Dallas White Rock: Good, Bad, Ugly?

Try this: whiterock-marathon.comwhiterock-marathon.comOpen ↗

Ran the 2001 race. 35 degrees, sunny, light wind(perfect). Can be a little cramped the first couple
of miles. Keeps you from getting in too big a hurry at the start. You quickly get to run by a
sidewalk restaurant/tavern district, whose patrons show up early to cheer you on. You get to see
them again on the way back in (a bit rowdier by then). First seven miles are ever so slightly
uphill-watch it). The next 9 or so miles around White Rock lake are essentially flat with the
occasional roll to keep it interesting. There are relay points as you enter the lake area. Don't let
the relay runners pace you. Good view of Dallas skyline as you round the southern end of the lake.
The spillway at about mile 18 is an awesome sight if water is going over it. Between 19 and 21 are
the infamous Dolly Parton hills. I didn't find them quite as intimidating as they are touted. From
21 on it's flat to downhill to the finish. You run through, and past the start line coming in. don't
mistake it for the finish line. An early kick will make the final 400 or so yards an eternity.
Although I recorded my best marathon time there, it's not really a PR course. All the support
stations compete for runner popularity votes. No telling what you might see at these stops. Overall,
good atmosphere and support. Needed more port-a-johns at the start though. December weather can be a
wildcard in Dallas. A windy cold day could be miserable around the lake for the unprepared. Some
nearby hotels may not be real supportive of late checkouts (ours wasn't-best check). Like to go back
sometime. Have fun.

fond_blonde said:

Would appreciate any info anybody has on Dallas White Rock (course, weather, etc.). Thanks in
advance.

--
The generation of random numbers is too vital a task to be left to chance.

fond_blonde said:

Would appreciate any info anybody has on Dallas White Rock (course, weather, etc.). Thanks in
advance.

Did you start with the home page? whiterock-marathon.comnew marathon.htmOpen ↗

whiterock-marathon.comrockmap.htmlOpen ↗ shows elevation and a detailed street map.

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Doug Freese [email hidden]

good marathon but not best / if u are looking for a good marathon stay away from kowtow , try austin
/ san antonio / i heard amarillo ant bad. me?? i will be at the white rock and kowtow , Are you
looking to do ha half marathon??? my sis , Vicki , me and two others are planing to try all three!!
plodzilla resistance is unnecessary , you will not be assimilated

fond_blonde said:

Would appreciate any info anybody has on Dallas White Rock (course, weather, etc.). Thanks in
advance.

Quoted message said:

good marathon but not best / if u are looking for a good marathon stay away from kowtow , try
austin / san antonio / i heard amarillo ant bad. me?? i will be at the white rock and kowtow ,
Are you looking to do ha half marathon??? my sis , Vicki , me and two others are planing to try
all three!!

Cowtown might be better this year with the new course; the jury is out. Maybe they'll celebrate the
new route with chip timing or some such thing.

I looked at the map for San Antonio and thought I wouldn't want to run it -- lots of out-and-backs
on a loop course. Don't know about the organization.

Austin's supposed to be real good. I'm shooting for it this year.

To answer the OP's question ... dunno myself, but a number of my friends have run White Rock with no
complaints.

--
Brian P. Baresch Fort Worth, Texas, USA Professional editing and proofreading

If you're going through hell, keep going. --Winston Churchill

yes ran the ROCK twice - not bad - dolly hills are a bust - but beer there is not bad - think i will
try for houston - resistance is unnecessary u will not b assimilated plodzilla cowboyup!!

Brian Baresch said:

Quoted message said:

good marathon but not best / if u are looking for a good marathon stay away from kowtow , try
austin / san antonio / i heard amarillo ant bad. me?? i will be at the white rock and kowtow ,
Are you looking to do ha half marathon??? my sis , Vicki , me and two others are planing to try
all three!!

Cowtown might be better this year with the new course; the jury is out. Maybe they'll celebrate
the new route with chip timing or some such thing.

I looked at the map for San Antonio and thought I wouldn't want to run it -- lots of out-and-backs
on a loop course. Don't know about the organization.

Austin's supposed to be real good. I'm shooting for it this year.

To answer the OP's question ... dunno myself, but a number of my friends have run White Rock with
no complaints.

--
Brian P. Baresch Fort Worth, Texas, USA Professional editing and proofreading

If you're going through hell, keep going. --Winston Churchill