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Marathon and Half Marathon Course Information

Overview

The marathon and half marathon are single-loop courses that begin and end at the American Airlines Center. Race time will be called out or a clock will be located at each mile marker. There will be 21 aid stations along the course.

Course Time Limit: 7.5 Hours

What does a 7.5-hour marathon course limit mean? The marathon course is open and closed on a “rolling” schedule similar to a parade, with the start line opening to runners at 8:00 a.m. and finish line closing to runners at 3:30 p.m. If participants choose to continue running after 3:30 p.m., they do so at their own risk and will be required by the Dallas Police Department to move to available sidewalks and obey traffic signals along the course. No times will be recorded after 3:30 p.m.

Commencing shortly after the race begins, race equipment trucks, accompanied by the Dallas Police Department, depart from the start line and travel the marathon course at 17-minute per-mile pace, picking up course equipment as they proceed. As the trucks pass over the course, the police close the course to runners and reopen it to ordinary traffic. Under no circumstances may participants be on the marathon course before the official start time. Starting before the official start will result in disqualification.

Finisher medallions and completion certificates will be awarded only to those who finish within the official time span. Medical Aid closes at 3:30 p.m. in the American Airlines Center lobby. If problems are experienced after this time, please contact your personal physician or proceed to the nearest emergency room.

Special Rules of the Course

In accordance with the guidelines issued by USA Track & Field and Wheelchair Sports USA, only runners and wheelchairs will be allowed on the course. The term “wheelchair,” as defined for this event, means push-rim wheelchairs only. In addition, guidelines for wheelchair participants state that all chairs must be equipped with brakes and wheelchair competitors must wear helmets.

The following are prohibited on the course: runners going backwards, jump ropes, animals, bicycles, baby strollers, baby joggers, roller skates, in-line skates, skateboards and headset devices. No wheeled vehicles are allowed other than wheelchairs. No exceptions. Please do not use cell phones during the race, as these can be hazardous.

In areas, only the side of the road runners are on will be closed to vehicular traffic. As such, it is imperative that you stay within the cones marking the course. Any deviations from the marked race course can result in a disqualification!

It is our intent to provide the safest possible race course. Those who participate in violation of these rules will be disqualified and removed from the course.

Foot runners and authorized vehicles have the right-of-way at all times. Wheelchair participants must yield the right-of-way to foot runners and to course vehicles.

Any assistance received from anyone other than an official aid station volunteer or other course official may result in a disqualification.

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