HAYDEN LAKE - Jim Kinnard was in a jovial mood early Saturday morning before the start of the Hayden Lake Marathon.

He joked that he had been training for it "since 2005."

"Yep, yeah, 10 miles every day," the 14-year-old said with a smirk.

"Jim, we don't have a lot of time for jokes," his mom, Jann, lightheartedly scolded.

The Kinnards, of Coeur d'Alene, ran the 13.1-mile half-marathon together, a feat especially meaningful because Jim has a rare deformity in his brain that causes developmental delays. He suffered seizures as a small boy and it was unclear what would happen as he aged. He is now an active member of the Coeur d'Alene Special Olympics team and runs cross country at his middle school.

The race was a triumph for the teen and his family.

"It brings tears to my eyes, tears of joy," Jann said. "He's come a long way. When he was younger, the doctor's prognosis was that he might not walk or talk, and now he's going to run a half-marathon, talking the whole time."

Jim's dad, Jeff, big sister Sierra, and aunt Maisie Bauer of Spokane were all present to cheer for the duo.

"I think it's amazing," said Sierra, 16. "I did a half-marathon last year. It was pretty difficult and just to have my little brother do it, I feel so proud for him."

The Kinnards were among about 400 athletes who competed in the second Hayden Lake Marathon, which began and ended at Honeysuckle Beach, and featured a 26.2-mile full race, a half marathon or a 10K for participants to run.

It was a dark, gray morning that smelled of damp pine needles with bits of precipitation, but despite the weather, spirits were high.

Terra Anderson of Post Falls was prepared for Mother Nature's worst as she wore a white trash bag to protect her from impending rain. Her "Will Run For Beer" hat added to her good-humored appearance.

"I just thought I should be prepared," she said of the bag she wore over her shirt. "This is easy to rip off and doesn't cost a lot."

It was her first time running in the Hayden Lake Marathon, and was her third half-marathon this month.

"My goal this year was to be what's called a 'half fanatic,'" she said. "In order to do that, you have to run at least two half-marathons in a short time frame. If you run more in a short time frame, then you get up in the levels."

She was also looking forward to viewing the course's scenery.

"And I'm excited for the medal and the shirt," she said.

Race director Nancy Lowery of Hayden said it was a beautiful day for a race.

"It's October, it's a great time to run a marathon and half-marathon," she said. "It's not hot, it's not really that cold, you know, a little bit of the mist isn't going to dampen any great times or great runs."

Lowery said she has been riding her bike around Hayden Lake for 25 years and the distance is "perfect."

"You cannot get a prettier course," she said of the course, which circled Hayden Lake. "The breathtaking is really not only just the way that it looks but also because there are some hills. You have to be kind if in-tune and Zen to make it through. It's a tough marathon, even the half is a tough race."

The overall winner of the Hayden Lake Marathon for the second year in a row was Kjell Schioberg with a time of 2 hours, 58 minutes, 32.7 seconds, and Christina Castelanelli was the first female across the finish line at 3:15:54.3.

Net proceeds from the races benefit Coeur d'Alene High School's cross country team, the Hayden Senior Center and the Hayden Chamber of Commerce.

Race results: www.webscorer.com