2016 is the second year of the Rock 'n' Roll Dallas 5k. I ran the race last year, and did it again this year as part of the Remix Challenge (run 5k Saturday and the half marathon Sunday, get extra bling). This year's course was basically the same as last year's, only they reversed the directions.

If you're local to Dallas, or grew up going to events in Fair Park, you're probably not going to like this race; it's not going to show you anything new or different. Unlike the half marathon distance, there are no live bands out on the course (though there is a live band at the party afterwards). Most of my friends who ran this race were not local, and were there as part of the Remix Challenge. That said, I did see a lot of parents out there running with their kids, many of whom did seem to live in the area.

Access to Fair Park is easy and there is plenty of parking. This year I opted to take DART light rail since it was about a block away from my hotel. (An all-day pass costs $5.) I did hear some people complaining about finding parking, but these were family/friends who came to pick up runners at the end of the race. This year there were several other large events going on in Fair Park that started around the time the race ended, so that may have contributed to the griping.

The course itself is quite flat, and half nifty and half meh. This year the nifty part--the grand WPA-era pavilions and buildings, reflecting pool, carvings and murals--was first. The "meh" part is an out-and-back along the seasonal rail line that runs through the big parking lot on the back side of Fair Park. I'm not local, so I could be wrong, but I don't know that there are any viable alternatives to this course, beyond turning it into a two-loop course. It seems like there just isn't enough real estate to make 3.1 miles happen (evidenced by the "everybody gets a PR!" phenomenon caused by a course that everyone I talked to said measured quite short--2.7 or 2.8 miles vs. 3.1). I like the Fair Park location though, due to easy access via DART or car, plenty of parking, and convenient for those who planned their hotels around the half marathon location.

The aid stations had water (maybe Gatorade? I'm writing this a month later, and I don't think I took anything but water, personally). At the finish line there were bananas, water, Gatorade, chips, and other snacks. The finish line also had a beer tent for those over 21 with the Rock 'n' Roll sponsor beer, which I think is Michelob Ultra again. (I don't drink beer.) There was a concert, of course, with plenty of room to dance (and lots of the kids who ran their first 5k were dancing like little rock stars).

Packet pickup was at the expo, one of the smaller Rock 'n' Roll expos. This year it was harder to find, as the Dallas auto show took over most of the convention center, and there wasn't any good signage telling people where to go until they were already inside the right building. Like the race itself, the convention center is accessible by DART. I waited in line for maybe 5 minutes to get my bib, and then picked up my shirt. This year's shirts--for almost all of the Rock 'n' Roll races so far--are nicer fabric. They are still tech shirts, of course, and you had the option to choose a men's cut or women's cut. (Some larger-busted women prefer the men's cut as it fits better. I recommend all women go up a size in women's cut, as they run small.) The medals are hefty and well-designed, on wide, decorated, satin ribbons.

A word of caution: This year's weather was cold. There was a sudden drop in the temperature between Wednesday-Thursday (when I packed) and Saturday-Sunday (when I ran). I actually stopped at the 7-Eleven at the DART station on the way to the race and bought a 10-pack of black garbage bags (which I shared with other runners), and wore my trash bag for most of the course so the breeze didn't freeze me. (Yes, I am a delicate little flower that way.) My advice is to pack for weather that is both hotter and colder than predicted, or plan an emergency trip to Target (also right off the DART line).

Final thoughts: this is not a "destination 5k." While it is a fun event, and I enjoyed meeting other runners and using it as a pre-half marathon shakeout run, I would not have made the trip JUST for the 5k. If you're local and want a party-like 5k, and don't mind the course, this is a good choice.