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☰
Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon) Runner Comments
Back to Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon) Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 3.9 
Spectators 4.2
Number of comments: 338 [displaying comments 241 to 251]
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W. T. from Dallas, TX
(12/29/2005)
"Super race after doing back-to-back marathons" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Excellent organization of a stellar event! Well marked and the police were very helpful. | |
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L. R. from Tampa, FL
(12/20/2005)
"GREAT COURSE but poorly organized start/finish" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The host hotel had great rates and I would recommend you stay there especially if you are from out of town. It was a great course, kept you from being bored running the same terrain. And I loved seeing the Dollies, just wish I had a picture of them! Great aid stations and crowd support. The Clif Bar pace team I ran with was a great boost and Leesa kept us going. I kept trying to figure out how she could run with that 'cowboy' hat on and not sweat! Thanks Leesa for your support. I was extremely disappointed in the AAC. First you had to stand in line to go through a metal detector that no one seemed to care if it went off or not so just what was the purpose. Then after getting inside I was told the baggage check was outside and around the other side. The line for the baggage check was ridiculously long. I did see the F/A-18 flyer over, but didn't realize there was a horse and cowboy starting the race. I also had trouble getting to the Clif Bar pace team leader since other runners didn't want to let me through. Suggest they use the left side next time since it's easier to get through. After finishing the race I didn't see any food or drinks other than water. No signs to direct you to where there was food and drinks. I also didn't appreciate the cones in the road for no apparent reason and saw several people stumble over them. Overall it's a great marathon and hopefully the organizers will fix the start and finish line problems. | |
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T. S. from Minnesota
(12/20/2005)
"Over all a pretty good marathon" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Here are my comments and suggestions (many of these based on comparisons with previously run marathons). Thumbs up: -Beautiful run around the lake. -Lots of helpful volunteers. -The Dallas Police Dept. -Frequent and fun water/PowerAde stops. -Great medal and t-shirts. -Wonderful weather. -The Dolly Parton 'Dollys' -Use of AA Arena Room for Improvement... -Please post no-parking signs along ALL streets... parked cars caused for some botttlenecks and stride-busting moments. -More complete race packet... safety pins (I heard many people mention they missed them at check in), maps, garment bag. -Stagger half start and full start... again, caused for several bottlenecks during the many sharp turns through first few miles (Grandma's Marathon in Duluth is good example of handling this). Overall a very good experience. Thanks folks of Dallas! | |
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Marty Schaivone from Bridgeport, CT
(12/16/2005)
"Certainly worth the trip from Connecticut!" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 OK, all the previous commentators are correct when it comes to the placement of food. The reason it didn't affect me as much is that I had absolutely no soreness at all despite one of my better times (3:09), thus walking down and then up the steps to get food was not an issue. And there was A TON OF FOOD! AND FREE BEER! HELLO PEOPLE! So limp your way down and enjoy!! But alas it is true - you had to find out where/and how to get there. I didn't see food signs, and as a race director for 16 events in CT, I was being really observant. I agree that immediate food of some sort should be available as close to the finish as logistically possible for those who truly need it. Now, take that away and it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to come up with another negative! Geez the course was terrific and not anything like the course profile might have indicated. Hills were not that difficult and the ones at 19-20 a friend warned me about were rather mild. After that, a terrific last 5 miles are downhill and flat.... Can you ask for anything more? This course had all the elements and reminded me of Philly, Vermont, & N'Awlins. ONE minor suggestion: I personally like the water AFTER the PowerAde so as to flush the taste and clear the palate - especially if I have just downed a gel pack. But the water stops were absolutely fantastic and friendly. And how many green-vested course guides did you see? It seemed like hundreds! I agree the media could take a larger role and let's hope it happens for this event. But hey - you are talking a PRO Sports tow,n so you have to have room for the Mavericks and the Cowboys - both of whom had home games that weekend. TIP: I got a $100+ Dallas Mav ticket for $30 by waiting till 5:30pm and buying a single ticket. You could also sit higher up for just $5! If I had been smart and bussed out to the Cowboy game after the marathon, I might have gotten in there - then I'd have had very unique sports triathlon weekend! I will definitely try to get back to this event. Dallas is a great city with terrific restaurants, and it was not expensive to stay in. Steamtown (PA) is my #1 marathon course, and this is now easily in the top 3. And one more thing: If you DID NOT get into the arena you missed one of the most FANTASTIC bands of any post-race celebration. There were 12 pieces... with horns, great singers, & very danceable! Every bit as good as 'Nik & the Nice Guys' who have graced the Utica Boliermaker post-race stage for 10 straight years! Get your butts to Dallas - a great "fail safe" marathon if you have a bad October/Nov. experience anywhere else! | |
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J. V. from Texas
(12/16/2005)
"A very good marathon you should try" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)s
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The weather was perfect! The course was in great shape. Lots of rest stops. The girls... err guys at the Dolly Parton Hills.... The crowds were wonderful. The police were the best I have seen. Nice shirt, nice medal. Lots of bands playing music. This race could be great... and almost is a great marathon. A good time of year, a good route, and a dedicated team putting on the race.... They just lack the edge and ideas to move from a good race to a great race, it seems. Okay, the negatives are what I care about when choosing a race. The expo was average at best for a larger race. New Balance did not have licensed race merchandise. There a booth called "The Rock Shop" but it wasn't a New Balance booth, and it was not in expo, but in the packet pickup area. There were not staff or volunteers at the AAC to tell you where to go. And what went wrong with bag check? Lines longer than the bathroom lines. The ACC is rather inconvenient to use with the small outside ring crowding people into a small area... again without much in the way of directions or information on where to go. Maybe they can give up on the downtown location and find a better venue where people can find their way around better. Don't they have a convention center or something with hotels, parking and large open space??? Just find a local and hang on to them to find the food or anything else after the race... and before the race to find baggage check. I hate confusion before a race, and I am easily confused after a race... and nobody likes crowds. Hey, it is a good event; just needs some fresh blood and a fresh point of view. There is nothing bad about the event.... Well, maybe no pre-race food (unless I never found it), some minor confusion due to lack of staff at the start and finish area, but great crowds and an excellent route. But Texas has several good marathons.... We need a great one. White Rock needs to step it up a notch and take that role. Houston is a touch too humid, and Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas can't seem to make it into the big time. You need a good goodie bag, a great expo, and some traffic directing at the AAC... and at the expo for that matter. Can we think about the convention center or some place that isn't confusing??? | |
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K. L. from New York City
(12/15/2005)
"Yee-haw! Great marathon w/ free beer afterwards!" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this marathon. I just ran the NYC marathon in Nov., so this was a very different (and dare I say, even better) experience. The weather was ideal on race day (chilly at the start, but in the 50s by the finish). The course is flat, and the 'Dolly Parton Hills' at mile 20 weren't that bad (especially with the guys dressed up as Dolly Parton manning the water station distracting runners!). The decline starting at mile 21 definitely made the last 5 miles go by quickly. I was really impressed with the amount of food (and free beer) in the AA Arena after the race, which definitely beats the apple and PowerBar from the NYC Marathon. Overall, I would highly recommend this marathon to anyone looking for a fast course. The number of runners was good (never bumped into other runners, yet never felt alone). My only suggestions is to have water/PowerAde at the start, and to close off more streets to traffic. There were several intersections with police officers directing cars across when there were gaps in the runners. This worked out well (thank you Dallas Police!), but I'm sure the drivers weren't pleased with having to wait. After all, we don't want to antagonize the non-runners out there. Also, crowd support could've been better (nothing compares to NYC), so more of them could've screamed 'Yee-haw' when we ran by. | |
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M. L. from Dallas, Texas
(12/14/2005)
"First-time marathoner and will be back next year. " (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I am a first-timer, and from Dallas, so when I decided to run a marathon, I thought I would run it here. The weather this year was great, upper 50's, not to windy, and the sun was out to warm us up. The aid stations were great with plenty of water and PowerAde, oranges, and carb bars. The race was well organized, and the Dallas Police were on hand and did a great job with traffic control. There were plenty of supporters who line the streets with their signs, water, and beer, and were great support for those last few miles. The fighter jets that did the fly-by while the national anthem played was a great sight, and it pumped everyone up. I'll definitely have to run it again, so hopefully I'll see y'all there. :) | |
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J. W. from Dallas
(12/13/2005)
"Easy race to run" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Experienced marathoners should seriously consider this race. Positives: a) Loop course makes logistics very easy. b) Course is flat enough to be really fast. c) Weather is unpredictable but often great. (In 2005 there was perfect weather. Normal highs and lows are also perfect.) d) There just aren't enough good winter marathons and this is one of them. e) Scenery is OK as you tour through a variety of neighborhoods in Dallas. Negatives: a) Spectators are very few. If you have run Boston, NY, Chicago - then this is a very, very different experience. b) Beer servings at mile 20 are too small!!! | |
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Joe Vasil from Cleveland, OH
(12/13/2005)
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 There is a saying that everything is bigger in Texas, and the marathon certainly lived up to expectations. This is by far my favorite race, and not because I achieved a PR. The organization was phenomenal, from the expo, to the shuttle to the start, to being able to use the bathrooms inside American Airlines Arena as well as the usual portable facilities. It was cool to have a fly by of 4 jets at the start of the race, and then we were led by a cowboy on horseback to start off. That gave me a bit more adrenaline. The course was beautiful, going through a very nice part of Dallas. 10 miles went around White Rock Lake. The crowd support was just right, with 10-15 areas having live music (I lost count) throughout the race. There were water stops at almost every mile, and oranges and bananas were passed out at many of the later stops. The course was of medium difficulty, with the worst hill coming at mile 19 and beyond 20. The only minor negatives were longer disbursement time from the start than usual, some cones separating lanes on the road between the 4th and 5th mile that could have easily caused runners to trip, and some crazy lady that pulled her car right into the course lanes while we approached her. Many yelled at her, and you could see her saying something back that definitely was not, "Sorry." All in all, a great race, and highly recommended. | |
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T. K. from Chicago, IL
(12/12/2005)
"Great marathon with a disappointing finish" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I completed this marathon yesterday. Overall I was pleased and would recommend it. The course was scenic and interesting, a bit hilly, but I expected that so I wasn't surprised. Crowd support was a little light, and the majority of the bands weren't playing when I went by, but I had my iPod, so I was fine. Police did a great job stopping traffic and there were plenty of friendly volunteers wherever the course turned to make sure you didn't get lost. One of the main reasons I picked this race is that the course is open for 7 and a half hours. I finished in 6:45 and was disappointed at the finish. I had to ask where to go to return my chip, there was NO food and I went to the medical tent to ask for a bottle of water. As you exit the finish area to go back into the American Airlines Center, there had been booths, but all of them were taken down or in the process of shutting down. In my previous marathon experiences, you wandered through the finish line area like a zombie and people shuffled you around, handing you your medal, removing your chip, wrapping a space blanket around you, giving you a bottle of water and pointing out the food area. If the course if officially open for 7:30, then I would expect that the finish line activities be going on until the official end of the marathon. Those of us who are out there for 6+ hours would really appreciate a post-race bagel. |
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