Dallas Fort Worth Urban Forum

Not long after conditioning the public to quit calling it the White Rock Marathon, now a new identity is apparently coming to what has been the Dallas Marathon. The new name is expected to come out soon.

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/bus ... vents-grow

Well I think we know what this means, time for guesses!!!

The "World Class" Marathon
B....Marathon....G
The "We Were Thiiiiiiiis Close to Getting Amazon" Marathon
The Mike Sarimsacki Five Thousand Mile Foot Race*

*Due to historical precedence and regulations, the actual length of the race is 26.2 miles.

exelone31 wrote:B....Marathon....G

hahaha

Sounds like the marketing guy has everything under control. I get why the start and stop is downtown (city hall?), but I think Fair Park is all the way around more suitable.

Those less rigorous, just-for-fun events are now part of the Saturday lineup that precedes Sunday’s marathon, half-marathon and five-person marathon relay.

Hopefully the just-for-fun events will expand into many aspects of fitness and endurance, building interest, participation and prestige for the World Class Marathon.

tamtagon wrote:I get why the start and stop is downtown (city hall?), but I think Fair Park is all the way around more suitable.

I've done my share of distance races, including many races at both venues, Quite frankly, City Hall Plaza is one of the greatest race venues in the country. Fair Park doesn't even come close. There's an energy in downtown that Fair Park just doesn't have. Also, once you get out of the Fair Park gates most of the surrounding is rather uninviting, to say the least. Not a good way to show off the city.

Another problem with Fair Park is safety. The packs of wild dogs in the neighborhood aren't exactly runner friendly. Another issue is the local residents. Years ago an east Dallas triathlon tried moving it's bike course to heading southeast past Fair Park. That lasted one year. Multiple participants were injured when drivers ignored the cones, ran into cyclists and kept on going. I've never seen so many ambulances on a course, even at an Ironman.

Hopefully the just-for-fun events will expand into many aspects of fitness and endurance, building interest, participation and prestige for the World Class Marathon.

Dallas will never be considered a world class marathon simply because of topography. The number one feature of the Big Four (Berlin, London, Chicago and Tokyo) is that they are flat and fast. The Dallas course is way too hilly. Compare https://www.bmwdallasmarathon.com/marat ... se-Map.pdf to https://www.strava.com/running-races/20 ... o-marathon. Across the entire 26.2 miles the elevation difference between the highest and lowest point in Chicago is 8 meters. In Dallas you've got more than that in the first half mile.

Hannibal Lecter wrote:Dallas will never be considered a world class marathon simply because of topography. The number one feature of the Big Four (Berlin, London, Chicago and Tokyo) is that they are flat and fast. The Dallas course is way too hilly. Compare https://www.bmwdallasmarathon.com/marat ... se-Map.pdf to https://www.strava.com/running-races/20 ... o-marathon. Across the entire 26.2 miles the elevation difference between the highest and lowest point in Chicago is 8 meters. In Dallas you've got more than that in the first half mile.

Haha.. that's actually quite hilarious to think that Dallas is 'too hilly' for once. What you're saying is accurate, and a valid concern, but the last thing anyone thinks of when they think of Dallas is elevation.

^ I was thinking the same thing when I wrote it.