Event Southwest Delivers 80% Reduction in Residential Impact for Ventures Endurance’s Skechers Hot Chocolate Run in Dallas

February 13, 2026

DALLAS, TEXAS (February 13, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Event Southwest today announced the successful execution of course management operations for the Skechers Hot Chocolate Run in Dallas on February 7, 2026. Hired by event producer Ventures Endurance (part of Gannett’s USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures), Event Southwest was tasked with optimizing the course logistics for the 5K, 10K, and 15K distances, which hosted approximately 12,000 runners starting and finishing at Fair Park.

This year’s event featured a strategic overhaul of the course route designed to minimize community disruption while maintaining a premium experience for participants. The new course, created by Michael Luchsinger and executed under the direction of Richard Stanley, resulted in an 80% reduction in residential impact compared to previous years.

To achieve this, the team implemented a plan that restricted runners to specific directional lanes on major thoroughfares, ensuring better concurrent vehicle flow throughout the city. Additionally, the operational strategy prioritized resident access by maintaining open routes across critical access points and working closely with the Dallas Police Department to execute a dynamic traffic control strategy that allowed vehicles to cross the course footprint safely during gaps in runner traffic.

“Our goal was to support Ventures Endurance in delivering a safe, high energy race that respects the neighborhoods we run through,” said Richard Stanley, Account Manager at Event Southwest. “By redesigning the footprint to impact 80% fewer homes and keeping key arteries open, we proved that a massive event with 12,000 runners can coexist seamlessly with the local community.”

About USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures, our events and promotions business, diversifies the Company’s media offerings by connecting communities through impactful experiences. In 2024, USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures hosted a variety of in-person and virtual events, attracting over 430,000 attendees. Our portfolio includes home and garden shows, food and wine festivals, high school sports recognition programs, including the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, and major endurance events including the SKECHERS Hot Chocolate Run Series, RAGBRAI, Detroit Free Press Marathon and the Essentia Health Fargo Marathon.

About Gannett Gannett Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions.

About Event Southwest Event Southwest, founded in 2012 by Michael Luchsinger and Lear Johnson, produces running events, walks, bike rides, and community festivals with a focus on seamless execution and risk mitigation. The company’s team brings over 80 years of cumulative experience in the running industry, having helped over 2 million participants cross the finish line at over 200 events since inception.

Contact: Matt Bannon, VP of Operations, Matt@eventsouthwest.com, 214-616-7503