Dec 9, 2007


The 26.2-mile certified course, mostly flat with some rolling hills, begins and ends at the American Airlines Center near downtown Dallas. Along the way, runners pass through the wooded Turtle Creek area, prestigious Highland Park, around White Rock Lake, through beautiful Lakewood and down the Swiss Avenue historical district.

Raceday Weather Conditions:

Start at 8am
47°F / 8°C
wind N 15mph
wind chill upper 30°F
(15 people were treated for hypothermia)

Finisher Statistics:

Finishers total:  4,019
Male finishers:  2,576
Female finishers:  1,443
Avg. finish time: 4:20:35

Gosia's Results:

Time:  3:22:46
Pace:  7:45 / mile
Time 1st half:  1:38:31

Overall place:   324th (8%)
Women place:  25th (2%)
Women 45-49 place:  3rd (1%)

Overall Results:

Top Men

Place Name Home Age Time Pace per mile
1 James Koskei KEN 39 2:15:09 5:09
2 Edward Kiptum KEN 28 2:15:11 5:108
3 Moses Kororia KEN 30 2:15:33 5:10

Top Women

Place Name Home Age Time Pace per mile
1 Emily Samoei KEN 26 2:35:25 5:56
2 Firaya Sultanova RUS 46 2:37:43 6:01
3 Galina Aleksandrova RUS 27 2:43:44 6:15

Top Women 45-49

Place Name Home Age Time Pace per mile
1 Firaya Sultanova RUS 46 2:37:43 6:01
2 Frances McKissick Irving 45 3:21:16 7:41
3 Malgorzata Mirkowicz Plano 48 3:22:46 7:44

Click here for full official results.


Race Map and Elevations:



Gosia's comments after the race:

On December 9th, 2007 I ran Wellstone’s White Rock Marathon. It was my third White Rock of six total marathons. I didn’t rush to sign up for that race because last year not all spots for the marathon and half-marathon were taken. I waited until the day before Thanksgiving. Finally, I opened their website and couldn’t believe it, places for that event were sold out. Fortunately for people like me, with a late decision, the organizers decided to add a limited number of additional spots under one condition: we had to agree to receive finisher’s medallion via mail-post. I didn’t have any problem with that so I signed up.

A few days passed without any worries, but 2 weeks until marathon time I sat down and analyzed my physical form and preparation stage. I admitted that for the last 12 weeks I put many miles into my running log, I did some good speed workout, some small hills (all I could do in Dallas area) but I definitely was short on marathon distance runs. My long runs weren’t long enough and I didn’t do many of them. The part of training where I should build my endurance was the weakest. I realized that I’m not prepared enough to have really good finish time. What kind of goal, realistic goal, should I set up to not fail the race? At that preparation stage, less than 14 days till marathon, I should not run longer than 13 miles and I had to taper, cut my top weakly mileage 60%, than 40%, so it was time to heal muscles and regain energy.

That evening I told my daughter about my decision to run White Rock. I even didn’t finish when she shouted “Next time, can you run the New York marathon than all of us could go with you? Sweet!" I found the answer for my marathon’s goal. To be automatically qualified for NYM I must stay below 3:30. Yes, the qualification for this race is even harder than for Boston marathon. My goal was still challenging, but I deeply believed at that moment that I could accomplish it.

Day by day I ran with the same intensity, but shorter and less frequently. A week before Sunday's race I experienced the first sign of anxiety. I knew I could ran 10-15 miles easily with 7:30 pace per mile, comfortable breathing, nice stride but how to cover another 11 miles with the same pace, no stopping, no muscle cramps, no side stitches? On Friday, two days before marathon, I did my last 4 mile loop. That day the weather wasn’t the best, 97% humidity, 84F, gusting to 21mph South wind. I had to stop every single mile. I felt horrible. That run, which should've been very easy and calming, definitely didn’t bring my self-esteem up.

The weather forecast for Sunday was depressing, 80F, 100% humidity, S 18mph wind. Was my luck gone this time? I could handle heavy rain, deep puddles of water, cold, snow, patches of ice but not 100% humidity and high temperature. My good spirit was crushed. I tried to ignore my negative thoughts; nothing worked until I opened my computer and found e-mail from Ania and Janek with the link to The Gratitude Dance. Thanks Guys! This dance shook me up, helped me to realize how lucky I was to do what I really loved, have a deep passion and enormous determination. I stopped whining, feeling sorry for myself, feeling gray and sluggish. It was the beginning of my joy.

On Sunday, at 8am at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, under the heavy cloudy sky, five thousands marathoners, and between them I started the 26.2 miles run. Despite the challenging North 15 mph wind with a chill index in upper thirties, the rest of the weather was perfect. I ran my distance smooth and peacefully. I kept my 7:30 pace until I passed 19th mile than I started to slow, but I expected that. My endurance training wasn’t enough to stay 7:30 till the finish line. I talked shortly to some runners about wet socks, and the beautiful 10 mile loop around scenic White Rock Lake. I cheered up some guy, a runner pushing a stroller with his paralyzed child. He was amazing doing this and I had to tell him that. I cheered to music bands, I counted at least 10. I waved to all the volunteers working at water/aid stations, standing seven hours under tough freezing conditions, and serving me and other runners water. I thanked spectators, so many of them this years, for their phenomenal support. They shouted every marathoners name giggling on mine which of course they couldn’t say but they did not give up easily. My shirt said Malgorzata, so I have heard:
Run Mal!
Great job Malgo!
You can do it Margarita!
What an awesome job, guys.


Finally I passed the 26th mile mark. I forgot about tiredness, worries about muscle spasm. I found extra energy to pass a few deadly tired people. The last .2 mile of run went by with unbelievably touching crowd support and me trying to cut even one second from my run, feeling like robot, left leg, and right leg, closer and closer, finally finish line. WHAT A GOOD FEELING. I did it again. Smiles, happiness, joy of people around me.



I finished 2007 White Rock Marathon at 3:22:46, 3rd in my age group, and 25th of all women, being automatically accepted for Boston and New York marathons.

I think I did a good job, but what makes me happy is that I finished feeling strong physically and mentally. I didn’t have any regrets about this run and yes, I `ll compete again during spring time.

As always, after my marathon I want to thanks all of you for being:
The best supporters,
The best advisers,
The best friends.
I have a special thanks to my husband, Walt for standing behind me in a good and bad moment in my life.
Bozenka, thanks for waking up early on Sunday morning and providing shelter for Walt.
I ran over 3 hours and mainly thought about all of you, bringing memories from the last 20 years in America. I realized again how lucky I am having you on my side, especially during the toughest, most anxious moments like this one.

Thanks again,
Love Margaret

P.S. Here is the link to "The Gratitude Dance".