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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 Rating Course 4.3 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 3.9 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 4.2 
 
 
Number of comments: 338 [displaying comments 231 to 241]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 22 23 24 25 26 .. 34 > ]

 

R. M. from Oklahoma (12/7/2006)
"Great Marathon" (about: 2006)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


Despite the negative comments from the slow runner, this is a great marathon to run. The expo is wonderful and full of great stuff to look at and buy. Water stops and aid stations are well stocked. Those who want to be catered to should organize a marathon in Beverly Hills and hold a week-long expo. Great marathon, though.
 

M. W. from dallas (12/6/2006)
"A well organized marathon" (about: 2004)

1 previous marathon | 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I saw a previous post about water tables closing up early, etc. I ran the course in just under 5 1/2 hours. I was one of the slow runners. I found all the water stops manned and the volunteers friendly. When I finished the race I was offered plenty of sports drinks and was told to take as many as needed as I was dehydrated. they had a large stock of drinks left. I did not attend the post-race party so I do not know what that was like. The volunteers, aid stations, support personnel, etc. could not have been better. I cannot wait to run it again in four days. Keep up the good work, and remember that the proceeds go to the Scottish hospital for children.
 

R. S. from Oklahoma (11/25/2006)
"Could have been so much better" (about: 2005)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 2  FANS: 3


If you are one of the slower runners who finish in five hours or more, find another race. Water stops closed shop, there were nothing but large finisher shirts left, and there were virtually no refreshments left at the finish line.

The expo was a joke and the website is not much better.

This race struck me as a big "money grab" with very little consideration for the runners who actually contributed the bucks.
 

Grayson Hill from Longview, Texas (9/5/2006)
"Excellent for a first-timer!" (about: 2005)

2 previous marathons | 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my second full marathon. The terrain was flat for most of the run with the exception of the Dolly Parton Hills around the 20-mile mark. It was definitely a fun, easy run with plenty of live music and spectators along the way. The lake itself was enjoyable to run around.
 

A. J. from Texas (6/22/2006)
"Please change the 1/2 M. course!" (about: 2005)

2 previous marathons | 2 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)s
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 2  FANS: 4


There's one thing holding this race down: the fact that the half marathon course merges with the marathon course in the last 4 miles. This results in a massive traffic jam as the marathon runners collide with the 1/2 walkers. It created total chaos. If the organizers would change the 1/2 course so that it does not share the later miles with the marathon, it would be five stars.
 

R. K. from Longmont, CO (3/5/2006)
"A great event to get your feet wet" (about: 2006)

2 previous marathons | 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was actually my second marathon, but my wife's first. Course is relatively flat (with a few exceptions). Run around White Rock Lake is beautiful, EXCEPT, the city remains the same distance for about 9 to 10 miles on the skyline - you don't feel like you are getting anywhere. BUT, the people were great, spectators were great at cheering us on, and overall, it was a pretty darn good time.
 

M. R. from Kansas City (2/21/2006)
"Nearly Perfect Late Fall Marathon" (about: 2005)

3 previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


I, like a huge majority of runners, enter races for the pure enjoyment of the experience. I like the atmosphere of big races, but the hassles often detract from the overall experience (traffic, parking, lines, insufficient bathrooms, running 12-minute miles for the first 5K, full-contact scrum at aid stations, etc.). And small races, while logistically simple, can be boring. I consider White Rock to be a medium-sized race and, true to form, it delivered the best of both worlds. At least for me. Not quite perfect, but close.

Pre-race: Entry wasn't overpriced, website was good, course description (with profile) was very helpful. Race hotel (Hyatt) was very nice, cheap ($90), but crowded. Expo was busy, but lines were short. The pasta dinner was very good. The shuttles to the start were shockingly efficient and quick (no lines). Having access to the AA Arena bathrooms pre-race was a nice thought, but the lines to enter were extremely long. As was the line for the bag drop (hundreds of people). Lots of frustrated, anxious people. With 10 minutes to spare, I easily made my way to the 3:30 pace group. Flyover before the start was great.

Race: It only took me 8 or 10 seconds to get to the starting line after the gun (compared to 12 minutes in Paris). And within 100 yards, I was running my own pace without crowds to block me. Weather was perfect. The course out to the lake wound through neighborhoods, with lots of crowd support. There was a gradual incline from Mile 4 to 7, but I didn't really feel those hills. The section between Miles 9 and 19 is a flat circle around the lake. Very nice place to run. Support only at the aid stations. As we reentered the neighborhoods, I was feeling great. But the hill from 20 to 21 is tougher than it looks, it never seemed to stop, and it wiped me out (or it could have just been Mile 21 that wiped me out, or a combo). The last 3 miles are flat/slightly downhill, but the crowds were largely absent, and it was a struggle - at least for me - to finish. The volunteers were great, there was plenty to eat and drink, and the course was safe and well-controlled.

Post-race: Finish line was great. Very wide, lots of spectators. I had tons of refreshments right there, but I was one of the first 250 to get there, so it was probably a different story for those behind. Because I had read the website, gone to the expo, and read the race guide, I knew that the post-race party was in the AA Arena. Not sure how anyone could have missed it. Sure, we had to walk down stairs into the arena floor, but it was a small price for a great party. Free beer, lots of food, music, 20,000 seats. Couldn't find the massage, but again, there was beer. Shuttle back to the hotel was just as efficient and easy. Results were up almost immediately. Came away with two nice shirts. Can't wait to return.
 

C. L. from Keller, TX (1/26/2006)
"Next Time I'll Do Better" (about: 2005)

3 previous marathons | 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


It was harder than I expected... but then I did a lot of things wrong. I started off faster than I trained (so much for the negative split)... ate too late (1 hour before... if only I had read that Hal Higdon book earlier... dang), and used some gels when they always make me sick. I broke the rule, "Run how you train." Anyway, the weather was perfect, and the run was through some very nice areas. Crowd turn-out was good... but I must admit Houston has better support - but not better parking. All of the folks at the aid stations were exceptional. It's now a local race for me, so I'll beat those Dollies next year.
 

N. E. from Dallas, TX (1/17/2006)
"Local, Good One" (about: 2005)

1 previous marathon | 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


This was the first marathon I have ever run. Very nice, good course, scenic running around White Rock Lake. If it had more spectators and runners, then it would have to be in the running to be a top-10 marathon.
 

W. T. from Dallas, TX (12/31/2005)
"Super race! Enjoy Dallas." (about: 2005)

4-5 previous marathons | 3 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)s
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I ran this after a five-year absence, and enjoyed it the most of any I've run.
 

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