Training Sequence

The Monday Rundown -- Tuesday edition

Many apologies for the tardy post on this week's list of running events. Hopefully it hasn't set anyone back. Without further ado, here's what's running this week around the Metroplex.

Running

The Freedom Run 5K/10K walk/run, Saturday at 9 a.m. in Breckenridge.
Call Kem Henderson at 254-559-1391.

Lifetime Fitness Reindeer Run 5K Run/Walk and Fisher Price Kids 1K.
Saturday at  8:30 a.m.. 7100 Preston Rd in Plano, TX.
Call 214-370-8300. Kids can dress up for the Costume Contest!

Kwanzaafest 5K, Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in Centennial Fair Park in Dallas.
Benefits 'Beat Obesity' Awareness.

Toys for Tots Arlington 5K/1K, Saturday 8:30 a.m. at Randol Mill Park in Arlington.
Call 817-253-6473 .

Mayor's 5K/1M, Saturday 8 a.m. at City Hall in Dallas.
Call 214-522-4575

Frisco's Frosty 5K/1K, Saturday 8 a.m. at City Hall Plaza in Frisco.
Call 972-292-6501

Rudolph Run 5K/1K, Saturday, 6 p.m. at Shanley Park in Granbury.
Santa arrives at 5:30 p.m. by helicopter. Call Melissa at 817-401-7141.
Register at www.active.com. Cost is $10 for 1K/5K youth & $15 for 5K adult.

Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon, Sunday 8 a.m. at Victory Park/American Airlines Center in Dallas. Benefits the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.

A rallying cry for local Marathons -- bring in celebrities

Local marathons like White Rock and Cowtown both draw plenty of attention from runners. But if you want instant publicity, a marathon has to bring in some celebrities.

It doesn't have to even be an A-list actor like Katie Holmes at the New York Marathon. As completerunning.com noted, famous folks from Al Gore to Oprah to the guy who played Robocop have run marathons.

And other Texas marathons have jumped onto this bandwagon. The Houston marathon has boasted George W. and Kerri Strug. So who could local marathons pull in as special guests, especially on late notice? Here's a few suggestions

1. Lance Armstrong
Sure, he's run marathons before. But the Tour de France champion was raised in Plano, and could improve on his sub-3 hour time at the White Rock.

2. Mark Cuban
A marathon be a perfect opportunity for the Dallas Mavericks owner, media-maven and former dancer with the stars to pull in some extra attention to his charity work. He might need more advance notice to get in shape, but a Cuban marathon cheating scandal could draw away attention from the whole Tim Donaghy thing.

3. Chuck Norris
Not sure if he's a runner, but everyone knows he's tough enough.

Running in Pop Culture: Forrest Gump

Sure, sure, Forrest Gump isn't exactly a hidden gem in America's pop culture, as your local Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant can attest. But it still has one of the best long-distance running sequences around.

Plus who doesn't  love yelling 'Run, Forrest, run!" Jackson Browne's 'Running on Empty' could also be included in the Pantheon of running songs, but that's a topic for another day.

The Monday Rundown

Welcome to the Monday Rundown, a listing of this week's running, cycling and other races in the DFW area. If there are any races, fun runs or events we're missing, place it in a comment and we'll throw it on the Rundown.

Arlington
Don Zetnick Arlington Winter Run 10K / 2 Mile / 1K
Saturday at 8:15 a.m at the UTA Activities Bldg. Benefits Arlington Charities & Vitas Innovative Hospice Care. Call 817-265-4578. $20 on raceday.

Rudolph Run 5K/1M
Saturday 8:15 a.m. on Main Street in downtown Allen. Call 214-509-4707

Carrollton

Boot Scootin’ Santa Run 5K/1K

Saturday 8 a.m. at 1110 W. Main in Carrollton.  Call 888-778-2424.

Fort Worth

Jingle Bell  Night Run 5K/1M

Saturday, 5 p.m. at Sundance Square. Call 214-826-4361.

Dallas

Brains for Autism 5K
Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at White Rock Lake in Dallas. Call 214-599-9753.