Apr 29, 2024
Current Year Results
Results Search
Biggest/Best Boston Qualifier
2024 Results
2023 Results
2022 Results
2021 Results
2020 Results
2019 Results
2018 Results
2017 Results
2016 Results
2015 Results
2014 Results
2013 Results
2012 Results
2011 Results
2010 Results
2009 Results
2008 Results
2007 Results
2006 Results
2005 Results
2004 Results
2003 Results
2002 Results
2001 Results
2000 Results
☰
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 61 to 71]
|
j. b. from chicago,il
(4/14/2009)
 "Small but big" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 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. | |
|
M. G. from West Virginia
(4/12/2009)
 "OK, except no support at the finish line" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 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. | |
|
E. D. from Baltimore, MD
(4/10/2009)
 "Better than I expected (from past reviews)" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 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. | |
|
J. T. from Frisco, TX
(4/8/2009)
 "Delightful, small marathon" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 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. | |
|
S. C. from Mansfield, Texas
(4/8/2009)
"Too many hills, and not enough rewards" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 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. | |
|
c. g. from dallas, tx
(4/8/2009)
"not for first-timers" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 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. | |
|
m. l. from bryan, texas
(4/7/2009)
 "Great wind from the North!" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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! | |
|
C. B. from Texas
(4/6/2009)
"Lewis, thank you for your help" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Big-D Texas Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 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. | |
|
S. G. from Sachse, TX
(4/6/2009)
"Lots of hills. Not recommended for 1st timers" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my third marathon and first Big-D, but it has been the most challenging so far. The course has lots of hills. Running by White Rock Lake was nice, but wind was terrible. There were few spectators along the course. Water stations were fine, with the exception of one around mile 21, when it was needed most. I finished few minutes after 4 hours with a new PR. When I arrived, all of the food was gone. I saw people without bibs eating food. My major complain was the last loop, when the finish line is in sight. That's simply wrong and easy to fix. I have read same complaints from last year. I would run it again but I do not recommend this marathon for a first-timer. Last thing: No goodies in the running package and the running shirt was not technical. | |
|
D. J. from Houston, Tx
(4/6/2009)
"Small event; nice run through Dallas." (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Big-D Texas Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I ran the Big-D because I missed the 2009 Houston Marathon. I had enough time to train properly, and it was "close" to home (Houston), with family that I could stay with. Pros: Spectator spots were easier to get to, so my family could see me running at several points in the race. Scant spectators, but boy were they really supportive! Very nice course (though hilly by my standards). Cons: Poorly organized start and finish lines. The signs seem to just stop after the 25-mile marker and I got confused and lost running through crowds of people at the park, asking people, "Which way?!!!" in a desperate attempt to find the finish line. If you need big crowds, bands and music at every turn, and tons of other marathon accessories... this is not the event for you. But if you like low-key, low-pressure, low-frills, laid back atmosphere, then you've found a winner. I would recommend The Big-D Texas Marathon to people who want to just enjoy a marathon run. |
© 2000-2024, All Rights Reserved by MarathonGuide.com LLC
