Picked up an Elven sword of Dread in the early teens level and after improving it have never found a blade since that can match it, am playing a wood elf. Are the weapons tied to a certain race
more powerful when used by that race? Makes me curious. It makes Chillrend and Dawnbreaker look anemic.

No, race has absolutely no influence over the effectiveness of you weapon. In fact, races are quite meaningless in this game - someone may comment on it here and there, someone may recognize you as a fellow Bosmer, but that's all.