For a small-scale marathon, it was really well organized. This is my second one after White Rock 2008, and I prepared myself for some disappointment. But for the terrible 25+ mph winds for pretty much 3/4 of the route and around the lake in particular, everything was above expectations.

The starting point was easily reachable, but it's always better to get there earlier. The fair grounds exit was jammed for awhile, and it made me nervous for awhile, but the start was close to the exit point, and I was at the start line by 7:50.

The route was great - mostly flat, with a decent share of rolling hills (although I hated every inch of that last mile uphill part). A couple of turns were a bit annoying, mostly in the second half. Water stations were well stocked and well placed. I would've loved it if they had them at every mile after 20. Mile markers were present but not prominent enough.

To the guy at the split shouting at the top of his voice, "Full to the right, half to the left," thank you very much.

The volunteers were really awesome. The crowds were not huge, but those who showed up were great in their support. Your presence sometimes does to runners what energy drinks cannot! Guy with Snickers: thank you, thank you. Kids with lots of candy, and guy in rabbit suit: you rock; thanks for the support. I was really looking for some cheering after 20. But there wasn't much. It looked kind of deserted 22-26. To the lady at water station 23rd mile: thanks a lot for the encouragement.

The loop/U just before the finish line was a bit annoying; also, the last stretch before the finish line was a little confusing, with all of the crowds.

Post-race showers were a great idea; I would've preferred ice bags around my legs though.

Post-race food was ok - pizza, beer and burritos. I filled myself with a couple of egg burritos (I think). I didn't get a finisher hat; I didn't realize there is one. I only saw the place where hats were on sale for $20. A technical shirt instead of a cotton one would've been cool. Also some goodies, but that's ok.

Overall, it is a decent marathon, though probably not for first-timers. It's definitely a "will do again" marathon, though.

I was running the half and was around top 10-15. In a small intersection around mile 5-6, I stopped and asked for directions. A volunteer told me: the full marathon goes straight; the half turns right. I saw a chalk mark on the road that indicated the same, and 8 runners ahead, so I turned. What I didn't realize at the time was that this was after the mile 4 half-and-full-split, and there should be only one direction to go (since it was for half-marathoners only). As a result, we ran off the course and crossed two service roads without any police monitoring. Luckily, there was no traffic at the time. I was on pace for 11 miles to break 1:25 before I realized that I had run 4 more miles. I finished at 2:05.

I have run 8 marathons, including mega ones like Chicago and New York, and can't be considered inexperienced.

I can't do it again, even though it's local, with nice race-day registration and an indoor resting area!

I enjoyed the small crowds, beer and shower at the end of the race - plus the nice views of the city.

They can improve the traffic situation before the start, and add more mileage markers and suitable food at the end of the race.

I'd run it again.

This was more like a half-marathon race than a full marathon race, with all of the emphasis of support on the half-marathoners. The course and water stations were fine, but I had been warned the support was sketchy, so I wore a Camelbak and kept myself hydrated in between stations along with a full supply of gels.

Overall, I was wise to take care of myself because there were gaps in support. My most serious disappointment was at the finish line. When I arrived, there was only water. No food. Yes, there was beer, but that's not a wise food choice. If the organizers are going to keep a course open for 6.5 hours, they should support the racers for 6.5 hours. I finished at 5.5 hours and was expecting at least fruit. Nothing!! The tables were already folded and put away.

I enjoyed myself in the marathon and liked the course. The brief periods of running along side the highway were not fun, but it is a city after all. Overall, unless the finish line support improved, I wouldn't go out of my way to participate in future years. There are many events to choose from and providing finish line support is not that difficult.

I hadn't planned on running Texas yet, but a friend was running on his 40th birthday and I couldn't miss it. I read all the reviews, and I really expected the worst. There was hardly any swag (cotton shirt and baseball hat) and really no frills for the price (and it isn't a cheap marathon). Having just run a cheaper marathon that gave TWO shirts and lots of swag, that was a disappointment. However, the course was pretty (despite the wind), I was with friends, and the water station volunteers were amazing. Since I had really low expectations, I was pleasantly surprised. However, no one told me at the end of the marathon that there was an after party. I wouldn't have gone, but it would have been nice to have been told. They also almost forgot to give me my hat, and I had to search for water at the finish. And, there was nothing else. (My last marathon had orange slices waiting in a huge pile.) So, while I had a good time, it wasn't the best organized marathon I've attended, nor the most cost effective for my money.

Small, well organized race. Very nice finisher medal. Cotton race shirt and finisher hat. Maybe not the glam of swag you get from other races, but the smaller cost to run this race made up for that.

The hills themselves would make this a challenging course (moreso than the Dallas White Rock Marathon in my mind), but the spring winds made it extra brutal this year. But that is life.

The small number of people running made it quite easy for my wife to drive the course and find me 5 times, not including the start and finish.

Team in Training had a nice showing of runners, and their supporters were great to everyone. Bravo to them.

Being a smaller race, I had concerns over street closures and complete safety on the course, but it was completely fine. Dallas Police controlled things to perfection from what I saw. Also, the start was not a logjam of runners with the half and full marathons taking off at the same time, which was great. I was able to spread out at about the .5 mile-mark and didn't have to do any zigging and zagging around people or over sidewalks to get that done.

I will run this race again, for the challenge. Even though it is a Boston Qualifier, I think I would pick something flatter to tackle that task.

This was my third marathon and, at my age (54), I am looking for a great race experience; this marathon falls way short. The wind was tough, but that's obviously not the director's fault. The course has too many hills and too many turns. I had trained to run Cowtown again but got sick; so, while I was not looking for a flat/downhill marathon, this course needs to be revamped. The t-shirt is lame (cotton/short-sleeve) and the finisher's hat is not even a runner's hat. It looks like something from the airport gift shop. I get the impression that the director is not a runner. I would be surprised if anyone runs this twice without changes and upgrades; charge a little more and do it right. By comparison, the other two marathons I have run are first-class, and I have run several half-marathons that were better experiences.

Good things about the race:
Staging at Fair Park and use of the Tower Building.
The aid stations were great.

Bad things about the race:
Too many turns.
Couldn't see most of the mile markers.
The split was confusing.


I wouldn't recommend this to a first-timer because it's a rough course and it's a small marathon with not many spectators along the route.

Maybe I just like small marathons. I would like for it to have been less windy (25 mph), but who can control that? After all, we signed up for a spring marathon.

I had trouble finding the mile markers. I asked the man running with me at the time where they were and he pointed down to the curb on the side of the road. I guess I'm used to them being propped up since your eyes should be in a forward direction. I found myself asking folks every now and then what mile we were on. No biggie, though; plus anything posted up that day would have blown over anyway.

I'll do this again!

Oh, the winds did blow. Roads were nice, with little pavement. I put my tag on wrong and therefore my name did not show up at the finish. Lewis, the organizer, I guess, compared my watch time to the official results and was able to know that I did run the marathon. He even took the time to post my name and time in the results. Thank you.