Race Information: Cupid’s Marathon

On Sunday, February 13, 2005, Lenore and I returned to Millersylvania State Park, south of Olympia, Washington, for our first marathon of the year. There is a pleasant familiarity of going there for another one of Bob Green’s holiday running festivals.

Last year we participated in three of the four offered….Valentine, Easter and Christmas Marathons (I ran the 5K associated with the latter). Because we were on the East Coast for the Mystic Places Marathon in Connecticut and the Marine Corps Marathon at Washington, DC, we missed the Halloween Marathon. However, we made it to another Bob Green race, the Gateway to the Pacific Marathon, at Elma, Washington, in July of 2004.

This was my first marathon since I dropped out of the Seattle Marathon on November 28, 2004. The effects on my running and walking from a misaligned spine caused my first DNF (did not finish) ever in a 26.2 mile race. Since then I have run a 5K, 4 Miler and 5 Miler. Also, I have walked two 5K races and a 10 Miler. My training has consisted of frequent one-hour walks and an occasional five-mile run.

Because I have lost speed, endurance and form, I was dubious about finishing a marathon. I signed up for the Half Marathon but joined 16 other runners at the one-hour early start….just in case I could go on! My strategy was to follow a Jeff Galloway pattern by walking a minute at every mile marker and to walk the hills.

The running conditions were good with the air temperature at the start in the mid 40s, no wind and a partly cloudy sky. Later there was some wind, and granular snow pellets fell to the ground.

The first 10K went well as I passed three runners (temporarily) and maintained an 11 minute per mile pace. At the 6.55 mile turn-around for the Half Marathon I felt fine and decided to go the full distance.

From that point to an aid station at 8.5 Miles, I had an enjoyable visit with a running friend, Jim Simpson, 63, of Huntington Beach, California, who is a fellow 50 Stater and 100 Marathon Club North America member. We walked briskly at a 13 minute pace and talked about competitive walking experiences. After Jim ran ahead, I shifted to “telephone pole goals,” alternating running and walking in an approximate 50-50 ratio at a 14 minute pace.

By the 15th mile, I had seen the whole field of runners as they made up my early start and passed me. It was good to see friends and acquaintances on the course. There were many Marathon Maniacs and a few 50 Staters, 100 Marathon Club members, and some Evil Triplets. Mel Preedy told me that I was listing to starboard, so I concentrated on leaning to the opposite side.

In the 15th mile, I gave up trying to run and concentrated on brisk walking at a 15 minute pace. Eventually, I crossed the line at 5:54:23, the last participant of 61 marathoners and the first (and only) 75+ male finisher. I probably walked about 75% of the course. At least in my 352nd marathon, I determined that with the aid of walking I can still go the distance.

The Marathon Maniacs did well at the Valentine Marathon. Gregg Walchli was the overall winner with a 2:56:23, and Tony Phillippi was close behind with a 2:57:37, the only sub 3:00 hour runners in the race. The first two women finishers were also Maniacs. Annie Thiessen won with a time of 3:19:56, while Alicia Britt ran a 3:34:34.

Many thanks to Bob Green, his wife Kristina and the volunteers who provide a fun experience for the runners in the One Mile, 5K, 10K, 10Mile, Half Marathon and Full Marathon events. This was a “Valentine Celebration” where everyone could be a participant!

Written by Bob Dolphin

Partial Results, Valentine Marathon, February 13, 2005

2:56:28  Gregg Walchli, 42, Seattle, Marathon Maniac (MM)
2:57:37  Tony Phillippi, 43, Tacoma, MM
3:01:43  Pedro Deguzman, 34, Seattle
3:19:56  Annie Thiessen, 34, Seattle, MM
3:19:57  Steve Yee, 45, Renton, MM
3:27:10  Kurt Lauer, 43, Seattle, MM
3:34:34  Alicia Britt, 42, Seattle, MM
3:35:23  Robyn Lamb, 28, Brisbane, Australia
3:42:23  Davy Jones, 59, Seattle, MM
3:43:37  Jennifer Yogi, 29, Seattle, MM
3:46:37  Guy Yogi, 51, Seattle, MM
3:51:54  Jim Scheer,  62, Vancouver, WA, MM
3:54:27  Michael Schiach, 51, Bainbridge Island, MM
4:00:27  Greg Judge, 56, Renton
4:00:34  David Zonker, 51, Centennial, CN
4:02:16  Gene Morris, 58, Seattle
4:07:34  Rick Haase, 59, Seattle, MM 
4:08:06  Jim Boyd, 56, Seattle, MM
4:09:16  Jim Kunz, 56, Seattle
4:12:41  Richard Hughes, 61, Laredo, TX
4:20:14  Olga Varlamova, 35, Tigard, OR,  MM
4:31:12  Wendy Blackwell, 41, Burnaby, BC
4:31:12  Elizabeth Model, 45, Burnaby, BC
4:33:32  Jeanne Bruce, 38, Sparks, NV
4:38:45  Mel Preedy, 71, Ravensdale, MM
4:39:24  Sue Fauerbach, 57, Renton, MM
4:40:12  Cyndie Merten, 48, Corvallis, OR, MM
4:46:42  Jim Simpson, 63, Huntington Beach, CA
4:46:44  Janice (Kay) Moyer, 48, Wellpinit
5:54:23  Bob Dolphin, 75, Renton, MM