Little steps in fun race are helping in big goal

As the older brother, Alex Stout changed his baby brother's diapers, baby-sat him and helped around the house until Alex was hospitalized with leukemia seven years ago.

Now, their roles are reversed. David Stout, 10, pesters Alex to take his growth-hormone shots every night and his calcium pills every morning. Oh yeah, and don't forget to drink water, David often tells his 15-year-old brother, whose leukemia is in remission.

To honor his brother, David ran in the 1.2-mile finale of the Seattle Kids Marathon yesterday around Seattle Center. The farthest he'd ever run before, he said, was a few blocks around his Bellevue neighborhood.

"I was really exhausted," David said. "And I was freezing."

The sixth annual Kids Marathon drew a record 3,000 students, mostly from elementary schools across Western Washington. Some ran to pick up extra credit in gym class, some to raise school spirit, and others, like David, to raise cancer awareness.

The Seattle Kids Marathon used to be held on the same day as the Seattle Marathon, scheduled for this morning.

But the children's race, with many kindergartners scattering around in tiny shoes, has become such a spectator draw that it's now featured separately.

Schools sent busloads of students to run or walk the course. And about 5,000 teachers and parents lined up around the Seattle Center to cheer.

Children who participated through their schools have already logged 25 miles over the past five weeks, often in gym class or by walking with their parents.

They ran the last 1.2-mile distance yesterday to complete the 26.2-mile marathon.

Though the event was not timed, nearly a dozen elementary students finished in about six to seven minutes. Students who complete the event's 26.2 miles get a T-shirt and a certificate. No single child is named as a winner.

The Seattle Marathon Association started the children's race six years ago to address childhood obesity, to promote the sport and to raise money for cancer.

In the past two years, the Seattle Marathon Association and a race sponsor, Harrisdirect, have raised about $100,000 for the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Puget Sound, a support and advocacy group. They hope to raise $50,000 this weekend.

As a volunteer, Alex, a freshman at Eastside Catholic High School, yesterday walked and directed the runners toward the finish line.

He was diagnosed with leukemia in 1997 and endured 3-1/2 years of chemotherapy, radiation treatment and weekly injections.

In 2001, his leukemia was briefly in remission but crept back three months later, forcing him to endure two more years of intense therapy before his disease was back in remission.

"It was sort of scary for me," said David. "First time he had it, I didn't understand what he was going through."

Now, the fourth-grader from St. Louise Elementary in Bellevue is an expert on leukemia. He constantly hovers over his older brother.

Alex, though, said he is healthy enough to resume the big-brother role. He noted that David didn't run the entire 1.2-mile course, and he plans to run beside him next year to make sure he does.

Traffic issues today

Seattle Marathon activities start at 7:15 a.m. today with various running and walking events beginning near Seattle Center. Organizers expect as many as 15,000 participants in the marathon and half-marathon events.

Some streets and freeway lanes and ramps in the downtown area and nearby neighborhoods will be closed or restricted at times to make way for runners (see map).

At the other end of downtown, the Seahawks host the Buffalo Bills tomorrow at 1:15 p.m. at Qwest Field. Traffic delays also are likely in that vicinity.

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com