SPORTSDAY

Kenyans reign, clouds drizzle at White Rock Marathon

SONYA N. HEBERTS / DMN

Runners start their journey during the 38th Wellstone's White Rock Marathon.

The anxiety, shared by thousands of runners this week, evaporated as the confetti flew and a horseback-riding duo signaled the start of the 38th Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon on Sunday, writes Debbie Fetterman. The predicted thunderstorms bypassed downtown Dallas. "Are we lucky or what?" said Chuck Dannis, chairman of the board of trustees for the event.
Video: White Rock
More marathon coverage

Marathon runners battle falling temperatures

GUY REYNOLDS / DMN

Kenyan James Koskei won the 38th running of the Wellstone's White Rock Marathon on Sunday in Dallas. The weather regressed throughout the day and seemed to hamper times of the elite runners. An estimated 15,000 runners were expected to participate.
More marathon coverage

MIKE STONE / Special to DMN

Organizers hope this year's marathon isn't spoiled by foul weather.

Sunday's weather forecast continues to change as the 38th running of Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon approaches. The staggering heat and high humidity predicted early in the week are no longer a threat. According to the National Weather Service, the most likely scenario now calls for temperatures in the 50s through most of the race, with thundershowers likely.

ELIZABETH M. CLAFFEY / DMN

Midland runner Katie Butts cradles her son Will Butts at Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas.

As a runner, Katie Butts of Midland knew about Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon. But she didn't know about its beneficiary, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, until her unborn child was referred there.

ERIC KAYNE / DMN

There's a noticeable limp and his body sways to the right when Kyle Magee runs. That's his gait. He has no movement in his right ankle and foot, so he lands flat-footed on his right side, the result of being born with a mild case of cerebral palsy. But Magee has never let his disability stop him.

MILTON HINNANT / DMN

Ravi Kandikonda warms up for a short run at the Chisholm Trail in Plano.

Ravi Kandikonda has gone to great lengths to help underprivileged children in his homeland of India. Kandikonda is among 14 area Indians representing Team Asha's Strides of Hope at Sunday's Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon.

CINDY PRATER

Isaac Gian (center) coaches some of the slower runners in a marathon training program at Luke's Locker.

Last year's winner of Wellstone's White Rock Marathon broke the tape in 2 hours, 12 minutes and 4 seconds. At that pace, Moses Kororia could have run the 26.2-mile course twice more and finished with the runners who used every minute of the allotted time.

AP

Patrick Ivuti (right) crosses the finish line ahead of Jaouad Gharib in the Chicago marathon on Oct. 7.

This year's heat-shortened, chaotic Chicago marathon prompted organizers of Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon to make a number of safety-related changes to prepare for Sunday's race. Record temperatures and high humidity at the 30th annual Chicago marathon on Oct. 7 caused runners to wilt along the 26.2-mile course.

Organizers are taking extra steps to ensure runners have plenty of water for the 26.2-mile race.
Safety plan re-evaluated
Weather: See the latest forecasts for the weekend's race
Latest news and course map

RANDY ELI GROTHE / DMN

Viki Greenwell won the Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot in the 1970s. As recently as January, she weighed 230 pounds.
More White Rock Marathon coverage

SONYA N. HEBERT / DMN

Mayor's chief of staff Chris Heinbaugh, police chief David Kunkle, ex-mayor Laura Miller, ex-City Council member Jerry Gilmore, and convention and visitors bureau president Phillip Jones will run a relay in the White Rock Marathon.

Dallas doesn't have New York City's five boroughs, Boston's qualifying standards or Chicago's world records. But Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon does have its namesake lake and support from community leaders.

G.J. MCCARTHY / DMN

Juliette Kalb, Thelma Jones, Chris Hanna and Bruce Boyle will be taking part in the White Rock Marathon this year.

Four area runners – Juliette Kalb, Chris Hanna, Thelma Jones and Bruce Boyle – were marathon hopefuls in June 2006. Each experienced a life-altering transformation. Each plans to participate in the Dec. 9 edition.