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City of Trees Marathon
October 31, 2003
Race Report by Bob Dolphin
On October 31, 2003, Lenore and I drove 400 miles from Yakima, Washington,
to Boise, Idaho, for the City of Trees Marathon. This was a pleasant
drive on I-82 in Washington and I-84 in Oregon and Idaho. The forested
blue Mountain area was of greatest interest to me, but the agricultural
fields and the grass and sage covered hills were attractive, also.
There were several reasons why we returned to Boise to run this second
annual race. I wanted to test myself to find out if I could still run
marathons on five consecutive weekends without a breakdown as had happened
the last two years. One of the injuries occurred at the inaugural City
of Trees Marathon last year when I pulled a calf muscle in the 7th mile
and had to walk/shuffle to the finish in 4:57:27. Now I was injury free,
and I hoped to beat that time this year.
The main reason we returned to this marathon was to hear noted author Joe
Henderson who was scheduled to be the speaker at the carbo-loading dinner
at Boise Centre the night before the race. This would be our sixth
marathon with Joe for the year.....and we always enjoy listening to his
entertaining and informative presentations.
Before Joe started speaking, he honored the runners who were there to run
their first marathon and presented the youngest first-timer with one of
his books. He then recognized the "megamarathon" runners. Seated at the
table with me were three other 100 Marathon Club North America members,
Gunhild and Jack Swanson of Spokane, WA, and John Bozung, of Orem, UT.
Our marathons totaled 800!!!
My marathon the next day would be #325, and Joe presented me with a copy
of his new video, "Running with Joe Henderson, Introduction and Bonus
Section with Olympic Marathoner, Don Kardong." This 40-minute tape is
produced and distributed by Nelsen Petersen of Kibo Productions in
Lincoln, Nebraska. It is a summary of Joe's 40+ years of running and
racing lore that he presents in a well-organized format. Of special
interest are many clips of runners on the roads or trails and in races.
On race morning, November 2, 2003, on Main Street in front of the race
headquarters hotel, we couldn't wait for the race to start.....so that we
could get warm! The temperature had dipped to 26 degrees overnight and
peaked at 46 degrees later in the day.
The course was a double loop with minimal overlap, largely flat with
shallow grades but with a major hill in the 21st mile. The first loop was
new, and the second one was the loop used for the double in last year's
race. Little time was spent in the city center, and we ran most of the
time in attractive suburbs where we could view the fall colors of the
maple trees, sweetgums and flowering dogwoods.
I like to run on cool days, so my race went well. My 4:15:49 finish was
ten seconds faster than my Marine Corps Marathon time a week earlier, and
it was my fourth best time of 2003. I placed mid-field...128th of 271
finishers and the only 70-74 Male runner. That makes me the oldest one in
the race!
It was good seeing other 100 Marathon Club NA members and 50 Staters in
Boise. Gene Bruckert came from Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Henry
Rueden was there from De Pere, Wisconsin. Bill Whipp came from
Cincinnati, Ohio, to walk his 126th marathon with his artificial right
knee. His left knee has completed 152 marathons! Congratulations to Rich
DeCample of Renton, Washington, who has finished the 50 States & DC for
the second time! He plans to run his 150th marathon on November 30th in
Seattle.
It was another great marathon weekend.....my fifth in FIVE WEEKS.....all
with good times and injury-free!!
Written by Bob Dolphin
City of Trees Marathon........Partial Results
1. 2:42:55 Anthony Rinck, 30, Hillsboro, OR
2. 2:48:52 Richard Christensen, 44, Boise, ID
3. 2:54:24 Steven Robinson, 31, Irvine, CA
1. 3:16:41 Kitty Marcroft, 36, Hailey, ID
2. 3:19:54 Alison Burbee, 25, Boise, ID
3. 3:21:19 Nancy Hatfield, 46, McCall, ID
3:31:03 Richard Ketchum, 49, Kent, WA, 3rd in Age Division
3:37:56 Richard DeCample, 58, Renton, WA, 3rd
3:44:41 Kelley Creamer, 50, Mountain Home, ID, 3rd
3:47:17 Gunhild Swanson, 59, Spokane, WA, 1st
3:52:04 George Sunderland, 48, Wanship, UT
3:52:14 Craig Romano, 42, Seattle, WA
3:58:55 Kardine Davis, 38, Fairbanks, AK
4:00:14 Jeff Ulmer, 39, Kuna, ID
4:05:12 Tracey Martinson, 36, Fairbanks, AK
4:14:00 Julie McCormick, 33, Juneau, AK
4:14:00 Jennifer Heidersdorf, 33, Auke Bay, AK
4:15:49 Bob Dolphin, 74, Renton/Yakima, WA, 1st
4:44:14 John Bozung, 50, Orem, UT
4:48:32 Jack Swanson, 69, Spokane, WA, 1st
5:05:43 Eugene Bruckert, 68, Arlington, Heights, IL
5:32:38 Bill Whipp, 59, Cincinnati, OH
5:47:53 Henry Rueden, 53, De Pere, WI
City of Trees Half Marathon.............
2:04:32 Heather Scott, Seattle, WA
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