On your mark for fab fall races and runs this September in Dallas-Fort Worth

Ready, Get Set

The Katy Trail/Facebook

A surefire way to know that summer in Texas is winding down? The 5Ks return. Now that it's not nearly as scorching as, say, July, you can take your workout outdoors — at least some of the time.

Here are but a few of the big races set for September:

Katy 5K, September 7
Run and have fun on a unique course that takes you through some of the most beautiful parts of Dallas, including Turtle Creek, Uptown, and Katy Trail. Post-race, celebrate at the Picnic Party with DJ Poizon Ivy, free Michelob Ultra (for those 21 and over), free food from more than 30 local eateries, sponsor swag, and selfie stations.

9/11 Heroes Run, September 16
Be a part of this race, which happens all over the country and is organized by the Travis Manion Foundation, to honor veterans, first responders, civilians, and military who jumped into action on 9/11. The Dallas race takes place in Arlington

Guts & Glory Zombie Experience, September 16
Zombies are taking over Rorie-Galloway Day Camp in Mesquite — do you have what it takes to escape and survive? Humans (runners) will run through the woods and compete in team-building challenges to test strength, speed, problem-solving, and teamwork. Collect survival essentials along the way to ensure your team's safe passage to the finish. If you choose to be a Zombie, come dressed in your appropriately gory best and try to grab the runner's flags as they zoom by.

Fort Worth Oktoberfest Run und Ride, September 21-23
Within this three-day celebration of German culture, you'll not only find competitions like stein-hoisting and bier barrel-rolling but also 5K and 10K runs along the Trinity Trail and 20-mile urban bike ride. All race and run participants receive a free three-day pass to the fest, and dressing in lederhosen is recommended!

The Garland Guzzler, September 23
The "physically demanding" and "mentally strenuous" race known as the Garland Guzzler 0.5K is coming back for its sixth year. Race to the Granville Arts Center parking lot from 6-10 pm and cheer on the “athletes” as they run the 0.5K route (546 yards or 1,638 feet, to be exact), enjoy the after-race Oktoberfest festivities, food, beverages from Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery, live music from The Dogensteins, and much more.

Oaktoberfest, September 24
Oak Cliff's take on the traditional German celebration includes a 1.128-mile fun run around Tyler Station, with beer samples for each lap completed. Stay for more beer, brats, and live polka music.

Rock of Ages Run, September 30
Get ready to rock your way through a 5K, 10K, or half marathon in Forth Worth, where rock music will be blaring throughout the course and everyone can enjoy the race's famous pancakes at the post party.

Zyn22/Facebook

Where to cycle like a pro — both indoors and out — around Dallas-Fort Worth

Find Your Next Ride

Though the Peloton craze has (somewhat) died down, cycling is still high on most people's fitness lists.

Whether you prefer to sweat indoors alone or with a roomful of strangers, or outdoors with nature as your riding buddy, hopping on a bicycle is one of the most versatile ways to work out.

Indoors
We get it: It's still really hot. Pedal in that air conditioning for as long as you want by joining one of the classes at Terlingo Cycle, just east of the Dallas North Tollway and north of I-35. The 45-minute experience is rhythm-based and incorporates weights and core exercises, with instructors who are trained to be inspirational and encouraging about both your body and mind.

Drop into SoulCycle at either its Preston Hollow or Uptown studios for a party on a bike. With high-intensity interval cardio and focused toning, the flow is designed to raise your heart and metabolic rates.

There's a Cycle Bar class for every vibe, with each instructor bringing their own playlists and themed rides across Dallas, Fort Worth, Southlake, and Denton. Here, you'll find high-performance custom bikes, amphitheater seating, enhanced lighting, concert-quality sound, and two massive high-def flatscreen TVs. Every bike comes with built-in CycleStats technology, so you can track calories burned, RPMs, watts, and class rank.

Plano's Neon Cycle + Strength offers more than just bikes, with HIIT, sculpt mat pilates, and yoga, but perhaps the best amenity is the childcare that's available while you're riding to the beat. A smoothie bar to refuel after is just an added bonus.

Co-founded by Sabrina Roy and Marisa Wayne — daughter of film icon John Wayne — Coast Cycle touts the benefits of exercise as therapy. "Turn doubt into drive" is one of its missions, and inclusivity is a high priority for this studio on Henderson Avenue.

ZYN22's motivational classes strike the perfect balance of speed, resistance, and choreography to keep you engaged and challenged. The Fort Worth studio is a ClassPass favorite, and devotees call themselves the trYbe.

Up your cycling game by heading to one of the 10 DFW locations of Spenga, where each class is divided into 20 minutes of spin, 20 minutes of strength training, and 20 minutes of yoga. The classrooms each have space dedicated specifically to each element of the workout, plus invigorating aromatherapy and energizing DJ-inspired beats.

Outdoors
Gotta feel that wind in your hair? We got you. Here are just a few bike-friendly trails to check out:

Allen Station Park (Allen)
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve (Plano)
Bonnie Wenk Park (McKinney)
Bachman Lake Loop Trail (Dallas)
Chisholm Trail Greenbelt (Plano)
Cottonwood Creek Greenbelt Trail (Frisco)
Gateway Park (Fort Worth)
Katy Trail (Dallas)
Northaven Trail (Dallas)
Trinity Trails (Fort Worth
White Rock Lake Loop (Dallas)

Scope out these trails in advance and get helpful tips by visiting the sites for Dallas Parks & Recreation and Fort Worth Parks & Recreation.

The Village/Facebook

From pools to parks, your summer guide to water fun in Dallas-Fort Worth

Splash Attack

How are we all getting through this scorching Texas summer? Water. Lots and lots of water. Not only chugging it, but swimming, plunging, and luxuriating in it all season long.

It's an added bonus that exercising in the water is easier on your joints, so take this opportunity to burn a few calories while being kind to your body — and keeping it cool.

Surf
Goodsurf doesn't open in Deep Ellum until next year, but you can still raise your adrenaline in the water all across DFW.

Start with amusement park standbys NRH20 in North Richland Hills and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor for big-time thrills, or combine your pool time with a staycation at Great Wolf Lodge.

Catch a wave at Hawaiian Falls in The Colony and Garland or hop onto the Flowrider at Epic Waters to boogie board or surf.

Dallas-area teens can score free passes to Bahama Beach Waterpark (and other fun spots around town) this summer with the Teen All Access Pass program. For Dallas residents 13 to 17 years old, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department made 10,000 passes available on a first-come, first-serve basis, beginning July 3.

Several neighborhoods also sport tricked-out community pools, from Jack Carter in Plano to Water Works Park in Denton, WetZone Waterpark in Rowlett, and The Center in Bedford (also known as Bedford Splash).

And don't overlook The Village, which hosts water aerobics classes in the morning and the Deep End Pool series every Saturday and Monday and includes DJs and other live entertainment.

Swim
Hoping to work on your backstroke or get in a few laps before or after work? Sign up with a gym that offers pools for serious swimmers and take advantage of instructor-led classes to brush up on your swim skills.

Equinox, LifeTime Fitness, and LA Fitness all include water access at certain locations throughout DFW.

Dallas staple Cooper Fitness Center offers several different levels of swim coaching, from infants to adults, and covers everything from basic summer camp testing to triathlons and open-water swimming.

If swimming to you means lounging by the pool, look into ResortPass, a way to book a day (or weekend) access to pools, spas, and amenities at the area's swankiest hotels.

Spa
Maybe your mind needs the exercise more than your body, and in that case consider saunas, cold-plunge pools, and float tanks.

Take it to the extreme at Haven in Dallas, SweatHouz (with four locations across Dallas), or Fort Worth Float Company, which claims to boost immune systems and reduce swelling and inflammation with a cold exposure plunge you can book in advance.

You can also float in a tank filled with epsom salt there, as well as at Riviera Spa in Knox-Henderson and The Float Spot in Frisco.

Dive
Whether you've been inspired by The Little Mermaid or just can't be contained in a man-made swimming situation, now might be the perfect time to try scuba diving.

There are several places around DFW that will get you on the path to open-water certification, including Dive West, Lone Star Scuba, Scuba Bruce Diving, and International Scuba.

Photo courtesy of Omni PGA Frisco Resort

Score a hole in one at these 10 top public golf courses in Dallas-Fort Worth

Tee Time

North Texas recently popped the cork for the new $520 million Omni PGA Frisco Resort, which opened in May and features its own entertainment district, full-service spa and salon, four swimming pools, 500 guest rooms and suites, 10 private ranch houses, and 13 unique dining options.

But as the name hints, the resort is very much about the golf. With Father's Day around the corner, we're revisiting Dallas-Fort Worth's best public courses, including the two newest ones found in Frisco and their alternative ways to play.

Load up the clubs and hit the green with this list:

Fields Ranch
Frisco
Omni PGA Frisco Resort boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses, collectively known as Fields Ranch. Fields Ranch East was designed by Gil Hanse, and Fields Ranch West by Beau Welling.

Registered hotel guests can book tee times 120 days in advance of their stay to play Fields Ranch, which will be home to 26 major championships starting in May and continuing through 2034.

Not ready for the full 18-hole experience? Take a few practice swings at the Fields Ranch Practice Facility, then head to The Swing, a lighted 10-hole, par-3 short course, or The Dance Floor, a two-acre putting course and entertainment area.

This will also be the site of Frisco's first Lounge by Topgolf and PGA of America's new headquarters.

Take advantage of all that expertise at the PGA Coaching Center, which offers a high-tech, data-driven club-fitting and instruction experience.

Cowboys Golf Club
Grapevine
If you're a die-hard fan of both the 'Boys and the links, here's where your passions combine. The par-72, 6,553-yard course is as swanky as you'd expect from Jerry Jones, with years of Cowboys history scattered throughout. Of course, with all this top-of-the-line design comes a rather hefty price tag for the green fees, but you do definitely get your money's worth.

Meadowbrook Golf Course
Fort Worth
The 18-hole regulation facility is considered one of the top in Texas, with a par 71 that covers the most rolling terrain in the city. It's also a popular course, with a golf association of more than 200 members who play regularly.

Stevens Park Golf Course
Oak Cliff
All 18 holes of this par-70 course were completely redesigned in 2011, including new tee boxes, fairways, greens, and bunkers. Even the carts boast newly installed TekGPS units that track yardages to the front, middle, and back of the green (and help keep play moving). Appreciate mature oaks, dramatic elevation changes, and great views of downtown Dallas while you traverse the course, which is also affectionately known as "Little Augusta."

Pecan Valley
Fort Worth
Originally designed by golf course architect Ralph Plummer in 1963, Pecan Valley is actually two 18-hole golf courses separated by the Clear Fork of the Trinity River. The "River" course is considered one of the top municipal courses in Texas, while the "Hills" course is approximately 150 yards shorter. Several hundred trees were semi-recently planted and are just beginning to mature, which only bodes well for playing conditions in the years to come.

Texas Star Golf Course
Euless
The accolades come rolling in for this course, which has been recognized for its beauty and serene atmosphere by Golf Digest and Golf Weekly, among others. Unlike most public courses, which back up to private homes or run along busy streets, this par-71, 6,529-yard course is truly secluded, surrounded only by ponds, waterfalls, woodlands, and fairways. Reasonable green fees are a bonus, with residents of Euless receiving a 15 percent discount with proof of residence.

Tierra Verde Golf Club
Arlington
As the first municipal course in the world to be certified as an Audubon Signature Sanctuary, Tierra Verde offers breathtaking natural scenery to go along with its challenging holes. The par-72 6,085-yard layout boasts some of the most uniquely designed holes in DFW, and was named the top course in DFW in 2012 by Avid Golfer.

The Tribute Golf Club
The Colony
Not had the chance to play Hogan's Alley at Carnoustie, Nos. 1 and 18 from St. Andrews, or the fifth from Royal Troon? Then you can experience the next best thing here in Texas, without having to fly across the pond. This par-72, 7,000-yard course is brilliantly designed while replicating the best links-style courses from the United Kingdom.

Waterchase Golf Club
Fort Worth
Like its name implies, Waterchase does indeed boast a cascading waterfall, found between the ninth and eighteenth greens. From tree-lined doglegs to split fairways, the risk and reward opportunities are abundant for the six sets of tees on the par-72 course. The club even received a nomination to Golf Digest's best new courses and promises to be "a round you'll remember."

Photo courtesy of Zero Prostate Cancer Run Walk

Zero Prostate Cancer Run/Walk Fort Worth

The Zero Prostate Cancer Run/Walk is a time to come together, raise funds, and sharing hope to declare one number above others: Zero. The event aims to makes a real difference in the lives of men and families fighting prostate cancer, showing love to patients, and help provide emotional and financial supports for men and families in their time of need.

The funds raised from Fort Worth Run/Walk will provide support to patients through financial and emotional support programs and resources.

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'Yellowstone' stars to greet fans at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Yellowstone news

Yellowstone fans, get your comfy shoes ready - there'll be a long line for this one. Cole Hauser a.k.a. "Rip Wheeler" on Yellowstone, and Taylor Sheridan, the show's co-creator, executive producer, and director of the series, will meet fans and sign autographs at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

The event will take place from 4:30-6:30 pm only on Friday, February 3. Location is the 6666 Ranch booth near the south end of Aisle 700 in the Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall.

According to a February 2 announcement from FWSSR, "fans will have the opportunity to snag an autograph as well as purchase some distinctive Yellowstone and 6666 Ranch merchandise while also enjoying all the features the Stock Show offers."

The event is free to attend (with paid Stock Show admission) and open to the public.

It's the second year in a row for Hauser to appear at FWSSR; in 2022, he and fellow cast mates drew huge crowds.

Sheridan, a Paschal High School graduate, is no stranger to Fort Worth; he lives in a ranch near Weatherford and filmed 1883, the prequel to Yellowstone, in and around Fort Worth. Currently, another spinoff, 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, is filming in North Texas.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is winding up its 2023 run on Saturday, February 4.

Beloved Arlington developer earns nod for revitalizating old buildings

Vintage News

Developers tend to view the world as a place to tear down and build anew. But Arlington resident and longtime financial visionary Alan Petsche often has different ideas in mind.

"A love for, and a respect of history," he calls it.

Petsche is the man responsible for thoughtful projects such as the restoration and reopening of Arlington's famous Candlelite Inn, the 1957 restaurant said to have served the first pizza in town; and Joe's Radiator Service, a 1963 structure at 200 N. East St. in Arlington that's now home to pizzeria Cane Rosso.

For those efforts, Petsche was named the 2023 Dream Builder by the Downtown Arlington Management Corp., who presented the award at the Arlington association’s annual meeting and luncheon on September 20.

“A restored building has memories in its walls. You hear and feel them,” Petsche said as he recounted a Candelight memory. “You know what kids? Your grandma and grandad had their first date here. Same booth we’re in now!”

The award honors individuals who've contributed to revitalizing downtown Arlington; previous recipients include developer Ryan Dodson, whose Dodson Commercial Real Estate did the Urban Union development in Arlington, and former Arlington mayor Jeff Williams.

From left: John Arnot from DAMC, Alan Petsche, Maggie Campbell DAMC President/CEO, and Jim Minge, Texas Trust Credit UnionDAMC

A long-time resident of Arlington and graduate of Lamar High School and UTA, Petsche has a legacy of building successful businesses and helping others in the community. He was only nine when he began working for his father, who started the A.E. Petsche Company in the family garage. Petsche eventually became the COO of the family business, which served the aerospace industry for more than 40 years before it was sold in 2009.

A release calls him a "serial entrepreneur" who has owned and operated an eclectic variety of businesses ranging from a comic book store he started in high school to a computer company, commercial real estate organizations, and restaurants. He is highly regarded in Arlington and beyond for his generosity, business acumen, integrity, musical talent, and service to the community.

At the Candlelite Inn, his team serves lunch to 150 volunteers of Mission Arlington weekly. The Court at the College Park Center Special Events Arena is named in his honor as a major donor to the University of Texas at Arlington.

He was also the biggest investor in the Urban Union development, helping drive major re-investment and bringing dozens of new businesses into downtown Arlington. Urban Union currently has 24 storefronts within eight buildings.

In a prior life, he was in a '70s power-pop band called The Pengwins, which toured and sold records throughout the U.S. and in Europe. He keeps the music flame alive with a record label called Spyder Pop Records (initially created under the name Aaron Avenue Records) which has been called "a textbook model of how to do musical community right," as well as "rightly renowned for their spectacular presentation of vinyl and CD releases."

Maggie Campbell, President and CEO of the Downtown Management Arlington Corporation said, "Alan’s love for his hometown of Arlington is evident in the investments he has made, such as restoring the Candlelite Inn, and his passion for making downtown Arlington a prime destination for living, work, and entertainment that appeals to residents and visitors."

Fort Worth can now rent pickleball and tennis courts in people's backyards

PLAY BALL

Dallas-Fort Worth pickleball and tennis lovers can now play on courts that were previously inaccessible: in people's backyards.

The service is from Swimply, the online provider that has previously let homeowners rent out their private pools by the hour. They've now expanded their services to include courts.

Swimply says in a release that other backyard spaces for rent were the "logical next step" -- especially given the popularity of pickleball.

"Pickleball is a phenomenon and there aren't enough courts to meet demand," the release says."Tennis, likewise, has historically been an exclusive leisure activity where people pay upwards of $100 an hour at private clubs for court time."

In addition to tennis and pickleball, basketball courts will also be listed for rent on the site, beginning at $25 an hour. There are currently nine pickleball courts for rent in the DFW area and one tennis court, spanning from Allen to Aubrey to Mansfield to McKinney. (The DFW service has just started and will surely amass more options.)

These join 200 spaces in Austin, and 300-plus available across markets in Houston, New York, and Los Angeles.

Swimply founder and CEO Bunim Laskin says this new launch is a "game changer" for communities whose members want greater accessibility to recreational spaces.

"We're excited to offer this new opportunity for families and friends to have fun, exercise, and connect with each other in a safe, affordable, and convenient way," Laskin says. "Our mission has always been about democratizing access to exclusive spaces and creating positive social impact, and we believe that court rentals are a natural extension of that vision."

It won't stop there: Swimply is looking into expanding their recreational offerings to include backyards for events, music studios, and more.

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