Dec 23, 2024
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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 4.3 
Organization 3.9 
Spectators 4.2
Number of comments: 338 [displaying comments 261 to 271]
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R. F. from Denver, CO
(12/27/2004)
"Great event, well organized." (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I loved this race. I wasn't sure how my training went, just because I didn't obsessively plan it out like normal, but I PR'd in rather warm (for me at least) temps. Two negatives. First, did some of the many water stations use lake water? Some of the water or Powerade tasted like it was poured through some of my old socks. Second, getting food at the end was confusing for me, never found a 'bag' to put my junk in, and some mean lady wouldn't hand me a little box. I mean, come on, I just ran 26.2 miles. I couldn't put my Sprite, cookies, bag of chips and apple in a box and leave? No, well, thanks. The best part, though, was all the food on the course, both provided by the race and by nice spectators. I don't think I've ever had so much to eat during that long of a run. The beer was a little too soon (perhaps I shouldn't have had three), and right before the 'Dolly Partons.' How about at the top of the hill? Plenty of race officials, police (someone said they all volunteered and weren't getting paid, wow!) and volunteers. They did a great job, minus the mean old lady! Not being from Dallas, I thought the course was very nice. The last few miles you catch up with some half walkers, and get passed by 'relay' runners. You know, perhaps that could be a negative, too. Having folks fly pass you around mile 24 (as they are just into their 2nd or 3rd mile) is a little bothering to the ego, but oh well. Highly recommend this race, and expect to run it again. | |
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M. M. from Dallas, TX
(12/20/2004)
"Overall, very good" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Overall, this was a great race. Good course- mostly flat with some moderate hills around 20-21. The only negative was having to dodge the walkers/slow joggers that entered in the half marathon over the last several miles of the course. Other than that, this is a great one. PLENTY of water stops, which was nice on a not-so-cool day. One word of warning: Texas weather in December is COMPLETELY unpredictable. It could be 70 degrees one day and 7 degrees the next. However, the race organizers can't do anything about that. The only thing that kept this from being five stars is the fact that I had to dodge half marathon walkers in the last miles of the race. Overall, highly recommended. | |
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P. D. from New York
(12/19/2004)
" well worth the trip" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I flew down from the Northeast for this marathon. I have to say that everything was very smooth and run vert efficently. I will mention the pros and cons of the race. Pros: 1) Excellent set up at the hotel, was able to check in before noon and check out at 4 PM the next day for a one-night rate. Bus to and from the hotel to the start was also very smooth. 2) Aid stations were fantastic, there were plenty of them. I usually run with a belt that holds water, etc and I hardly needed it - I could have run without it (I could not say that about any of the other 5 different marathons that I have done). 3)The course was a nice mix between the lake (nature) and the city. 4) Decent size race crowd; it wasn't too crowded, even with the half and the relay, yet you were not out there alone 5) Listening to Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter at the expo, who are two of the GREAT US marathoners, was extra special. The other speakers were also noteworthy, but these two were who I listened to. 6) Decent crowd support along the route, nothing can compare to NYC, but for most (but not all) parts of the course had some crowd support, as well as the music which included Christmas carols. Cons (and these are very, very minor points): 1) The weather at about 60 and sunny was a little warm during the later stages of the race, but no fault of the organizers. 2) Perhaps could have more than two photo points (Mile 18 and the finish). 3) The expo seemed a little cramped. Again the cons are very, very minor points. I would have no hesitation to do this race again, if the opportunity presented itself. | |
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J. L. from Dallas, Tx
(12/18/2004)
"Great race that is getting better" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I started running White Rock in 2001. This year was my 4th in a row and it is getting better each year. The course is the best that Dallas can offer. The race is well organized and including the half and relay, it is getting close to 10,000 runners. The spectators in Dallas are small in number (apart from Swiss Ave. where it seems every house gives their full support) but very supportive. The race director listens to the runners and improves facilities every year. It may not be Boston, New York or Chicago, but it is great mid-sized marathon. | |
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R. R. from Topeka, KS
(12/18/2004)
"A great race and a great time" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was the most fun marathon I ran this year. The crowds and the bands provided great support for the runners. There where adequate hydration points along the course. I want to give a special thanks to the 4:15 Cliff Shot pacer. You inspired me to do my best! Keep on striding... | |
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Ouida Davis from Atlanta Georgia
(12/17/2004)
"OUTSTANDING" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was the second most favorite of all marathons that I've done. No. 23 for me. From having gone around the United States running, I'd have to say Dallas is certainly a most unforgettable race. The spectators were there to cheer you on non-stop and it was not overkill like in the Big Apple. The food was plentiful and the music was great. I loved reading the signs posted from mile to mile. And I found the race to be quite scenic. Thanks for the F-16 fighter jets and thanks to 'Cody' for kicking the race off with his big horse, cowboy hat and shotgun!!!!!! | |
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K. B. from Chicago, IL
(12/16/2004)
"Great day for a run" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I had a really great time running this marathon. The course was beautiful, there was plenty of water and Powerade, the all-volunteer staff was first rate and the spectators that came out were all very nice. The only problem I noticed was that a lot of the relay teams seemed to get lost along the course. I thought this marathon was fabulous, I loved the weather (which was a little warm that day), loved the city, and had a wonderful time running to benefit the hospital. Thanks for a job well done! | |
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A. G. from Houston
(12/16/2004)
"Hidden gem of a winter marathon" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Only entered this in 2004 as an after-thought, but really glad I did. It's an absolute cracker of an event, and I imagine its popularity will only grow. The expo was an unexpected feast of activities and celebrities. Just as a taster, Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter and Dick Beardsley gave talks and took questions. Small enough audience for it all to feel really intimate. Best pasta party I've ever attended, with real cutlery, linen and great variety of food. My wife refuses to attend pasta parties on the grounds of lousy food and all-round revulsion, but even she would have respected this one... damn. Efficient organization and start at the American Airlines Center with the luxury of real toilets! Only downside was the $5 charge for parking, but that seems to be becoming the norm. Wide roads and well organized starting point. Course is interesting and variable, if a bit undulating. Through city for 5 miles, the nice neighborhoods for next 4 miles (many having early morning lawn parties as they cheered) then 10 miles round a beautiful lake and the last 7 miles through (hilly, but very supportive) neighborhoods and the city. Fantastic refreshments every mile or so, with water, Powerade and food. Even had a (private) beer point at 19 miles - honest, and runners even used it! Finish was well managed. Given how well everything else was managed, I was surprised by the lack of anything other than water and Powerade at the finish. It was only the next day I learned that there was lots of food (and more beer) available INSIDE the American Airline Center. No one told me that. Genuinely fantastic event, well managed and supported. Now in its 35th year, I'm surprised it doesn't get a bigger push from runners. It feels to me like a mini-Boston rather than just another provincial event. Highly recommended. | |
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Robert Lopez from Seattle
(12/15/2004)
"Good race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is a very solid race. Well organized - the only reason I don't give it 5 stars for organization is because of the expo. The race itself is great... water stops around every curve, tons of porta-potties, music, and wonderful volunteers. The expo was fairly large and had lots to look at. For whatever reason, the sales folk seemed to be a little more assertive at this expo than others. Not my style. The expo opened at 8:30. Packet pick-up started a few minutes earlier. T-shirt pick-up started a few minutes late, which was no big deal except they were a bit rude at first while the line built up. But the chip test station? They didn't START setting up their equipment until about 8:45, and thanks to Murphy's Law, it didn't work. After waiting semi-patiently for 20 minutes, I gave up. Hopefully, they got it going soon thereafter. Anyway, for those of us who like to be in/out of the expo as early and quickly as possible, it didn't work out that way. The race itself was good. Cool flyover and fireworks pre-start. Nice course; saw a good bit of Dallas, which is saying something considering how spread out Dallas is. Good number of spectators. Good traffic control, except in a couple places between miles 20-24. 10,000 people raced in the marathon and the half (which shares part of the course with the marathon). Unlike, say, the Country Music Marathon, it did not seem overly crowded. Weather was perfect for me, perhaps a bit warm-ish for others. Blue skies, low humidity. Unfortunately, weather in Dallas this time of year is completely unpredictable... so don't use my weather report as a positive for entering in 2005. Based on other comments from last year, I was ready for the annoyance factor of getting into the AA Center and down the steps. It really wasn't that bad... and the post-race food and beer was totally worth it. Being able to use actual bathrooms before/after the race was also totally worth it. I'll do this race again. It compares favorably to Rocket City and Honolulu (although, alas, you ain't in Hawaii)... two other races usually held the same weekend. | |
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Wade Morris from Birmingham, Alabama USA
(12/15/2004)
"Good Race" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Dallas Marathon (formerly the Dallas White Rock Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I have run this run for a couple of years and love the course. It is a bit hilly but I am from Alabama and the Texas hills do not compare. There were more runners than last year but the organization was not ready for it I guess. Overall, I did enjoy the race but hope that they can handle the crowd organization at the start line next year. |
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