LOVETENNIS

LoveTennis has everything tennis and more ... from the hottest apparel lines to the best selection of gifts. Like us on Facebook. lovetennisdallas.com

6708 Snider Plaza 214.691.1540

T.HEE GREETINGS

Unique Decorations and thousands of ornaments at both locations! Mockingbird & Abrams and Walnut Hill & Audelia 214.747.5800 t-heegifts.com

WILLIE & COOTE AVEDA SALON

We make it easy to find gifts with our plant-powered limited edition gift sets. Our gift sets start at $15 and include gift cards for salon/spa services.

2303 Abrams Rd. 214.887.8647 willieandcoote.com

Callidora

Beautiful, one-of-a-kind religious jewelry and gifts, make wonderful holiday gifts. We also have Sterling Silver & do Custom Work, Restringing & Repairs ... callidoragifts.com 214.515.9188

2913 Greenville Ave. (next to Blue Goose)

TRUE BEAUTY Rx

Give the gift of lush, beautiful eyelashes this holiday season! RevitaLash kit includes lash serum, mascara, & volumizing primer.

$198 value for $150. Results in just 3 weeks!

6224 La Vista 214.434.1664 TrueBeautyRx.com

JENNA B’S

Holiday dresses for you and gift cards for your luckiest loved ones!

5706 E. Mockingbird Ln. @ Greenville Ave. 214.484.7116 JennaBsBoutique.com

The T Shop

The Holidays have arrived at the T shop! 1911 Abrams Pkwy. 214.821.8314 Visit us on Facebook.

Talulah Belle

Michael Aram -The Christmas Ornament Collection takes its inspiration from the imagery that floats around classic storytelling. They evoke a sense of charm and fantasy. 2011 Abrams Rd. 214.821.1927 talulahbelle.com

The Store In Lake Highlands

Aromatic Frasier Fir captures traditional holiday scents and fill our fondest memories. Candles, lotions, soaps, potpourri, cleaning products and more. 10233 E. NW Hwy. @ Ferndale (near Albertsons) 214.553.8850 Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30

TheStoreinLH.com

HD’S CLOTHING

Wrap yourself or your holiday package with our infamous eyelash feathered jacket exclusive from Paris. Envelop yourself in soft luxury whenever and wherever you need to go.

3014/18 Greenville Ave. 214.821.8900 fb Hdsclothing mens womens

Yoga Mart

Terrific unique gifts from India! Necklaces, bracelets, ankle bracelets, scarves, malas and more. One size fits all. Gift certificates available. 6039 Oram (at Skillman) 214.534.4469 yogamartusa.com

Glasshouse

Unique art glass for your decor. Windows, doors, and special projects. Pictured: Stained Glass Panel. Showroom: 910 Dragon St. 214.761.1100 glasshouseproducts.com

PINOT’S PALETTE

PAINT. DRINK. HAVE FUN. Book your December get togethers today at www.PinotsPalette.com. You provide the cocktails and we provide the canvases, paint, and instruction. At the end, you’ll leave with your own masterpiece!

Mockingbird and Abrams 214.827.4668

WACKYM’S KITCHEN

Wackym’s Kitchen bakes delicious cookies from original recipes using fresh, natural ingredients like real butter and cane sugar. Visit our website to order or find a retail location. wackymskitchen.com

Someone told us you are the coning guru of White Rock Lake. How did you earn that nickname? Hmm. More often than that I get called the “cone head.” I guess I started helping out with races back in 2002, with the Dallas Running Club. When the coning crew needed a hand, I helped out and learned how to set up a racecourse.

Do the cones go out the day of the race or sooner?

The morning of the race.

OK, so what does a typical White Rock Marathon day look like for you?

We meet at about 4:30 a.m. — there are three or four of us on three trucks. The third truck is the one that responds to problems that arise. That’s the one I’m on. Before race day, we drive the course and we get a list from the police of the locations we must cone for traffic safety. Then I work up the rest of the details — I try to envision what cues a runner might need. I will print maps for each section of the course identifying those spots. There are two main purposes for the cones: guide runners and block traffic.

How many cones do you use in The Rock?

1,200, give or take. They have changed the course slightly over the years, so it can vary. The lake section of the course really takes care of itself.

Then what?

Before and during the race, I answer any problem calls. My truck follows the socalled “sag wagon” (the vehicle that picks up runners who can’t finish the race). It follows the last runners on the course. I drive along behind it, if all is going as planned, and pick up the cones.

What is an example of a problem you might run into?

Well, once I got a call from police to come place a cone near a dangerous-looking pothole on McKinney. As I placed the cone, the lead runners were swiftly approaching and I barely got out of their continued on page 16 blog.mockingbirdstation.com follow us! continued from page 15 way. Another time, a leading female runner in the half marathon got off course and when I saw her, she was running directly into three lanes of traffic. I got near her and she asked me where the course was. My voice was so hoarse from yelling at people all morning, all I could do was point.

One stop. All glow. The Station gets you closer to the holidays. Check off your checklist, and add to your wish list. Hear caroling and go reveling. Find everything—and have it all.

Have you run the marathon yourself?

Yes, in the early ’90s I ran in The Rock for the first time. I’ve run it a few times, and other marathons.

How did you get involved in running?

I used do a lot of backpacking. I’d find myself in the altitude panting after a few minutes, so distance running became a means of conditioning. I knew a girl who went out and ran two laps around White Rock Lake one day [18-plus miles] and I thought, “I can do that.” Needless to say, there was a learning curve. But eventually I was able to cover that distance and more.

What motivates you to do things like give blood and volunteer, especially as the coning guy on whom so much responsibility is thrust?

I don’t know. [Pause.] I do get a sense of satisfaction looking out at all the runners and seeing that things are going well. I gain motivation from the charities served by the White Rock and other events — Scottish Rite Hospital [The White Rock Marathon beneficiary].

Early on I was involved with March of Dimes and their fundraising events because I had a sister who died of birth defects. My backpacking buddy, Mark, almost lost his son because of the same problem that affected her. Mark died from cancer about nine years ago. My girlfriend, Bobbie, also developed breast cancer three months after I met her. She had chemo, surgery and then radiation. The blood donations — those are for Renee, a fellow runner who got West Nile virus from a mosquito that bit her while she was running. It is making a difference. And that is really the point in both donating blood and marathon coning. —Christina Hughes Babb