Members of the White Rock Running Co-op and Dallas Running Club collected toys for patients at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children: Chris Stratton
“This is how runners turn lemons into limoncello.” That’s what co-organizer Chris Stratton, a Lake Highlands resident and founder of the White Rock Running Co-op, had to say about last Saturday’s White Rock Lake run which involved a large group of runners from both the Co-op and the Dallas Running Club, many of whom faced a huge letdown last week when the Dallas Marathon was canceled.
The name of the event pretty much sums up the event (not to mention the organizers’ Colbert-esque wit): The 2013 Holiday Run for Kids Since the Dallas Marathon was Canceled.
Runners gather at White Rock Lake for 13.1 miles or 10 kilometers: Elmer “EW” Walter
The race — an un-timed, old-fashioned, first-person-to-finish-wins 13.1-mile and 10k at the Bath House Cultural Center — was the seat-of-the-pants brainchild of the Co-op’s Stratton and the Dallas Running Club’s Vishal Patel. The entry fee was one toy for a patient at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. The TSRH is the official beneficiary of the Dallas Marathon.
Andre Lanaux, David Boggio, Brent Woodle and Heather Williams attend the 2013 Holiday Run for Kids Because the Dallas Marathon Was Canceled: Julie Lanaux
It looked as if at least 100 runners turned out. Among them was spotted the executive director of the Dallas Marathon Marcus Grunewald.
Among the attendees was Dallas Marathon executive Marcus Grunewald (yellow visor): Elmer “EW” Walter
The groups on Saturday afternoon delivered a truckload of toys to the hospital.
Dallas Running Club members Sunny Savage and Keisha Ragoobir: Kathy Arya
Meanwhile, at Bachman Lake, runner Brandon Cumby and his running partner Rebecca Baker completed the Whine Not Another Marathon marathon, a previously obscure event that almost sold out after the Dallas cancellation.
After we wrote about Brandon — who suffered a treetop electrocution, fall, related injuries and months of on-and-off hospitalization before resuming his marathon training — he became pretty local-famous, appearing both in a Dallas Morning News feature story and multiple television news broadcasts. Because so many people asked me about him, I messaged him last week to find out about this past weekend’s run, but didn’t hear back from him. He did, however, talk about his race and future plans to the Morning News’ running columnist. (I swear my feelings aren’t hurt. I really like Debbie Fetterman too).
Editor’s update: Brandon just got in touch saying he was sorry he did not see my message. I informed him (and want to make it clear here) I am “totally messing with him”. I hardly EVER see my Facebook messages until days later and I often overlook emails altogether, so I am really in no place to chide someone else.
