Registration for the 43rd running of the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon, Half Marathon, 5-Person Relay, SMU Cox Corporate Relay Challenge presented by Behringer Harvard and the Mayor’s Race 5K presented by Cigna, opened on June 1 at dallasmarathon.com. The race was formerly known as the Dallas White Rock Marathon.

After record-setting participation in each of the past five years, race organizers have set a cap at 25,000 runners for the Dec. 9, 2012 marathon, half marathon and five-person relays. The Dallas Marathon benefits Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, with proceeds from the race going to support general hospital care. To date, the marathon has contributed more than $2.8 million to the hospital.

“We are looking forward to what will be our biggest and best event yet,” Kevin Snyder, chairman of the Dallas Marathon board of trustees, said. “As one of the largest sporting events in Dallas each year, we recognize an opportunity to showcase all this city has to offer to both visitors and locals, runners and spectators alike.”

The Dallas Marathon announced a new start and finish in downtown Dallas earlier this spring and anticipates a race start on Main Street near the Old Red Courthouse, with a finish line on Griffin Street in front of the Dallas Convention Center. The race course, pending certification, will kick off with views of the Trinity River as runners leave downtown for a West Dallas loop before crossing the new Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge on the return into downtown Dallas.

“The West Dallas loop has the entire neighborhood rallying together with enthusiasm to be included in our race for the first time,” Lear Johnson, race director of the Dallas Marathon, said. “They are planning unique entertainment representative of the area, such as a Tejano band and a local church gospel choir to cheer on the 25,000 runners.”

After crossing the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge heading east, the marathon course follows a path similar to previous years, continuing through downtown and the Arts District while passing by Klyde Warren Park. The Crescent Hotel highlights the runners’ progression through Uptown and into sections of University Park and Highland Park. Marathoners will then travel Mockingbird Lane and enter the east side of the flat and fast loop around White Rock Lake. Runners pass through Lakewood and the Swiss Avenue Historic District – including the “Dolly Parton Hills” – before winding through Deep Ellum and back to the finish line downtown.

The half marathon course will complete the West Dallas loop, pass by Texas Scottish Rite Hospital and weave through the Design District before finishing downtown. Pre- and post-race events will take place in the Dallas Convention Center near the start and finish lines.

Registration is capped at 6,000 marathon participants, 13,000 half-marathon participants and 6,000 relay participants. Event fees for the marathon, half marathon and five-person relays are $100, $85 and $250, respectively. Fees will increase on August 1.

If Thursday’s sellout kickoff event, the Dallas Marathon Kickoff 6.4K presented by Miller64, is any indication, race registration for the December events is expected to fill up quickly. The fun run drew a full cap of 500 runners to the Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake for a short run and a post-race party including live music by Sylvanshine, food trucks and a beer garden courtesy of Miller64.

For course maps and to learn more about the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon and register for the December 9, 2012 race, visit dallasmarathon.com.