Two days of run events (New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day), with technical running shirts and finisher medals for everyone. There’s also a special perk for those who complete multiple running events over the two days – we know how runners love their bling! December 31 – morningNew Year’s …
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Two days of run events (New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day), with technical running shirts and finisher medals for everyone. There’s also a special perk for those who complete multiple running events over the two days – we know how runners love their bling!
December 31 – morning
New Year’s Eve Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K
Join us as we celebrate the end of a wonderful year. Applaud yourself for completing the year the active way – regardless of whether it was a year where you spent the entire time making running and walking a part of your lifestyle, or you spent the last 8 weeks training for your first 5K! The point is that it was still an active year! All finishers will receive a finisher medal commemorating that day’s event.
January 1 – morning
New Year’s Day Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K
Then come back the next day and celebrate starting the new yearthe best way possible – the active way! Who could think of a better way to start the new year than with a thousand other runners and walkers?!?
And for locals, this still means you can enjoy ringing in the New Year at midnight. The shorter distance starts early, but the longer distance event has a nice later start time, and it’s conveniently located in Allen with parking right at the start/finish line. So ring in the new year and hop into bed – many of you can still enjoy 6-7 hours of sleep! All finishers will receive a finisher medal commemorating that day’s event.
New Years Double Challenge Plate: For those who complete certain combinations of events on BOTH days, both New Year’s Eve morning and New Year’s Day morning, there will be a special challenge finisher medal. The Challenge Plate will actually integrate with your two existing individual medals you received at each day’s event.
LESS
A fun time and well run!
These races are well organized, and communication is excellent. I loved the energy and support from all the runners; I'll do this one again (if I can stay healthy). MORE
These races are well organized, and communication is excellent. I loved the energy and support from all the runners; I’ll do this one again (if I can stay healthy).
Great way to end the year
Fun race. Easy flat and fast course. Plenty of parking. The race is very well organized and administered , open communication with the admins. Quick answers. The swag is very … MORE
Fun race. Easy flat and fast course. Plenty of parking. The race is very well organized and administered , open communication with the admins. Quick answers. The swag is very unique and specially designed , i would say it is Art Work. Tees are nice.
First 5K of 2022
This was the second day of the New Years Double. More info is in my half marathon review. I was initially signed up for the 5K and the half both … MORE
This was the second day of the New Years Double. More info is in my half marathon review. I was initially signed up for the 5K and the half both days. This was the second day 5K. My foot felt terrible but I decided to see how the 5K went. I knew I couldn’t run but I thought I may be able to speed walk both races. The first two miles of the 5K went fine. I was walking a 16 to 17 min/mil pace but the third mile was a disaster and I basically had to limp. I knew that if I were to do the half marathon it would be a miserable 4+ hour hobble to the finish line. I didn’t think it was worth it given the likelihood of exacerbating my injury and not being able to complete Louisiana in 2 weeks which I already had to defer from full to half. I was disappointed I couldn’t complete the 4 races and get the challenge plate but I still got 3 nice medals and at least got 1 half done in Texas to check off a new state
Last 5K of 2021
This was a part of the New Years Double Race. More details are in my half marathon review. The 5K starts at 7am. It was kind of dark when it … MORE
This was a part of the New Years Double Race. More details are in my half marathon review. The 5K starts at 7am. It was kind of dark when it started. It was very foggy which was kind of cool since the course was otherwise not very exciting. It is just a smaller version of the loop used for the half/full marathon. It was a flat and well produced 5K. Given my foot injury I planned to walk most of this 5K. I ran a bit in the beginning and end of the race and while it would normally be a slow 5K for me I was aiming for under 45 minutes and that’s what I ran. There was a nice 5K medal at the end.
Boring Course but Fun Atmosphere
This is a New Years Eve/New Years Day challenge that is located in Allen, Texas which is about 30 minutes outside of Dallas. Since New Year's was on a Saturday … MORE
This is a New Years Eve/New Years Day challenge that is located in Allen, Texas which is about 30 minutes outside of Dallas. Since New Year’s was on a Saturday this year I had New Years Eve off and a 3 day weekend so this was a convenient way to get Texas without taking a vacation day. I was hoping to do the 5K/half marathon double for which participants get a challenge plate along with excellent medals since I love my bling. However I was having major issues with my foot and had to skip the New Years Day half marathon. Pre-race communication was just the perfect amount of information and emails. For the race I flew into Dallas Thursday evening. One warning just for planning is that since Allen is about a 30 minute drive from Dallas by the time I got the airport and got my rental car and drove to my hotel it ended up being close to 2am so if you can it would be good to take an earlier flight but as I said I didn’t want to use vacation days. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Allen. It was reasonable price and about a 8-10 minute, easy drive to the race. The race has race day packet pick-up. It was super easy. Participants picked up their packets that had bibs and shirts. The shirts were fine but not special. They are polyblend tech shirts. You get one for each day. One is long-sleeved and one is short-sleeved. One thing I really like is instead of picking “men’s” or “women’s” shirts you picked “relaxed fit” or “fitted”. I loved this and wish more races would do this since I prefer the “relaxed fit” or “men’s” style and get sick of being told I am in the wrong line when picking up my shirt. This was also a very nice size race for the pandemic with a few hundred participants. The 5Ks are first at 7:00 and the half/full at 8:30. There is plenty of time to walk the 5K and do the half or full. The start was in 3 corrals. I kind of felt bad since I was in “B” corral even though with my injury I knew I was going to do more of a “C” pace but if I was healthy I would have been in right corral. This is a race with a lot of back of the packers since there are long time limits especially for the half. Corrals worked well to spread it out. The course is very boring. It is just a double loop on paved trails through a park. But I understand why for a race like this it needs to be that way. Also the loop did add some comradery. It is fun running with the same people so many time. The course is super flat. There is barely any elevation gain. While it was a boring course it was well marked and had accurate mile markers. There were aid stations about every 2 miles. I would have liked more since it was humid out but the volunteers were great. I had a really rough race. I was hoping my foot would heal but the humidity seemed to make it worse. I had a walk-run strategy that should have took me about 3 hours to finish but ended up being closes to 3:15. The finish line has an announcer and you get your medals and some food. Food kind of disappointing just bananas and bags of chips. The medals are very nice and this year the theme was “time” so they look like clocks. I wish I could have gotten the challenge plate but it wasn’t in the cards and I had to prioritize my health and skip the New Years Day half marathon since I didn’t want to aggravate my injury more as I want to make sure I can complete some of my upcoming new states. Overall while it was a boring course. It was a fun event and well-produced and I would recommend it to locals and those looking for a fun challenge.
Good way to close out the year
Nothing really special except a very flat course. The ground was very wet when you get off the sidewall. Sometimes hard to pass with two way traffic. MORE
Nothing really special except a very flat course. The ground was very wet when you get off the sidewall. Sometimes hard to pass with two way traffic.
Great Way to Bring in the New Year
I have run this event twice. Last time I ran the double double (5k & half both new years eve and day). Great challenge. Well run event. Somewhat no frills … MORE
I have run this event twice. Last time I ran the double double (5k & half both new years eve and day). Great challenge. Well run event. Somewhat no frills but worth the admission and just a fun way to spend new years eve and day. Plenty of parking. Race is on a paved park trail, two laps makes the half marathon and four for the full. Flat course. I will run this event again. Standards post race snacks, bananas, granola, water, and chips. Race medals for all distances and if you complete a challenge you get a plate that all the medals attach to for display or wearing. They have other well run events that I have run.
Cool Way to Bring in the New Year
Again, great race! After seeing the same things multiple times, it gets a little annoying. But it is a great event and I highly recommend it!! Bring in the New … MORE
Again, great race! After seeing the same things multiple times, it gets a little annoying. But it is a great event and I highly recommend it!! Bring in the New Year with your peeps!
2nd Time
I told myself I wouldn’t do any more back to backs, but my mom talked me into it. For as tough as completing back to back doubles, they make it … MORE
I told myself I wouldn’t do any more back to backs, but my mom talked me into it. For as tough as completing back to back doubles, they make it worth it! The swag is amazing! If you are going to do this race, I would suggest preparing for ANY weather! I would also suggest having 2 pairs of shoes just in case. Such a great race to do with friends and family!
Fun and Flat
This was my first half marathon ever, and as tough as that is, I loved it. It was a small race, with amazing people and volunteers. The Aid stations were … MORE
This was my first half marathon ever, and as tough as that is, I loved it. It was a small race, with amazing people and volunteers. The Aid stations were adequate and nice, it was a loop course and beautiful for a ND girl in December!
This was a pretty relaxed race on mostly sidewalks.
Day 2–Rough!
This was the 2nd race of the weekend. It was difficult because I was still exhausted from the day before and had not yet recovered. The same course as the … MORE
This was the 2nd race of the weekend. It was difficult because I was still exhausted from the day before and had not yet recovered. The same course as the day before, so it got annoying when I was not close to being done. The medal was WAY worth it!! It was as big as my head.
First Back to Back Half Marathon
This was my first back to back. I had just been cleared to exercise again after recovering from 2 stress fractures in my foot. The first day (this one) was … MORE
This was my first back to back. I had just been cleared to exercise again after recovering from 2 stress fractures in my foot. The first day (this one) was very wet and cold. I wish I had brought 2 pairs of shoes because of how wet everything was after this race. The course is a down and back loop (6.55 miles). It’s in a park and had a decent amount of scenery. Well put on and the swag was amazing!