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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 271 to 281]
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S. R. from Houston
(12/14/2004)
"Disappointed " (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 While I have been to other marathons as a spectator, this was the first one that I participated in. So maybe I'm naive about course details but this marathon missed what I would consider the basics. For example, there were aid stations that had run out of Powerade (this was within the the first 10 miles and I was not running that slow - 11/m). It wasn't until mile 19 that any fruit was offered (by the way, this was the only station that offered it and there was very little of it). There was no food of any kind offered at the finish line. I was told later that all the food was inside the arena approx. 150 yards away. No signs made mention of this. The entry fee was $75 and I'm not sure where that money went. It sure didn't go into the shirt design (event or finishers). I will say that the fanfare (fireworks, fly-over, etc) and finisher's medal was very nice but, given a choice between a nice medal or fluids\fruit on the course, I'll take the fluids. | |
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J. C. from Coppell, Texas
(12/14/2004)
"Well run and organized " (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)s
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was warm this year with the race being run with temperatures in the 50-70 degree range. This is about 20 degrees warmer than normal. The race was well run from from the start, dual start lines for the full marathon and the half/relay. Lots of port-o-johns along the course with 3-5 at each aid station. Plenty of aid stations as well, almost 1 every mile. The 4-jet F-16 flyover was great at the start. Lots of entertainment along the course as well with over 30 bands/performers. Plenty of spectators too with the temperature being that nice for them. I've run this marathon many times and this was their best year ever. Lots of food at the finish even for the slower runners. This had been a problem in the past with all the half marathoners finishing first. This year, that problem was fixed. | |
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C. C. from DFW
(12/14/2004)
"Awesome race for a first-timer" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Incredible crowd support, course not too difficult, very well-organized. I got lots of 'go first-timer' cheers because of my special blue bib -- I won't miss this one from here on out. I was worried about the weather being too hot, but it ended up being perfect. Seems like we never went more than a mile without some organized water stop/aid station. | |
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H. C. from Dallas, TX
(7/29/2004)
"A good overall experience" (about: 2003)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 White Rock 2003 was my first marathon. It was a great experience. The flyover by three F-18s at the starting line was something I'll never forget and was the perfect way to set everyone in motion. The weather was around 30 at the start and 55 at the end with blue skies. Plenty of water stops but the Powerade was watered down a little much. Great course with nice views of the lake and flat for most of the time. You will appreciate the gradual downhill from miles 22-25, especially after running up the 'Dolly Parton hills'. I would recommend this marathon to anyone. It seems to be just the right size with just over 3,300 finishers. Spectators are good on the course, except for miles 23-25 where there are none. But it's great when you get close to the AA Center and see tons of spectators and you know you're almost done. I plan to run this again in 2004. | |
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robin ruston from grimsby england
(7/28/2004)
"Great city & beautiful marathon" (about: 2003)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A good friend of mine told me about the race & how good it is. So I came over from England to check it out & I was not disappointed. I loved the big city atmosphere & the run around the lake was so nice. The drinks & aid stations where manned with some very friendly people. It was cold but the people around the course gave us a warm welcome. I loved the bands & I will be back this year as I enjoyed it so much. | |
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Running Bob from Dallas
(5/19/2004)
"Gets better each year" (about: 2003)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A great mid-winter race with about 4,000 runners in the marathon, 3,000 in the half marathon and 2,500 in the relay race. It?s a little crowded at the start, but the race featured ChampionChip timing. This race is put on by a group of volunteer runners who have been around for a while. While some of the other runners complain about things that are beyond the control of the race organizers (the security checks are a requirement for all events at the American Airlines Center, and have you ever been to an indoor arena where you didn't walk down stairs to get to the arena floor?), everything the organizers are in control of is first-class. Bus transportation, bands and aid stations, t-shirts and medals are some of the best in the business. Plenty of bathrooms at the start, even getting to use the bathrooms pre-race in the AAC. Most aid stations have 2 or more bathrooms, and there are extra ones around the lake that are there year-round. The course is beautiful, with the lake coming at miles 9 through 17. Great slight downhill section in miles 22 ? 25. The weather has been perfect the past couple of years and the race recognizes the first-time marathoners in a special way. The expo grows every year and features all kind of vendors. Dallas is a great city to visit as well. There?s plenty to do all weekend around the host hotel, and there?s a Friday night pre-pre-race dinner at a local honky-tonk that serves Texas BBQ. A small 5k Saturday morning, the expo most of the day Saturday, and a pre-race pasta dinner Saturday night. The race organizers are easy to reach and happy to share information. When is the last time you received a response from THE Race Director telling you the best place to park race morning? Running Bob says 4.5 Stars ? check it out! | |
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C. M. from Dallas
(3/3/2004)
"Nice course, but..." (about: 2003)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 As a Dallas resident, it never ceases to amaze me at how little interest the community has for this event. The City doesn't get behind it and the race organizers just don't seem to care about the runners either. The 'expo' is nothing more than a waste of time, and the post-race water and refreshments are pretty scarce as well - that is, if you can even get to them. I have participated in this race 2 times for the entire marathon and 4 times as part of the relay. A nice course, weather can be 'iffy' in December in Dallas, but this past year it was great. I just wish there were more spectators on the course; it can get very lonely as this is a pretty small marathon. The police officers who directed traffic during the race were great though! They cheered and encouraged more than the spectators! | |
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C. L. from Austin, TX
(2/16/2004)
"Fun, fun, fun!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My third marathon and the best so far, by a lot. The course is very beautiful during the several miles around the lake and we had perfect weather - low 30's to start and blue skies all day. What a day to run past a lake and many small parks! The expo was beyond awesome (I've been to more expos than marathons.) I have never seen so many colors, sizes, and types of running clothes and accessories in my life. I spent a ton of money and don't regret any of my purchases. Staying at the host hotel (Hyatt) is a great convenience and eliminated a lot of stress. Pasta dinner was well-priced and convenient. There were plenty of porta-potties along the course - a real plus and a stress reliever for me. Fans were good, but not as many as I expected - maybe due to the cold. Food at the finish was tasty, varied, and plentiful. The start at the AA Center allows hanging out in the warm building and using real toilets - a luxury for sure. Only downsides: some of the roads were rather rough or too crowded; having to walk down about 50 steps to get to the post-race food; very hard to find water post-race (not everyone wants beer). If you don't run this race (you should), at least don't miss the expo. | |
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S. B. from New York City
(1/5/2004)
"Great first marathon!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was not only my first marathon but my first race at all. I researched December marathons on this guide and came from NYC to run Dallas. I was intimidated by the comments on hills, but they turned out to be no problem at all. There was a mix-up with the shuttle buses and we got to the starting line just a few minutes before the start, and it was a mob scene and I never did see any organized line-up - had to walk along the side and then jump a fence and a barricade to get going. Other than that, a wonderful experience - great volunteers, bands, scenic course. The steady downhill at the end is a real plus. Definitely recommend this race. | |
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M. H. from USA
(1/4/2004)
"Fast, mostly flat, not well organized" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This was my fourth marathon. I thought the course was perfect for a PR, though I was running it more for training. The pasta dinner was well organized, unfortunately that was about all that was well thought out. The pre-race use of indoor toilets was good at the AA Center, but making runners walk down steep stairs in the stadium after 26.2 is cruel. Only having one porta-john at the aid stations was not a good idea a set of 3 or so at each would be nice. I used over 12 minutes waiting in lines to get to one. My suggestion for change would be to have the post-race food outside at the finish and not in the center, it took me almost 40 minutes to get through the crowd and down to what was left of the food, and probably should not let people other than the runners at the food. Seems there were a lot of non-runners in there as well, taking for themselves. I loved the course and would run it again. The medal was excellent, as was having a finisher's shirt and marathon shirt. |
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