Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon) - Race Reviews

Lack of water at the finish. The organizers for this event only care about your money and nothing else. You get two beers after you finish and a cheap plastic medal. You are lucky if you can get access to the bathrooms after the race. They hold the finish celebration outside and if it rains or if its cold you're screwed. The director only wants your money. Save your time and effort and go elsewhere.

You can tell these folks have done this thing for 49 years. Very well organized with easy packet pickup, well-run wave start and enthusiastic volunteers at well-spaced water stops. Course was nice through downtown, beautiful neighborhoods and around the lake, although I'd like it more if that lake portion had been a bit shorter. The two big hills around Mile 19 were nasty, but hey, we got to run down those same hills about 10 miles earlier so I guess it all evens out. Having done my last training run in 28-degree weather, I wish it hadn't been so warm, but I can't think of anybody I can blame for that. I recommend this race.

The event is well organized. Aid stations well staffed. Given the price tag...this event gets 1 star. Other than the first and last 200 meters, the course lacks fan support. You will find yourself running isolated for long stretches. The sponsors need to add numerous entertainment spots along the course to break-up the isolation feeling. The Ultra course needs a 26.2 timing mat. The course has many turns and curves and there is not a certified course line to follow.

This was my first marathon (after 8x 13.1s in other places) and I had a great experience in Dallas. Other than one decently difficult hill at mile 20, the course is fairly flat and runs through some really pretty neighborhoods in Dallas. The back 11-20 miles are around White Rock Lake, which is both pretty and good for pacing purposes. Fan support was great and the aid stations were well stocked (every 2 miles). The event ran incredibly smoothly. Would recommend this race to anyone!

The race organization was very good from registration through the finish chute. The course took runners through interesting parts of the city and through some very nice neighborhoods. The loop around the lake was very nice. Spectators were friendly and offering all types of 'non-traditional' foods and beverages. Official rest stops were plentiful and well stocked. I really liked the pyro at the start line. Medal and shirts were very nice. I would highly recommend this event.

I ran the half marathon. Everything was very well organized, from race communications to the expo to race day. The expo was nice, but really didn't have any apparel vendors other than the official race apparel. The course was okay. Relatively flat with a few gradual hills. I really enjoyed the Highland Park and other residential areas, but some stretches that were industrial or along highways felt a bit desolate. Good aid stations, decent fan support throughout. Finish line area was well spaced out so there was room to move and take your time getting through all the different stations. Really nice finishers shirt.

This was a great marathon even for the slowest runners. There were some hills, mainly in the first part of the race, a couple of short hills in the second half. They had music on the bike path that was after the run by the lake. Everyone was friendly and supportive even though I was one of the last runners. The police stayed and made sure the runners were safe even past posted course limits. We were redirected to the sidewalk in the last mile, but I was still given an official finish time and medal. My only criticism is that the half marathon runners didn't split off until around mile 9.5, so it was congested until the split. But, after the split I was never alone and I could see other runners until the last point two miles.

Was interesting to see what new management and BMW sponsorship would do with this race and overall it was quite positive. Did notice fewer live bands on the course this year and the Expo was light on Running wear/shoes, but lots more cars!

I ran the half marathon for the first time this year and was impressed! Very well organized race and flat course. I think the full marathon is hillier, but can't speak to that. I would recommend staying at the Omni hotel as I literally walked out the door to starting line! My only suggestion would be to have digital clocks visible, at least at the halfway point for the race.

This year's Dallas Marathon was blessed with almost perfect weather. The day started in the low 50s with clouds and fairly calm. However, as the day progressed the winds kicked up and were well over 20mph with 30+ mph gusts about 3 hours into the race. That's totally out of the RD's control and really didn't diminish a great day for running. It made the finish quite challenging in spite of it being a fairly flat course. The race highlights: THE EXPO: Fairly typical for a large marathon in that there were tons of vendors and tons of stuff. I really enjoy spending time at expos and this one did not disappoint. With BMW being the title sponsor this year, there was some really cool car stuff to play around with. THE COURSE: Having lived in Dallas for about 10 years, I am very familiar with the course and it definitely went through a lot of the best neighborhoods in the area. However, the out and back at White Rock Lake is a little repetitive and ignores the section that would include the arboretum which is a beautiful part of the lake. The worst part of the course is the section that runs along the Santa Fe Trail which is a multi mile slow climb up a concrete path. The path was not closed and we dealt with several runners coming from the other direction and I was passed twice by bikers who were not part of the event. THE SPECTATORS: The city of Dallas definitely supports the marathon in a big way. There are plenty of spectators on the course to keep you motivated and lots of 'unofficial' food stations along the way for those hungry for doughnuts, beer, or Twizzlers. From the 'Dolly Parton's' and Elvis impersonators, there are plenty of people having fun on the course. THE ORGANIZATION: This is such a well run event, it's obvious that it's been around for over 40 years. From start to finish, this is a very professionally run event that seems to care as much about the marathon as it does the half and the relay. It's nice to run in a race that has doesn't put all the interesting parts of the course on the parts shared by with the half marathon and make the full marathon course seem like an afterthought. I didn't utilize the bag check so I can't comment on that part of the operation.

Very well organized! Highly recommend to anyone. A great Texas option for those completing the 50 states. Starting corrals were nice as it spread out the runners. However, I must have said I'd finish the race in a certain time because I was placed in a corral I thought I'd be too fast for. So just watch yourself when estimating your finish time for that determines your corral placement. I ran with the 5 hour pace group and the pacer was awesome! Big, huge shout out to Drew! The other runners in the group were very nice too :) . Not sure if it is open every year but the convention center was open so that was nice to get inside and out of the drizzly rain. Or if not open and it is rainy, one can stand under the overhang to stay dry. Changing rooms located right by gear bag check. Every marathon should have these available! Just add some carpet...please. I'd come back. I've got friends who live in the area too so that is an added bonus.

Everything about this big-city race experience was great. After the race was cancelled due to the ice storm in '13, the energy of the whole event seemed amplified and thus even more exciting. The expo was as big and awesome as any I've seen. Aisles upon aisles of vendors and booths for races all across the country. It's held in the convention center where there is plenty of space. The weather was great for the race, some may have griped about the humidity and mist, but those are just gripes. The fact is, temps were perfect, in the 50s for the majority of the race, which is about average for Dallas in December. It should also be noted that I'm from KC area, where it can be in the 10s and 20s by December, so to me a little humidity is nothing to complain about. The finisher's medal is so cool, it's the shape of Texas and has lots of color, and the ribbon is very nice and detailed. The tech shirt is very tasteful, it had just the race logo and that's it, and is a comfortable material. The extras that made the race special were almost endless and it is hard to remember all of them. Boston champion Meb Keflezighi led the Mavericks relay team competing against the Ryan Hall-led Texas Rangers relay team. Hall finished with his relay leg in plenty of time to hand out finishers medals to marathoners; he handed me mine. Super humble, friendly guy. His wife Sara won the women's half. I believe there may have been elite appearances at the Expo as well. The massive race start had a huge big screen in view of all runners in the corraled street, and introduced the elites and pumped everyone up with music and race highlights. Fireworks blasted to send us off - it was an electric atmosphere. Spectator support was great, tons of neighborhoods came out in droves to line the course and cheer us on with signs and encouragement. Aid stations were well-stocked and spaced well. There were two CLIF Shot Zones where you ran under their inflatable arch and CLIF people were handing out energy gels. Another thing I noticed comments about was the amount of hills, which (sorry complainers) is absolutely ridiculous. This is NOT a hilly course. I believe there is somewhere around 150-200 feet of hill climbing total, which is very little for a 26.2 mile course. Do not be deterred, this is not a course with any brutal hills, just a few rollers to keep things interesting. The wind off of White Rock Lake slows your pace down for 4-5 miles through the middle of the race, but the scenery of the lake and skyline view of downtown is worth it. Just go into the halfway miles expecting to ease off a bit and you're fine. The final 4-5 miles is pretty much all downhill, which is a huge relief at the end of any marathon. I'm sure I forgot some other details that made this race special, but take my word for it and go find out for yourself why its a fun race. I have family in Dallas area so it was an obvious trip for me, but also if your a marathoner coming from cold winter weather this race (on a normal year) provides relief from the cold. I highly recommend this race to people looking to run a marathon in Texas or a December marathon. I enjoyed the entire experience and left feeling my every expectation was satisfied

Like many others I had to run this year after the cancellation of the 2013 D/T ice storm. The race was wonderful, the bands along the course were very inspiring, water stops perfect. The EXPO was well set up and packet pick up went easy, walked right in, got my packet with no wait. Everything that could be controlled was, and done well. My only complaints were weather, and hills. Now I live in the DFW area, and know there are hills in the area, but we don't have to run up them all, it seemed that the course could have been laid out better. That last hill once we came off running in the wind at White Rock Lake just sucked the life out of me. My other complaint was the sub tropic weather that day. There were so many runners around mile 20-26 with cramps, the humidity was 85-90% that morning with a heavy misty light rain. The race directors can't control the weather, but they could change the course to get out of some of the many hills. Otherwise I loved the race, and will do it again.

Nice to have this one back after it got iced out in 2013. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great for this one. I finished at a disappointing 4:15 (was shooting for 3:50, but cramps got me), and it absolutely started to pour rain right as I crossed the finish line. And I was in the upper 50%, so many many runners ran in the rain. The fan support on this course is great. The organization is great for such a big run. The new course for 2014 was very pretty. It's still a fairly hilly run, though, but that's Dallas. And the winds around White Rock Lake (from roughly 13 - 18 mile points) can be tough, as they were this year. Tons of well stocked water stands, with goo at several. Very organized start. Nobody at the post-race party when I finished, because of the rain. The only real negative was the parking. I paid $15 parking just to pick up my packet on Saturday. Then $10 on race day. There were maybe some cheaper options, but still ... wow. Plus the race itself was like $130. So it ain't a cheap run.

The race directors really brought their a-game this year after the cancellation of 2013s race. The quality of everything from the expo to the presence of staff and volunteers on the course was tremendous.

I REALLY enjoyed this marathon. The course went through some very beautiful neighborhoods and the section around White Rock Lake was enjoyable. The guy at the end who shook my hand (race director maybe?) made my day! Even though I'm not the fastest, he made me feel like my participation was greatly appreciated. The tech finisher shirt was long sleeve and the design was stylish. I wear it all the time. All the volunteers were friendly and efficient. My only complaint was the food at the end was kind of boring.

Except for the loop around White Lake, it was a pretty boring course. Industrial areas, residential area, few spectators = same old, same old... Having to walk around half the convention center to get to the post-race area was very poor planning. Some previous reviewers complained that they got a cotton shirt instead of a tech shirt, but I don't understand their complaints. The cotton shirt was the pre-race shirt, and the tech shirt was handed out as the finisher shirt. Did these people not pick up the finisher shirt? A shout out to the Dolly Partons. You guys made my day!

I've run this event several times, and this latest course change was a big disappointment. At points, the congestion was such that for runners wanting to run through the water station (mile 7-ish?), it was impossible. The finish line ought to take an example from Houston - same set-up (convention center, etc.), but better organization. Having to go upstairs on a very crowded escalator was nuts, and having to walk so far through the underpass just to get inside was nuts. Take another lesson from Houston on how to move runners through the post-race circuit. I have loved this race above all others, and now I don't know that I'll return. (And, yes, let's have something hot at the post-race.)

I used Marathon guide to select this race for my first marathon and was so worried about it being the worst organization, the worst weather, and the worst course, I could have ever selected. My race time was not even close to what I wanted, but it wasn't due to the management of the race, the weather, or the course. It was my first race, so I really don't have anything to compare it to, but I sincerely enjoyed it. I felt like the course was beautiful, well supported, plenty of aid stations (complete with free beer at mile 19 - definitely took advantage). I can honestly say, I had a blast! I will run this again.... and hopefully redeem my time next time. :)

I volunteer and run the WhiteRock (excuse me-Dallas) Marathon for the past few years and wish that every once in a while the organizers would attend or run other marathons happening in the US so that they could imitate good things others are doing. 1. Packet pick-up in Dallas compared to Route 66 is dull and uneventful; like a funeral, just solemn. 2. Lack of innovation and marketing compared to Little Rock and Mississippi Blues. Changing the name from White Rock to Dallas alone won't do the trick. 3. They should vary up the shirts. Plain jane shirts from Dallas are totally theme-less. 4. Course is also plain jane save for White Rock Lake which represents a portion of the full race option. 5. Post-race amenities were also disappointing considering the fee structure. Something warm and edible, say? Should I have purchased the VIP for $150? I'm not sure I paid even half that amount for the Balbo tent at Chicago a couple of months earlier. 6. I appreciate volunteers' efforts at the water stations but please instruct them to stand on the side of the street as they offer water/hydration. Too many runners on the course for volunteers to be crowding us. 7. The shorter races (mayor/5K) was an organizational disaster. Not even half the volunteers appeared as committed and there was only one volunteer at the starting point trying to rein in thousands of runners to one lane so that the leaders would have a return lane to run in for getting to the finish line.

There were virtually no spectators; it was not an urban race in the NYC or Chicago senses. There were too many walkers and little room to move. I ran the half.

I had higher hopes for Dallas, which turned out to be just an average experience. PROS * friendly course monitors, including police * supportive, but limited, crowd support * nice medal (one of my favs of 22) * great expo CONS * water stops - disorganized and generally overwhelmed; some had no drinks available, as staffers were pouring frantically trying to meet demand; some had water first, then Gatorade  others the opposite * course - non-inspiring, to say the least * half and full runners - WAY too crowded for a mid size marathon; seriously, I thought I was running NY until the split at 8 miles or so * race shirt - cotton! * I suppose most downtown areas are desolate nowadays; Dallas was no exception Overall, an average marathon. Thank you Dallas - I hope you strive to improve your overall experience.

I've run this race many times and it has generally been well organized and a nice but not great race. This year's changes - name and a course more designed to show off the city ala Chicago - are logical moves toward making this a big-name race. The former White Rock Marathon is indeed growing up. The variable beyond everyone's control is still the weather. December is usually a delightful time to be here. But the previous year's cold rain, and this year's heat and humidity first - and later the strong wind which was actually a blessing as it moderated the previous conditions - can make this a tough race. But all in all, well done Dallas!

This was my second running of this race and that says a lot about an event as I seldom repeat. I like this race. About 2/3 of the race is really nice. It runs through downtown, into some of the most upscale neighborhoods of Dallas, around White Rock Lake and back to downtown. No significant hills are included. The Expo, volunteers, fans, and staff are great. I just had a few negatives to share. The bag drop off was over 4 blocks from the start at the Expo. To go back to the EXPO to pick up your bag and get food is an additional hassle. I wasted 1/2 an hour when I had a close check out and plane to catch. This was a minor aggravation. The post-race food was fair at best for a major race. There were bananas, oranges, bags of pretzels, and chocolate milk. All this was good, but I have seen much better. There were no bottled water at the finish; there was only waters in cups. Three years ago the T-shirt was of hi-tech fabric; this year it was cotton. Finally, a massage would be nice at the finish. The course was very congested until the half-marathon split. That said, I recommend this race and will likely run it the future. A tip for you frugal runners: Neither Dallas airport has direct DART rail service; however, both airports have a shuttle that connects to the DART to downtown. This is a 90% saving over cab fare.

Plusses: Good spectator support Good traffic control Convenience of portapotties in corrals Cons: $12 parking fee to pick up packet There were sections on the course where a left or right turn was required in a compact space which caused a backup of runners and slowed times. Especially at the Armstrong u-turn Water stations were inadequate for 20,000+ runners. Not enough volunteers. Runners were 4-5 deep waiting on water. It took me 45 minutes after the race to get my finisher shirt. Just give it out with the packet.

I ran The Dallas Marathon this year as part of Team VW. Thanks to them for a smooth packet pickup and great runner packet. I was concerned about traffic and parking Sunday morning, so I used DART. I parked at Kiest Station in South Dallas and paid $5 for a day pass. I only waited 15 minutes and the Blue Line Train picked me up and 6 stops later, dropped me in West End. The Dallas Convention Center was the Pre-Race Holding Tank with plenty of room to stretch and relax. A short walk to the Starting Corals and a very organized Starting Line with plenty of Portalets and we were soon off and running. West Dallas was great. They really turned out, cheered, and welcomed all runners. Volunteers were plentiful on the course. The water stations were always ready and helpful. There was plenty of room to grab a drink and get out of the way. The finish line was great. So many cheering spectators. There was plenty of water and gatorade before moving inside to the food and recovery area. Dallas Marathon was the biggest race I have done with nearly 25,000 runners. I will run it next year and recommend it to others.

This is my 3rd time to run this race (1 full, 2 halves). I thought the course change for the half marathon was a massive downgrade. This felt like we ran 90% of the course in the ghetto and on the freeway ramps just to run over that new bridge near downtown. I got excited when we finally got near Highland Park just to be turned around to go back to downtown. I'm not sure what they are trying to achieve by changing to the 'Dallas Marathon,' but I really hated to see this non-inspiring course for what was my favorite race every year. If they don't make the course more interesting, I'm going to have a hard time staying loyal to this race. That being said, I thought the organizers still maintained the great quality that I have always seen from this event. I could still live without the cotton shirt and just have the finisher shirt, but that's not a big deal as I can always use another grease rag.

This race had a record number of participants (22,000) and it showed early on. The water stops were overwhelmed - I had to wait for them to pour me a drink. After the marathon and half-marathons split, the water stops were much better. The only other problem I had was the race goes through some of the less desirable areas of downtown Dallas. I still liked it, but if they can fix the water stops and look at different course options then it would be a better race in my opinion. The expo was really good.

So many good things about this race - updates via email often, race starts on time, medal is beautiful, TWO race shirts (great tech finisher shirt), restrooms and post-race inside convention center worked well, VERY friendly volunteers, great spectators throughout entire course, results posted FAST - including tech data, pics posted quick to Facebook, festive start, easy packet pick-up, multiple gel and orange slices/bananas on course, scenic course, esp. around lake and through stately neighborhoods, course guides that made it impossible to take a wrong turn, and I mention again: VERY friendly volunteers. You never felt alone on the course; all abilities running - including relay participants. Announcer enthusiastic at start and finish - announced many names. Great post-race goodies including chocolate milk! Things that need work: parking for expo a nightmare (no signs) and $15 to park(!), getting into corrals a colossal nightmare, halfers and full run together for first seven so the field to start is massive, water stops inconsistent, some had water first, then Gatorade and vice versa, volunteers had or didn't have gloves (many handing out with fingers inside cups) the road bed throughout the course rutted, uneven, mostly concrete, and slippery, no clocks at any mile markers - not even at 13.1. If you run this - arrive EARLY; repeat arrive EARLY. Use DART; their train systemdrops you about 6-7 minutes from the start corrals (again, arrive EXTRA early to avoid the throngs and have enough time for bag-drop, using restrooms, warming up, etc.). This race is a gem that needs just a few things tightened up. This year's high humidity, heat, and headwinds made for a more challenging day - on a cooler day, you can do fairly well - there are some long hills but there are many stretches of downhills as well - thankfully the last 5 miles or so are almost completely downhill.

I have run the Dallas/White Rock Marathon 4 times. 2012 was the first time i ran since 2008. This year brought the second course change in ~ 3 years I believe. Despite chancgng the course a few times in the last few years, not sure why running by a Prison and thru a warehouse district in the first five miles was appealing to organizers for this years race. It wasnt to runners. Yes, it allows you to run over a bridge and pass scottish rite hospital. But, theres no river (with water) under the bridge, and there was very little crowd support from scottish rite hospital staff. Organizers should reconsider the route and put more of the White Rock lake back in the course. Further, while the convention center space was nice to have for runners, it creates an extra long walk for runners to have to travel for a banana / pretzel / milk and their finish shirt. I probably walked a mile just to get into the center to get my shirt and back outside. As for on-course water stations, it was fairly good organization and plenty of volunteers handing out water/gatorade. Overall, I was pretty disappointed in the changes.

I've done the 'Rock' for years now. The route around the lake and now over the bridge is perfect. It's always a joy to run past major Dallas landmarks... However, this year there are 2 big drawbacks: 1. The race is getting so large that it took until mile 7-8 to start thinning out enough that I didn't have to dodge all of the slower runners or walkers. Why don't slower runners move to the right! 2. The last thing I want to do after running 26 miles is to walk and walk into the convention center, wait among crowds to get on the escalater and walk through the entire expo to get my finisher shirt, and then return back through everything again to get out.

The race is a very well organized event with good hospitality. In 2011 when I ran it the weather was unfortunately poor - 40F and raining pretty hard during a lot of it. I'm fairly sure I even heard thunder as I was entering the finish. The course isn't pancake flat, but it isn't horribly hilly either. You could definitely PR here and I plan to come back to this race in the future.

I have run the half and full over the last couple of years and this race was great the way they had it. The new changes are starting to make me wonder if this race is departing from greatness. 1. The course out of fair park was awesome, straight downhill to the finish. I don't see how downtown can give you any time advantage over what was already there. 2. Changing the name to the 'Dallas Marathon.' That doesn't mean anything, stick with what people know, which is 'White Rock.' 3. Tacking on a $3 'facilities usage fee.' This sends a signal that suckage is starting to seep in. If it costs $3 extra to use the facilities, just put it in the price, don't kick us in the nuts at the checkout line! 4. This has been the same every year, but why do we get the shirt on the first day? Any way to lower the price and get rid of the participant shirt? I already registered for 2012, I'll give it a chance with all of the new changes. However, what you had going was great and I hate to see it change!

I have ran the half marathon before but this was my first full marathon and boy did we have awful weather for it. The packet pick-up is always fairly easy and the expo has some great freebies. I was surprised to see so many spectators out due to the weather so that definitely helped keep me going when I was pretty sure my fingers were frozen solid and I was seconds away from hypothermia. Not really, but my goodness low 40's and raining the whole way was miserable!!!! The starting line could definitely use some improvement, I have ran this race two years in a row and each time I have had to wait 30-45 minutes to actually start running after the race starts. It seems a bit ridiculous to me. Another issue I had was at the water stops before the half marathoners split off, I am a middle of the pack runner and I was having to either stop to get water or they were out of water or cups at some of the stations. Not good when you are relying on these stations for water or gatorade to keep you running for 26.2 miles. My last complaint is that when you finish running and pay a good bit of $$$ I would expect to have bottled water, not tiny cups filled with nasty tasting Dallas City water. GROSS! A race of this size should easily be able to get bottles of water donated so I am not sure who drops the ball on this, but seriously get bottles of water!!!!!

I ran this the previous year on the VIP package. It came with a parking pass that put you right next to the finish (plus some really cool race shwag and VIP diva perks). I noticed however that there were hundreds of runners who parked in the same area just by arriving a few minutes early before the crowd. This year I did likewise and parked within a few feet of my VIP spot from the previous year. This is a great event for anyone who gives it half a chance. The event is well organized, from the Expo all the way through to the Finish celebrations. The course is challenging but not too hilly and takes you through some beautiful parts of Dallas. In addition to there being plenty to see, there is spectator support all along the way. I loved this year's finisher medal as well. For those who wish to skip the drive this event venue is right on the DART light rail line. It works out really well for those from out of town or car free. I have used it in other years to get to and from the event during race weekend with no issues. For those from out of town you can also stay at one of the downtown hotels and have the DART rail line stop right outside your door. You can walk out of your hotel and in ten minutes be on the race site.

This was my first marathon and, while the weather was awful, the crowd support, Expo, and swag made up for it! Can't believe how many people were out cheering us on despite the cold and rain! I do wish the mile markers were easier to spot, AND I wish there were some shuttles from the finish to the parking lots. I was so freezing afterward and felt like I walked forever to get to my car. It took hours and a hot shower to warm back up. I also didn't see anywhere to change in the finishers' building, but I didn't look that hard. I really love this event (have done the half several times before) and am really glad it was the site for my first full. I will just hope for better weather next year!

This course was simply spectacular! We ran through some of the fancier neighborhoods of Dallas, and the homes were decorated for the holidays. Fantastic course support (loved the HUGE cup of beer at mile 9 or so). Now, everyone is talking about the weather. It was so bad that it actually became funny. I felt like a warrior (or some kind of middle-earth creature) battling nature in addition to the run itself. I would do this course again... no doubt! Thanks for the great run, Dallas. I'll be back!