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Apr 29, 2024

Big-D Texas Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Big-D Texas Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.4

Organization 3.2

Spectators 2.8

Number of comments: 173 [displaying comments 21 to 31]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 18 > ]

R. T. from Plano, Texas (4/15/2013) "Downright Bad" (about: 2013) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon, although I've competed in other events around the state (5Ks, 10Ks, half, and marathon relays). This was, without a doubt, my least favorite. The 'goodie bag' was a tech shirt that's it. The first water station was about 4 miles into the run, and they were hit and miss after that. There were massive lines going to the few port-a-potties they had before the race luckily, that didn't affect me. The 26.2 mile course turned into a 27.4 mile run somehow (still no explanation from the organizers), and the mile markers were wrong (some were missing or misplaced along the course). I don't run with a GPS, and not knowing how far I was going or where the finish line was in relation to me was really challenging (to put it nicely). It was a hot day, and the marathon-turned-ultra-marathon was very difficult on my body. The post-race party lacked music, and the food was a choice of a cold tortilla breakfast taco or potato along with a banana. The course was nice and the spectators were supportive, but after paying about $100 to enter, I expected a lot more than what they offered (a tech shirt, an average medal, and a beer mug I'll never use - they charged for the finisher shirt, so I didn't get that since I felt I already gave them enough of my money). I won't return.
A. J. from Texas (4/15/2013) "Course is confusing and to HOT to PR!" (about: 2013) 4-5 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 This race, Big D Marathon, was not put together well. People did not know where to stand to start, the course had so many turns and it was hard for your family to find a place to cheer you on. plus, the course was marked incorrectly. You would pass the 17 mile marker and it was really the 18 mile mark. The weather was to hot for a marathon. Running in 75 degree weather is crazy. I will not recommend this race to anyone. Do not run this marathon if it will be your first marathon. This is not a pretty course. Around the lake, we got ran over by bike riding towards us. Just not a good race.
T. M. from McKinney, TX (4/15/2013) "Horrible Course. Stay AWAY from this event." (about: 2013) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I have run 4 marathons and dozens of half marathons, 10K, 5Ks etc. This is by far the worst one I have participated in. The ONLY redeeming quality is packet pickup which is very convenient, especially compared to the Rock and Roll Half. First, the course was poorly marked and we ended up running 1-2 miles extra (not sure because the organizer will not respond to questions about the mistake). Second, the beginning and end of the run go through some of the worse neighborhoods in Dallas. I'm talking about houses with boards on the windows and blocks and blocks of places no one wants to be after dark. It is hard to put into words what an awful experience this was.
C. A. from Dallas (4/15/2013) "2013 Marathon course was over a mile long" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Big-D Texas Marathons COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 I am so disappointed. This race went from my favorite race last year to the worst this year. The main reason is that the course was wrong and we all ended up running about 1.2 miles extra. The mile markers were off from the very start, leaving us all wondering if it was just a marker problem or a course problem. There was no one on the course to let us know anything even though the problem was evident from Mile 1. At the finish line, there was NO MENTION of any problems or any acknowledgement of the fact that we'd all just run an extra mile. It's now 24 hours later and there is no acknowledgement on their website or Facebook page. And this lack of acknowledgement is the main reason I give it one star.Mistakes happen, but own up to them. I really, really love these smaller local races as opposed to unweildy Rock 'n Roll type events. But the failure to acknowlege your mistake, or take timely action to at least give the runners on the course a heads up is inexcusable. Imagine being in the last tough miles of your marathon and not knowing whether you have 1 mile left or 2 and none of the volunteers along the whole route could tell you either. I ran a local 10k in 2012 put on by the same group that had problems as well. My time and many others were not included in the results. I thought that was a one -time snafu but mistakes seem to keep happening. Another reason I give it one star is the parking. All lots of the state fair were supposed to be open and the race website's parking instructions confirmed this. Of those lots there are only a couple that are really close to the start/finish and these have plenty of parking for all involved. The ease of parking and short walk to the start/finish is why it was previously one of my favorite races. For some reason this year event workers were turning cars away from these close lots (they weren't full) and telling us we had to park in the far lots. Those lots were probably 3/4 of a mile to the start. Since I had to pick up my packet that morning, drop it off at my car then head back to the start, I had to walk 2 1/4 miles BEFORE the start of the marathon and another 3/4 after. Add this to the extra mile of the marathon course and I almost did an Ultra marathon. To make matters worse they did let some of the runners park in those close lots. Friends of mine did park in the close lot that I was turned away from 10 minutes earlier. So that disorganization and wrong information added 3 miles to my morning! Last year, there was plenty of food available at the end of the marathon for even 4:30 marathoners like myself. That's another reason it was a favorite race. This year, it was all gone with vendors having packed up and earlier finishers walking out with cases of the food and drink. Many runners were still out on the course. On a positive note, the course (when marked correctly) is very nice. Weather can be unpredictable in April in Texas. The last two years have been hot. This year it was 80 degrees at the finish. Last year would have been the same except for a thunderstorm that came through mid-race. They should consider moving it up a month to get some cooler temps.
S. K. from Arlington, Texas (4/15/2013) "Very poor organization" (about: 2013) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I was very disappointed in the Big D marathon to the extent that I will not be entering any Mellew productions races again. From the packet pickup and parking to the poor food/drink and the lack of porta-cans (many must have missed the start), this was a poorly organized event. However, the worst thing was the race itself. Surely one of the most basic functions of a race director is to arrange a marathon course that is actually 26.2 miles long? Well, it was a 27.2 mile course. Every single mile marker was off by one mile with the result that we did not know how far we were actually going until we got to the last/extra mile. I don't know what caused this (course at the start poorly marked perhaps?), but this has to be the most basic of errors and when combined with the other issues, made this a thoroughly unsatisfactory marathon. Also, the course map on the web site was substantially different from the course we actually ran. I would compliment the DRC pacers though - they were very good indeed. It's a shame I couldn't keep up with them! This was meant to be a BQ event. I live locally to the Big D, but If I'd flown in intending to set a BQ time, I'd have felt seriously cheated.
K. N. from Houston, TX (4/15/2013) "Disaster - Mile too long" (about: 2013) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 The race directors either poorly mapped out the first mile (which involves weaving through Fair Park to get onto the streets of Dallas) or didn't inform the pacers of which direction to turn - either way, the race ended up being an entire mile too long. This was known by the organizers at the very beginning of the race (again - from mile 1) and nothing was done to correct for it. I am incredibly disappointed and will never do another Mellew Productions race again.
B. C. from Shreveport, LA (4/15/2013) "Great race suffers from bad managment" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 I've read bad reviews of this race for years now on Marathon Guide. I guess I just had experience it for myself! My wife picked it for her first full and so off we went to Dallas. Packet pickup is unique as it was spread out among a few different locations. There was no expo to go along with it, but, really, I have enough shoes and shirts and leg rolling tools. I was starting to think I'd misjudged this race and its management...until the mile 1 marker...that came into view more than 1.6 miles into the race. What I first assumed was a marker for just the half marathoners or something turned into a frustrating day. Long story short, for what ever reason, the marathoners were made to run a circuitous route through the grounds of Fair Park (the start/finish area of the race) that added some bonus distance before we were even a mile in. There was never an explanation given, nothing put on the race website or facebook page...nothing. It's comical how these folks have a predictable track record of these snafus. The sad thing is it was a wonderful course. But they won't get my dollar again...
Monica N/A from USA (4/15/2013) "Great marathonnot a mega-event" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Great course, very pretty around white rock lake and you go through lots of trees and shaded areas. I believe the course is long by .5-.75 miles though which does make a time difference. The post race food was a bit dinky, just baked potatos and breakfast burritios and one promo place giving out Zico coconut water. This is a small marathon, and because it is small you don't have to go to a race expo, you can pick up your bib AT the event, and you aren't cramped by a thousands of other runners from start to finish. Just one start wave. I personally like that they take out the junk that goes with mega-events. For this you show up, run, and go home. They do have free portable showers that provide towels, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash on site which was SUPER nice. Powerade and water was given every 1.5-2.5 miles down the course, and most stations had bananas/oranges or other snack foods to hand out to runners. The place was easy to find and parking was fairly close to the start.
B. L. from Dallas, TX (4/15/2013) "Mismarked race and horrible organization" (about: 2013) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 It was clear 3 miles into the race that the course was mismarked making this a 27 mile + race. The organizers did nothing to fix this or even acknowledge it with an apology. Just an awful mistake to make for a Boston Qualifying race. I will never run a Mellew race again.
C.J. Schexnayder from Dallas, Texas (4/15/2013) "The Absolute Worst" (about: 2013) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I entered this race because it was a smaller, by-the-basics event. But it seems the organizers, Mellew Productions, discarded the idea of 'frugal' and went all the way into the worst level of 'cheap.' The biggest issue was messing up the distances of the course. Marathon runners found themselves doing an additional mile and half-marathoners did an extra two miles. This turned out to be tremendously significant as temperatures got into the 80s and the number of hills over the middle of the course. I also spoke with several runners who said issues with signage on the course at points led them to run even farther than this. Throughout the day, Mellew Productions did nothing to notify the participants or react to complaints. I stopped by the timer at the half marathon mark and told him of the issue and he simply said 'this is where they told me to set up.' A Mellew Production official at the 21 mile mark was similarly unhelpful. Needless to say, I will never run this race ever again and I will never enter a race handled by Mellew Productions ever again.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 18 > ]

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