white rock marathon

Tracking runners at White Rock Marathon easier this year

Race tracking, analysis making their debuts at White Rock Marathon


10:29 PM CST on Thursday, December 6, 2007



• E-mail

Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon officials have adopted several technological advances free to runners and spectators.

Runner tracking allows family and friends to be notified every time their runner crosses designated points along the course. Anyone can register online or at the Health & Fitness Expo to receive split times and finish information on a pager, by text message or by e-mail.

"The software will even estimate a projected finish time based on a runner's pace," said race director Marcus Grunewald said. "If you're home watching the race on television, but you want to be at the finish line, you can figure out when you need to leave."

Running

2007 White Rock Marathon
8 a.m. Sun., Victory Park

Latest news and course map

Timeline

Share your pictures

Official site

Weather: See the latest forecasts for the weekend's race

More: Running
For spectators and supporters with Internet access, there's also free map tracking. Once a runner crosses the start line and reaches designated points on the course, a dot appears on the course map. The dot moves along the marathon route, showing the runner's progress.

"It's more exciting than the dot race," Grunewald said. "You can map up to four different people. For a runner, you could come home and watch your race."

The marathon has added another fun feature that enables runners to relive their race with a personalized Web analysis.

Based on electronic timing data, Run Pix will provide a personalized analysis of placings, pace, category and gender results and comparisons with key leaders.

For information, go to www.runtherock.com, click on "results" and then click on the "runpixresults" icon.

Rock veteran to accept Victory Award for Excellence: Irving Adelstein, a longtime runner, White Rock Marathon board member and race sponsor, will receive the race's prestigious Victory Award for Excellence at Saturday's prerace pasta dinner.

He joins a list of previous honorees that includes Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Dr. George Sheehan, Francie Larrieu Smith, Tom Landry, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Frank Shorter and Bill Rogers.

The award recognizes members of the running community for demonstrating the value of physical fitness and helping to promote health and physical fitness.

New postrace policy for marathon: Race officials have made changes to ensure that runners receive first-rate treatment before, during and especially after the race. As a result, only marathon, half marathon and relay runners will have access to the arena floor after the race. The finish line corral will provide runners with direct access to the arena floor.

"We've run out of food in the past," race director Marcus Grunewald said. "Spectators are so bad about taking more than they need. We have so many people that only runners can get down to the floor."

Concession stands will be open along the upper concourses. In addition, restaurants, coffee shops and stores will be open throughout Victory Park.

Officials expect jump in Mayor's Race participation: Thousands of Dallas ISD students and their families are expected to be on hand for Saturday's annual Mayor's 5K, set for 9 a.m. at Dallas City Hall. Marathon officials met with 165 DISD physical education teachers in September to help generate excitement about the event.

DISD superintendent Mike Hinojosa and former Dallas Mayor Laura Miller are expected to run with the city's youth. Current Mayor Tom Leppert had a previous commitment.

Briefly: Thousands of ultra marathoners will be in Huntsville for the Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Runs at Huntsville State Park. The event features a 50-mile and a 50K course. ... The Marathons of Texas Race Directors' Conference, a gathering of top industry professionals, begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Dallas Convention Center. It's being held with the marathon's Health & Fitness Expo. For information, visit www.runtherock .com.