Meteorologist and storm chaser Coyle will chase down half marathon field to raise money for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
DALLAS (Nov. 16, 2016) - Colleen Coyle, a meteorologist at WFAA-TV News 8, has a big goal at the 2016 BMW Dallas Marathon: pass as many runners as she possibly can on her way to the finish line. Race organizers announced Coyle will serve as this year’s Last Woman Running, starting as the very last runner at the back of the corrals on race morning. For each runner Colleen passes during her 13.1-mile run in the BMW Dallas Half Marathon, she will raise additional funds to be donated to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
This is the fourth year of the contest, which began as the Last Man Running promotion at the 2012 Dallas Marathon. Coyle is the first Last Woman - or female participant - to take on the challenge; each year the race features local celebrities raising pledges and donations for their run from the back of the BMW Dallas Half Marathon start line. A storm chaser by trade and a self-described thrill-seeker, Coyle saw the opportunity to run as Last Woman Running as a great way to pay off her love for running and encourage others to jumpstart healthy habits.
"I’m excited to share the sense of community and accomplishment you feel when completing a race with all the participants at the 2016 BMW Dallas Marathon," said Coyle. "People hear about marathons and half marathons and can be intimidated to even start a new fitness routine. I haven’t been a runner my whole life, so to test myself on race day as Last Woman Running is both empowering and rewarding and, hopefully, encouraging to others on their fitness journeys."
Coyle has always been competitive, but did not find her way into running until moving to Dallas in 2010. Encouraged by friends, she trained for and ran her first half marathon at the 2012 Dallas Marathon. In her free time, Coyle loves hiking, yoga and traveling, and participates in local 5K and 10K races. North Texans will recognize Coyle from her work on the WFAA weather team, seen regularly during News 8 Midday and at 4 p.m. broadcasts.
The opportunity to raise money for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children also struck a personal note with Coyle. She spent multiple weeks as a patient of a children’s hospital as an infant, undergoing brain surgery.
To join Colleen Coyle at the start line, or for more information on the 46th running of the BMW Dallas Marathon, Half Marathon or Behringer Relay, visit BMWDallasMarathon.com. The race is Sunday, December 11, 2016, with a start and finish in downtown Dallas.
If you are interested in sponsoring Colleen Coyle’s race as Last Woman Running or fundraising to directly support Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, contact ashleigh@dallasmarathon.com.
Follow Colleen Coyle on Twitter at @ColleenWeather and on Facebook
About the BMW Dallas Marathon
The Dallas Marathon is a nonprofit organization with a focus on promoting health and physical fitness through running events and related activities. Dating back to 1971, the organization hosts year-round events culminating with Dallas’ largest and Texas’ oldest running marathon: the BMW Dallas Marathon. Now in its 46th running, the marquee race attracts runners from across the globe and hundreds of thousands of spectators to Dallas’ largest single-day sporting event. The BMW Dallas Marathon racecourse highlights iconic Dallas landmarks and is recognized as the official marathon of the city of Dallas. Since naming a primary beneficiary in 1997, the Dallas Marathon has donated more than $3.8 million to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. For more information, visit DallasMarathon.com.
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