Kudos to the Competitor Group for another well-organized event. As a Tour Pass Unlimited member, I…read moredecided to make Dallas one of my stops this year. I flew in on Friday and headed to the convention center for the expo. Packet pickup on Friday was a breeze (it was on Saturday, too, when I returned with my running partner, but more crowded). This expo seemed smaller than some of the others and some of my fave vendors were absent (Sparkly Soul, ProCompression, Nuun), but plenty of local vendors, which is great for those who live in North Texas. 5K On Saturday, I participated in the inaugural 5K, which was organized in Fair Park. 2 of the 3 miles were through the park, but one mile was on an out and back on a road leading to one of the entrances (not so interesting). Even with this short distance, there was a water stop, which is nice. Finish line was well-staffed with volunteers handing out medals, bananas, water, etc. A live band was playing at the end, too. Corrals were self-seeded based on estimated pace (6/7/8/9/10 minute miles).Compared to other 5Ks, RNR definitely offers more amenities. Half Marathon Sunday was part two for those of us doing the remix challenge (running the Saturday and Sunday events). For the longer events, RNR seeds corrals based on estimated finish time, though they are not enforced. This was obvious over the first few miles when we encountered plenty of walkers (which for people with my corral would not involve much walking). 2015 brought a new course, but since I'd never run this one before, I can't compare. It was continuously hilly, and heavily on concrete streets (which I really felt later in the race), many of which were in poor condition, which meant I spent a lot of the race looking down to avoid tripping hazards. For a RNR event, this course seemed to be light on the entertainment. There were a handful of bands, which were really good, but then long stretches with no music and a few spots where there were speakers hooked up to a sound system. Kudos to the volunteers along the course and at the finish line. You are so appreciated!! As far as scenery, I loved running over the new bridge and near the turtle creek park. We finished at the American Airlines Center. Crowd support was great when we came across it, but again, long stretches without. Not my favorite event, but always well organized by the Competitor Group.

This was my 5th year running this race. The series has races all over the world and this is one…read morestop of many. I will be running RnR San Diego in June and totally looking forward to it! It's a great way to see the city. This race is always very organized with bag/gear check, and the volunteers and spectators are always awesome. The expo where you pick up your race packet was stocked with swag and goodies. I love getting my drawstring bag every year as well as the dri fit shirt. The medal was great this year too! It's a pricey race but you do get a bang for your buck so it's worth it. My only issue with the shirts would be that they would make them more gender specific. Other than that I very much enjoy this race and will definitely be back next year! Up next San Diego!!

PR or ER was not the motto for this one. Fast finishing is not my speciality on this distance…read more I've been extremely sedentary the past 7 months (I don't even know who I am anymore) and have had a few injuries including multiple plantar plate tears in my left foot, but there was no way I wasn't going to run the Dallas marathon since I'm here. That was until we were headed to the start line and it was beyond freezing. Literally. Real Feel less than 20 degrees. Hell to the No No, this is not optimal for me. I told my bff I just can't do it today, there's no way I'm going to pull this one out of my a** in these conditions. I bundled up in a very serious way (never had so much on for a marathon, it's a shocker I could even move in this many layers) and imagined I'd strip this off before the start but then decided there's just no way I can manage this distance in this temp. He later told me, the only reason I ran this marathon and ended up getting out of the car (after saying drive me there, but I'm not getting out of this car) was because I had to use the restroom. Facts. I ran the marathon but he deserves the medal for braving the temps he did to provide support for me. This marathon can basically be summed up as the Jack and Coke run for me, although it was never Jack - I did stop at 3 different miles for some serious heavy pour whiskey shots to warm up and drown whatever pain I imagined I'd be in store for. I'd briefly studied the course/elevation chart the evening prior and knew this course would probably feel ok, pancake flat can really take a toll on me where rolling hills help switch up the muscle groups which I feel is always better for your body. I was frozen solid the entire race, each time I stopped to meet bestie at our designated miles 10, 18 and 23 or use the restroom- I'd quickly remove a glove and my hand would just burn from the cold. I couldn't slip my ear warmer away from my ears even for a moment and I legit had my thickest hoodie on with the hood tied up and over my ear warmer and hat most of the race. I love me some cloud cover but I was out here praying for some sunshine, none until the finish - go figure! All in all this marathon is extremely well executed. Registration, Expo, Start Line, Finish, Course Support, Spectators, you name it - it's a job well done in every aspect. The course is great as an out and back. The rolling hills are gradual enough to provide the fluctuation your body needs. I cursed the bridges around the lake, they were causing serious vertigo on a body that was on the brink of hypothermia. It took a moment to realize they were actually shaking and I wasn't on the verge of a seizure. The spectators were strong, it never felt deserted. I will say Texas loves their alcohol, I've never seen so many bars and shots set up. The entire race was one big bar. I'm very thankful for the little snackies that were out. I had a mini donut hole and an orange slice here and there. My go to marathon fuel remains the same, I always pack cheez its, Coca Cola has been brought into the rotation the past couple of years (I dont consume soda and had it on a course once and it was life changing), and a little sweet treat (cookies or gummy bears). I rarely if ever can stomach brekke prior so it's usually a few cheez its, a bite or two of a sweet treat (cookies), a sip or two of coke, a few Advil for shits and giggles - it's preventative folks! a pack of Bloks, sips of Gatorade at the stations, smart water and whatever else sparks my interest along the course. This time lots of whiskey! I will go out on a limb and say this course is probably a good one for a PR if you actually train for the race. Congrats to all the finishers and a huge shout out to the exceptional volunteers and spectators who were out here doing gods work in these below freezing temps, ya'll are the real MVPs.

Super organized race. Only thing I can complain about is the lack of pre-race restrooms. There were…read morethousands of people there and about 10 porta-potties available near the start. Other than that, this was a beautiful course and I would do it again.

It was great parking can be difficult due to the direction the event supplies. They say to take an…read moreexit that is closed. Last year the events Expo was better than this year's but still nice. I definitely love their jackets this year it was classic. Really enjoyed the DJ

This is one of my favorite 5Ks and it has become an annual run that I do with a friend…read more This run is well organized and is the case with most runs, the earlier you sign up the lower the registration fee. This race has some of the best swag each year which usually consists of a light-weight jacket which is perfect for 'winter' in the Dallas area. As for packet pickup, it is usually the Thursday and Friday before that Saturday morning race day. It is always in the same location at Fair Park and upon arrival, prepare to pay $10 to park. While this might seem a bit expense since the packet pickup only takes 15 minutes or so, it goes towards reducing the need for paying a parking fee on race day. One can actually stay longer that ~15 minutes as there are quite a few vendors in the packet pickup area. My issue with the vendors is most are setup to do a 'hard-sale' on their product which is never fun. Products tend to include windows for the house, electric companies, girl scout cookies along with a few health/fitness products. Ultimately, I'd like to see them have more products associated with health/fitness and fewer of the unrelated products. That said, the sponsorship helps keep costs down for the runners so we get what we get. In addition to the in-person packet pickup, the alternative is to have your packet and swag mailed which costs $25. On the morning of the run, entrance into the parking lots can move a little slow but they do a great job of keeping things moving to ensure people make it into Fair Park for the run. That said, be sure to arrive early as the parking lots are located ~1 mile from the actual start line for the run. While it's a bit of an inconvenience, it makes for an opportunity to warm up the body before starting the run. In addition to driving to the race, DART is always an option and the Fair Park station is much closer to the start line than the parking lot. The Dallas run is always in February, which makes for cooler temps on the day of the run. That said, once the run starts you will quickly warm up and completely forget about the cooler temp. The route of the run is not the greatest but it has improved over the years. Having participated in this run for many years, it's quite interesting to see the changes that are taking place in this area. From road improvements to fewer homeless camps to new businesses along the route, it's good to see that the city of Dallas is investing in this community. Once you cross the finish line and pick up your medal, head to the main area where you can turn in your ticket for a nice chocolatey treat. This treat includes a cup of hot chocolate, chocolate fondue, a banana and other treats for dipping. It always makes for a nice reward at the end of run in the cooler temps. Overall, this is a fun run and is one I will continue to participate in. NOTE: the Hot Chocolate Run Series is held in 16 other cities throughout the year and they also offer a virtual option. Go to their website (https://hotchocolate15k.com/cities/) to find a nearby location along with the dates, etc.

The Dallas Marathon Health & Fitness Expo is located in Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention center in…read moreDecember for the BWM Dallas Marathon, Half, and Friday night lights offering tons of freebies in an all-around fun environment! I arrived early in the morning to beat all the foot traffic and was able to snag all the goodies without waiting in long massive lines. I would say the longest line I waited in was for the glass BMW water bottle and it was totally worth it! The expo was well organized and had ample staff to assist you in any possible way you needed. The packet BIB pickup was completed in seconds as to where you simply go to the packet pick up and tell the staff your name and they easily locate your BIB number and hand it to you along with your shirt. They also supply a clear bag for race day for all your belongings that you don't want to bring with you on the run you can check in and they will hold it for you. As for the vendors they had everything from the latest and newest shoes to gels and clothing items and much more. This Expo was truly one of the best I have ever attended due to the organization and the friendly staff that made this happen for all the runners in the community!

This is one of my favorite marathon packet pick up expos I go to all year. It's very organized,…read morethere's a ton of runner swag and free samples, and you could pretty much stay in there all day (although, if you're running 26.2 the very next day I do not recommend it). Often times they will sell runner essentials at a discounted rate, and you can pick up your energy gels/last minute race stuff like socks, etc there. Plenty of parking at the convention center and it's easy to get in and out. A+ on a job well done, Dallas Marathon!

Jeff Galloway had a great marathon training program that ran in conjunction with the store "Run-On"…read morehere in Dallas. I first trained with this program in 1997. This is one of the best athletic programs I had ever come across. This class started nine months before the White Rock marathon in December. I strongly recommend taking a class or get with a group that knows what they are doing for distance running. It is too easy to get hurt. I had heard that Jeff Galloway had the highest recovery rate for marathon training in the country. We first started out with small light runs and even some walks. We were to build up to two miles. The increase in millage was slow and steady. We had short runs and later we got to medium runs and then incorporated long runs. It takes a while to build to 26.2 miles. Every other weekend we met out at White Rock Lake for most of the runs. We would first have short classes over different topics and then run. Topics included, running shoes, hydration, diets, stretching, cold weather running tips as well hot weather tips, etc.. One class we were even filmed on how we ran and then coached by Jeff. For this type of exercise you learn a great deal about yourself, your body, and yourself discipline. Jeff Galloway marathon training program really helped me out. Thanks Jeff

For sure one of my favorite local holiday races! I try and run this one every year. It's about $30…read moreto sign up and benefits local charity. Make sure you get there at least an hour early for parking...and yes I do mean at least an hour. It seems as if everyone in the metroplex runs this race. But oh so worth it! Walk, run or bring your doggies. DRESS UP! Be festive and have fun with it. You will not be disappointed.

HILAAAAAAAAAAAAARIOUS! Costumes and Decor...PIMP! However they need better food choices. That…read morewas not cool. But I really did not care. I was sweating and laughing and was with some freaking awesome people.