part of the course is the section that runs along the Santa Fe Trail which is a multi mile slow climb up a concrete path. The path was not closed and we dealt with several runners coming from the other direction and I was passed twice by bikers who were not part of the event.
THE SPECTATORS: The city of Dallas definitely supports the marathon in a big way. There are plenty of spectators on the course to keep you motivated and lots of “unofficial” food stations along the way for those hungry for doughnuts, beer, or Twizzlers. From the “Dolly Parton’s” and Elvis impersonators, there are plenty of people having fun on the course.
THE ORGANIZATION: This is such a well run event, it’s obvious that it’s been around for over 40 years. From start to finish, this is a very professionally run event that seems to care as much about the marathon as it does the half and the relay. It’s nice to run in a race that has doesn’t put all the interesting parts of the course on the parts shared by with the half marathon and make the full marathon course seem like an afterthought. I didn’t utilize the bag check so I can’t comment on that part of the operation.
I Love this Race!!
This race is my favorite of the year! It's a huge race with thousands of people, and for me that adds to the excitement! The course isn't bad at all, … MORE
This race is my favorite of the year! It’s a huge race with thousands of people, and for me that adds to the excitement! The course isn’t bad at all, a few constant inclines but no steep hills (at least on the half course). The weather wasn’t bad this year at all as well. The corrals are clearly marked and loaded by pace time. Make sure you get there early if you want to be at the front of your corral! I already can’t wait until next year! ?