The streets of Dallas are about to get a whole lot busier as the venerable BMW Dallas Marathon gears up to celebrate its 52nd year. This weekend, athletes and fitness enthusiasts swarm to downtown Dallas for a series of runs, starting with the Friday Night Lights Mile at 7 p.m. at the Dallas City Hall Plaza. The event, which commences on December 8, will have participants charging around the plaza in a Grand Prix-style race, open to both the fleet of foot and the more leisurely-paced crowd, according to CBS News.
Starting Wednesday, the setup begins, and parts of Akard, Ervay, Field, Marilla, and Young streets will be off-limits, with several closures stretching until the following Monday at the crack of dawn. As the city prepares to cheer on thousands of marathon participants, road closures will continue on Saturday at 8:30 a.m., coinciding with the 10K, 5K, and other running events, reopening once the last runner waves goodbye between 10 and 11 a.m., per The Dallas Morning News.
Come Sunday, adoring—or begrudging—spectators will find major thoroughfares like the Woodall Rogers Freeway access road and the North Stemmons Freeway access road in lockdown from the wee hours of the morning till the afternoon, while runners pound the pavement. Veterans of the city's largest single-day sporting event will recognize the charitable element, with Run Dallas noting proceeds going to the event's long-time beneficiary, Scottish Rite for Children, which has raked in over $4 million since 1997. Those hoping to catch the action from the curb or comfort of their vehicle are advised to consult the city's list of road closures for sanity's sake.
And while the Sunday races are packed tighter than the proverbial tin of sardines, there's a glimmer of hope for procrastinators and Saturday enthusiasts. Spots for Friday and Saturday's sieges are still up for grabs, with a promise of fun for all ages, from the wee 100-meter dash for kiddos to the gritty 50K ultra marathon. And when your legs just can't anymore, the Health & Fitness Expo will be taking over the Kay Bailey Hutcheson Convention Center to offer some respite and, who knows, maybe a free stress ball or two, as per CBS News.
For spectators and cheer squads, parking downtown ain't no walk in the park during a marathon weekend. If you're planning to go mobile, gear up for hooded meters and no-parking zones aplenty. For a smoother experience, ditch the four wheels for the DART, which will get you close to the start and finish lines without the hassle of playing hide-and-seek with a parking spot. And remember, as the city braces for the flood of athleticism, whether you're lacing up your sneakers or just trying to navigate through the labyrinth of closed roads, patience is more than just a virtue—it's a necessity.
