Tens of thousands of runners will fill Dallas streets Sunday, Dec. 10, as they tackle the BMW Dallas Marathon, formerly the White Rock Marathon. The inaugural 1971 race included two loops around its namesake pond, but the course evolved to accommodate a boom in participation. By 2012, when the name changed, Dallas marathoners ran but a few miles along the shores of White Rock Lake. Participants have subsequently complained about long uphill miles and a departure from the event’s historic origins.

Organizers announced recently that a large portion of the 2017 marathon route returns to White Rock Lake with a full 9.3-mile orbit.

“As one of Dallas’ most popular training spots, the lake will deliver a home field advantage for local runners and give our out-of-town participants a chance to see one of our city’s most stunning views,” notes marathon president Paul Lambert.

After a start at Dallas City Hall, contenders traverse Downtown Dallas, Victory Park, Uptown, Highland Park, Lower Greenville, Turtle Creek, Lakewood, Swiss Avenue and Deep Ellum, offering fans and spectators plenty of options for revelry and cheering. Residents who deem the event an annoyance retain ample cause for customary grumblings about street closures, crowds and noise. Since 1997, the Dallas Marathon has benefitted Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, to which it has donated more than $3.9 million.