Dallas’ oldest and largest race, the Dallas Marathon, presented by Metro PBC, formerly known as the White Rock Marathon, hits the ground running with a full schedule of activities December 8 and 9, beginning with the Mayor’s Race 5k at 7 a.m., Saturday, followed by a Health and Fitness Expo at the Dallas Convention Center form 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The marathon, half-marathon and five-person relay start will be held at 8:05 a.m., Sunday.

The race is an activity-filled family athletic event, with 40 bands and 28 water stops along the course. Attracting more than 300,000 spectators each year, the race is one of Dallas’ largest singe-day spectator events. The marathon course is flat and fast, with a new start and finish line in downtown Dallas.

 

Along the way, runners pass through the West Dallas Loop, over the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, through the Dallas Design District, along majestic Turtle Creek, through prestigious Highland Park, around White Rock Lake, through Lakewood and down the Swiss Avenue Historic District back to the finish line.

 

The Dallas White Rock Marathon began in 1971 when Tal Morrison, an avid runner, placed a $25 ad in Runner’s World magazine. The first race in 1971 had 82 participants with only 61 participants finishing. 2012 marks the 43rd running because it was held twice in 1976.

 

For the marathon, the first male/female each receives $5,000; the second male/female each receives $3,000; the third male/female each receives $2,000; the fourth male/female each receives $1,500; and the fifth male/female each receives $1,000.

 

The MetroPCS Dallas Marathon is the first leg of the Marathons of Texas, a series of winter marathons that includes the Chevron Houston Marathon and the LIVESTRONG Austin Marathon. There estimated to be 6,000 participants in the marathon, 13,000 participants in the half-marathon and 6,000 participants in the relay races. They will run a combined 358,940 miles, burning 38,661,400 calories during the 2012 race.

 

In 1997, The Scottish Rite Hospital for Children was designated as the race’s primary beneficiary. To date, more than 2.8 million has been donated to the hospital on behalf of the Dallas Marathon, with a record $1 million donated after the 2011 race.

The Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is a world leader in the treatment of pediatric orthopedic conditions. such as scoliosis, clubfoot, hand disorders, hip disorders and limb length differences, as well as certain related neurological disorders and learning disorders such as dyslexia. Admission is open to Texas children from birth up to 18 years of age, and patients receive treatment regardless of the family's ability to pay.

 

For more information and to register for the race, visit DallasMarathon.com.