Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon

Kudos to the Competitor Group for another well-​organized event. As a Tour Pass Unlimited member, I decided 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.

Well organized. Not too crowded and a scenic course. The volunteers were awesome as well. Typical rock and roll race and I mean that in a good way. They have the recipe down pat so there are no surprises for the participants. I couldn’t ask for more. See you next year.

For 13.1 miles, the Dallas Rock n Roll Half Marathon offers its runners splendid views of several unique Dallas neighborhoods /​landmarks: downtown, Reunion Tower, West End, JFK Memorial, Deep Ellum, Continental Ave Bridge, uptown, Turtle Creek, Victory Park. The course overall is pretty flat as well.
The run was pretty well organized. Packet pickup was extremely streamlined. I registered for the race during packet pickup and it took me about 15 minutes to go in and come out with a registration. You’re given a shirt, your bib, and a drawstring bag with your safety pins. The race also had a 2-​person relay option, so if you don’t want to run the full 13.1 miles, you can split it with a family member or friend, which is a great option for runners just starting out with long distance races.
The finish line had a plethora of free food options to reboot: protein bars, water, Gatorade, bananas, and beer (Yes, this was free too! After you give them your one beer voucher).
My only gripe for not giving 4 stars boils down to two things:
1. Controlling — I didn’t really like how controlling the release of runners was. Runners are sectioned into corrals, and each corral was released to start the race ~1 minute after the previous corral. When it was all said and done, my corral hadn’t crossed the start line until ~20 minutes after the official start time. I’ve participated in other races where runners operate on a trust system and will start in the projected time bracket that they fit in, which I think works just as well.
2. Different start and finish points — The start line is downtown, and the finish line is in Victory Park. This is sort of inconvenient for people who initially parked near the start line, so I’d recommend (1) having family and friends to move your car to the finish, (2) taking the DART, or (3) taking a ride-​sharing service (über, lyft).
Overall, really enjoyed the run but I might not register next year unless friends ask me to run with them again due to my own personal preferences for how the run was controlled and logistics of start and finish lines.

Very well organized and the timed release of each coral was perfect. It is great to run right out of the gate.
Great music, plenty of restrooms and tons if water stops. The coarse has a few slight hills and a beautiful run over the Signature Bridge.
The vendors did a great job at the end handing out the water, gatorade, bananas, Power Bars while keeping the masses moving.
Will run this again.

Awesome race. Great course, water and aid stations as well. The spectators and course volunteers made the race so much fun. I’m looking forward to next year!

This half-​marathon was quite enjoyable. I loved the route and the scenery. The course felt fairly flat, but there are a few hills with small inclines. The bands, cheerleaders, spectators, and volunteers were awesome! Getting to and from the event was super easy with DART. Also, apparently you can wear hydration packs. The expo was not the greatest compared to the Cowtown expo I went to last year. The race itself was just perfect though. I can’t wait to run it again next year!

My first half and Rock n Roll’s 5^th Dallas run.
Personally, it was bad ass to be able to set a goal for myself and see it through. I’ve never considered myself a runner. In HS I’d always try to cheat the run and do less than I had to. Since then, I toyed with the idea of training for a half, and it all escalated quickly from there. Well, after several years of dragging my feet, it happened quickly!
I thought the race was pretty well organized. The staggered start corrals were set at a good pace, I never felt crowded. I was on the look out for gatorade, but I didn’t see any along the course. I kept an eye out for porta potties along the race and there was ALWAYS a line. Sometimes there was only 1 and it seems like it would be helpful to have at least 2 or 3. You never know the impact running will have on you. I saw 1 runner headed into the pet supply store off Mockingbird!
I enjoyed the route of the race. The signs, the cheers and random people supporting along the way were super awesome.
There was plenty of goodies at the end of the race: water, gatorade, bagels, bananas, etc. The best was the little Jimmie Johns sub I was handed. At that moment, it was the most delicious sandwich EVER. The hunger that 13.1 will give you is unreal!
If I ever go crazy again, I’d definitely think about running the RnR!

This was my 5^th year running this race. The series has races all over the world and this is one stop 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!

Well organized, lots of water stations, fairly easy route, the last 4 – 5 miles are basically downhill, lots of food & drinks at the finish line.
2013 — conditions were high winds and temps in the 40’s

Water stations few and far between.
Bands few and far between.
These guys are all about the $$$. Your $$$.
Dallas marathon was much better. Cowtown too.
Avoid.

I don’t know… I’m kind of disappointed about packet pick up. The staffers were a little on the rude side. I also asked about swapping my shirt for a small and was told that I couldn’t until race day. On race day no one knew what I was talking about. :(
The course was cool. I wish there were more water stops between miles 1 – 8 and more restroom ports at the start lines. Loved the bands and music, loved the snacks — lots of snack for us all. Love the buses that brought us over — there were plenty with no wait, and they were still lined up at 7:30 bringing people over. Love the relay option. Good race.

Rock ‘n’ Roll rocks indeed! Out of the major races in Dallas, it’s the best organized. Based on the projected finish times entered during registration, the 10,000+ participants are split into 10+ starting corrals, allowing everyone to hold their pace and PR. I love starting in the heart of downtown. The finish point is different (Fair Park), but the abundance of transportation options — shuttles, parking, proximity to DART stations — ensures a smooth commute. The school bus gear check system is also very professionally run. Fair Park, with its ample space, allows for a huge reunion area with family & friends ordered from A to Z.
The mile markers along the route are large & clearly visible (not always the case at other races). The times are posted instantaneously as runners cross the various sensors. Spectators can also receive updates via text, and runners could elect to have automated photo updates on Facebook.
My only complaint this year is the heat & sun, but that’s the weather god’s fault. In response to such electrolyte-​imbalance-​inducing conditions, they handed out salt packets. I just wish there were more water stops to complement that.
A few more tips:
1) Go to the Expo Friday not Saturday: less crowd = less stress = you can get more out of it
2) Drive to a DART station and park & ride: you can probably get 30min more sleep this way because you won’t need to beat the traffic/​parking rush.
3) Enjoy all the bands & cheers along the way! Maybe even synch your stride rate to their beats.

I didn’t run this race, but I did attend as a spectator. Here are some spectator lessons I learned today:
1. DART Rail — The race suggests using the DART rail to watch your runner during the course. Understand that most people do not know how to use the rail. I suggest getting a pass in advance because the line from the Convention Center Station to use the pass machine can get really long with this event. These trains are super slow and don’t come by very often so you don’t want to miss the train when it stops.
2. Know your runner’s pace and estimate when they will be at a certain marker and when they will get to the finish line. I met up with my runner at mile 7 ten minutes before she arrived, however because of the slow DART train, I missed her at the finish line.
3. The morning traffic to the Fair Park finish line is super crowded in the morning before the race, so plan ahead and get there early to get parked.
4. When you get to the last DART stop before the Finish Line, don’t assume the crowd knows where it’s going. I followed the crowd and we all hit a dead end and had to turn around. This didn’t help the fact that my runner was already at the finish line. The race should setup volunteers or signs to help guide spectators.
5. I didn’t learn this until after, but there is a way to setup text messaging on the race website to get alerts as your runner hits each mile marker. At least I know for next time.
6. If you plan to find your person during the race, plan ahead and agree to a specific spot. We did and it worked great!
I don’t know if I should ding the DART rail for being too slow and inefficient or the Race for suggesting I use it. I’m still bummed I missed the crossing off the finish line.

Wow Valerie and Arnel, great reviews!
This was my first half and I had no idea what to expect.
I loved the snacks at the start — the water and a banana really hit the spot as I had only had some peanuts and a snack bar at the hotel at like 4:30am and by race time I needed a little something.
The restrooms were clean and the lines moved fast before the race.
Love the Dallas Cheerleaders!
I totally could have registered like 4 corrals ahead of what I registered as — I moved up at the check in the day before. So keep in mind that your run time will hopefully improve as you train.
The police shut down the exit closest to our hotel 15 minutes before it was meant to be shut down. Furious. We had to pull over and use our iphones to figure out where to go.
Starting and ending a two different places was a pain, but we made it work.
I adored running on streets that I remembered from childhood through adulthood — so cool.
Lots of cheer squads and people with posters, lots of volunteers handing out water.
Sweet Tomatoes was at the end with a ton of pastries.
I can’t wait for my next half in SATX — Rock and Roll — Nov. 2010!

Very fun race. There is music at every mile for crying out loud! There was about 10,000 people. Insane! It was so neat to see the wave of people running. I was part of a team that was being filmed so we where at the end of the crowd, it took about 20 – 30 min to get to the start line. Event was very well organized. Lots of yummy goodies at the end of the race for the runners. mmmm! They had a full concert and lots of vendors at the finish line. Wish I could have stayed to check it all out and chill. I had to catch a flight back to LA with the family. What was neat and also frustrating was that the starting point and ending point where different. So I had to be shuttled back to the hotel. I didn’t know that and I was lost for a bit and in panic mode cause I had a flight to catch. Anyway, lots of fun and energy. Would definitely do again. Will try to do LA Rock n Roll Perhaps. ;)
Oh yeah. I got to check out the VIP area before the race started because I thought I was gonna have a biker film me the entire race but that didn’t happen. I wasn’t in the «demographic» that the director was looking for. LOL! But the VIP lounge WOW. Talk about fancy! LOL! I event got a big nice beautiful porto potty to pee in with NO LINES! HAHAHA! There was a nice sitting area and pre race food for the VIP to eat. I wasn’t in there for long. I really felt out of my element. I guess all the elite runners hang out there. It was nice feeling important for those few seconds I was in the VIP potty! LOL!

The inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon was on Sunday, March 14^th. The benefit of having the Rock ‘n’ Roll moniker is that you know that the race is going to be well organized. From very frequent email updates to an informative and intuitive website, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon exemplified how a race is supposed to be organized.
The race is solely a half marathon/​pikermi, which is 13.1 miles. You can either register to run the whole thing or run it relay style. It was a flat and fast course.
Here are some of the highlights of my experience:
— Since I was an early registrant, I received a cool brown cotton tee. The participant technical tee had a great design, and the finisher’s medal had Dallas’ iconic 5-​point star – it’s one of my cooler looking medals.
— The race is a point-​to-​point race. That means that you don’t start and finish at the same location. To be honest, this is the sole reason why I didn’t give this race 5 stars. Finding additional transportation apart from just actually getting to the race is something I don’t want to have to think about. With so many other things to think about, it’s just added stress.
— The weather through out the race was perfect running weather. It was super cold in the morning (be prepared to shed those layers), but the sun came out and warmed it up a bit. Yet, there was still a cool breeze by the time my friends and I finished the race in 2.5 hours.
— The runners are released in waves (and there are pacers if you want). I couldn’t tell you who gave a speech that morning or who sang the national anthem because there was just so much runner buzz at the starting line. I can tell you, though, that there were Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders on elevated platforms on either side of the starting line… for a split second, I was about to tell my friends to run the race, and I’d stay at the starting line!
— There were about 12 bands sprinkled throughout the course, and there was a concert at the end of the day with the Gin Blossoms. I didn’t go to the end concert, but I liked the bands on the course. They kept the mood light, the runners motivated, and one band played Survivor’s «Eye of the Tiger» as I passed (if you don’t hear that song or Journey’s «Don’t Stop Believing» during a long race, someone’s doing something wrong).
— Along with water at the aid stations, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas used cytomax as the drink and Gu Energy Gels as the gels. The cytomax was fine, but I’m not really a big fan of the Gu brand gels. The flavors just don’t match the real thing. My blueberry gel tasted like something sweet, but it sure didn’t taste like blueberries.
— The race finished at the Cotton Bowl, which was cool because there’s great parking for friends, family, and spectators. Plus, the finish-​line festivities included tons of food, drinks, and booths (sadly, I did not take advantage of the post-​race massages). Picking up my drop-​off bag was quick and easy (yellow school buses had transported the bags from the starting line to the finish).
— The pictures of the participants were posted relatively soon after the race. I usually don’t buy my pictures, but I love looking at them. What was really cool and the first time for me was that my pictures included purchasable video of me crossing the finish line. Plus, you can buy the video of you crossing the finish line from 2 different angles – from in front of the finish line and from behind the finish line. It was really cool seeing how excited I looked to sprint across the finish (and how dead my friend looked when he crossed the finish haha).
— What really makes for a great marathon/​half marathon experience is the spectators and volunteers. Dallas did an awesome job on both counts. There were spectators at every single point of the course. And there were TONS of volunteers everywhere. I want to express my gratitude to all the non-​runners who were out there that day supporting us.
All in all, it was a great race. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to do a half marathon.