Race Information: Victoria Marathon

It is always a pleasure to run in the Royal Victoria Marathon, and this year was no exception. At 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999, over 2,000 runners left the Parliament Building area in Victoria, B.C., under overcast skies and with the temperature in the 50’s (F), a good running day. There are two out-and-back sections so one can see the field as a spectator while being a participant. At 4 miles I saw the lead group of three runners go by. They were followed by other fast runners, including friends and acquaintances. In mid-race there were two leaders running side by side. They were Bruce Deacon, 30+, of Victoria, B.C., who won the race with a time of 2:26:23 and Kelvin Broad, 35+, of Calgary, AB, who ran a 2:27:09. Kelvin had been the winner in 1998 and in several other years as well. Brandon Brazier, 20+, of North Vancouver, B.C., ran a PR 2:29:35 as he finished in third place.

In the women’s race Cindy Rhodes, 40+, of Kelowna, B.C., was 38th overall to win with a time of 2:52:49. Julie Heidt, 35+, of Calgary, AB, was second with a 2:58:17 PR, and Stephanie Owen, 35+, of North Vancouver, B.C., was third (2:59:07 PR.)

At the out-and-back stretch most of my running buddies were in front of me, and we exchanged greetings as they passed in this approximate finish order:

146	3:06:33	– Rob Grant, 50+, Victoria, B.C., 8th
172	3:09:49	– Eb Engelmann, Marathon Achiever, 55+, Salem, OR, 3rd
215	3:13:15	– Chuck Bodeen, 45+, Yakima, WA
322	3:21:23	– Doug Beyerlein, 45+, Everett, WA
348	3:23:34	– Bill Schnitzler, 50+, Calgary, AB
390	3:25:45	– David Olsho, 45+, Seattle, WA
418	3:27:40	– Ken Bonner, 55+, Victoria, B.C.
527	3:33:37	– Ron Nicholl, MA, 55+, Gig Harbor, WA
541	3:34:24	– Mel Preedy, MA, 66, Ravensdale, WA, 1st
618	3:38:27	– Bobbie Busch, 45, Gig Harbor, WA, 8th and a PR
658	3:40:04	– Mae Palm, 55+, Whistler, B.C., 1st
1025	3:55:46	– Ron Levangie, 50+, Calgary, AB
1133	3:59:40	– Carl Davison, 35+, Seattle
1318	4:04:34	– Phil Weiser, 40+, Federal Way, WA
1861	4:47:12	– Valerie Power, 35+, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
1887	4:51:27	– Ed Galiger, 60+, Lynnwood, WA

My race went well, and I almost ran even halves (which I never do). Although my pace was slow at the beginning, I apparently held to a 9+ minute mile, and it didn’t slack off much. I ran a 4:02:45 (9:15) finish subdivided into a 2:00:30 (9:12) first half and a 2:01:45 (9:18) second half. I gained 13 minutes over the Portland Marathon one week earlier and ran five minutes faster than my 1998 Victoria Marathon. My overall position was 1188 of 2093 finishers.

With mixed emotions I ran my first race as a 70 year old, and I wanted to run well. On the race course I saw only one runner in my new age group. From other Canadian marathons I recognized Don Thomson, 75, of Edmonton, AB. I passed him at 5K in Beacon Hill Park thinking that I wouldn’t see him again. Wrong!! With only four miles left in the race, I passed him again and then ran on hoping that he wouldn’t overtake me again. I felt fortunate to have placed first in the 70+M category with a time of 4:02:45. Don Thomson was second with a time of 4:09:52. In third place was Dick Cotsford from Vancouver, B.C., in 4:10:48. All three award winners had faster times than the second place 65-69M runner. At the conclusion of the awards ceremony I realized that I had joined a tough, new age class—and that’s great!

In the 1999 Portland Marathon official souvenir program there was a reprint of the article, “The Running Battle with Cheats,” written by Les Smith, the race director. He brought to our attention the cheating that happens during races and what they’re doing about it in Portland. A local newspaper in our area has a “JEERS” and “CHEERS” section for call-in criticisms and commendations. From the Victoria Marathon I’d like to give the following:

JEERS: to the runner who sat behind us at the awards ceremony, admitted that she had run with another person’s number, and then had the audacity to accept a pair of Asics shoes when that person’s name was called during the drawing of prizes!!

CHEERS: to Richard Hunt, the artist whose unique designs for the Victoria Marathon logo make the medals and shirts the best of all of the marathons I’ve run. (They’re great advertising for the race, too.)

CHEERS: to Rob Reid, the race director, and to all of the volun- teers who make the Royal Victoria Marathon so special. It’s still my favorite race!!!

Written by Bob Dolphin