Marathon Weekend Begins with Health & Fitness Expo
The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas was filled with runners who started their BMW Dallas Marathon Weekend with a trip to the Health and Fitness Expo. More than 30,000 runners are expected to hit the streets for the event.
Volunteers and Packets
Volunteer and marathon runner Lolita Johnson greeted the runners with a friendly packet hand‑off. \”Here\’s your packet,\” Johnson said as she handed a big packet to a runner. \”Ooooh, you\’re going to be running fast!\” The energy in the air was palpable as participants prepared for the challenge ahead.
Maria Mills: A First Marathon
Maria Mills is running her first full marathon this weekend. She has been training since July and expressed her excitement: \”I have been training since July. I feel like the whole weekend, it\’s finally here. I\’m so excited to be running it, and like, just see the hard work pay off, and see what my body can do,\” Mills said. She added, \”I have so much respect for runners who do these marathons over and over, but this will be my first and last one!\”
For Mills, the marathon is both a physical and emotional test. She said she has struggled with her mental health, and running was the right prescription. \”I tried doing all kinds of yoga, meditation, and running was the first time I felt free,\” Mills said. \”So i just started running more and more, and the more I ran, the more the phrase \’I get to\’ has been on my heart.\”
Mills also shared that she runs for her mother, daughter, and those who are no longer here to run. \”So I run it for them, and for anybody else who has suicidal thoughts or has attempted suicide,\” Mills said teary‑eyed. \”I do it cause I \’get to.\”
Lolita Johnson\’s Marathon Legacy
Johnson\’s first marathon was 20 years ago. She volunteers on race weekend every year. \”I do it every year cause it\’s just the energy, but I\’m also running. I\’m running the full. This is my 20th anniversary,\” Johnson said. \”It\’s exhilarating to be honest with you! I\’m 61 years old, and I love to just keep moving. I want to move till I don\’t move anymore!\”
Her enthusiasm fuels the community spirit of the event.
Friday Night Lights Mile
BMW Dallas Marathon weekend activities kick off Friday night with the inaugural Friday Night Lights Mile, a Grand Prix‑style race around Dallas City Hall Plaza. Spectators can view the races via a map provided. Expect road closures on the courses.
Key Takeaways
- More than 30,000 runners are expected to participate in the BMW Dallas Marathon.
- Maria Mills is running her first full marathon and shares a personal mental‑health journey.
- The event begins with the Friday Night Lights Mile, a Grand Prix‑style race around Dallas City Hall Plaza.
The weekend promises excitement, community, and personal stories that highlight the resilience and passion of Dallas runners.
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