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Capital City Marathon
May 20, 2007
Race Report by Bob Dolphin
Things went well at the Capital City Marathon held at Olympia, Washington, on Sunday, May 20, 2007. There was good running weather at the Sylvester Park start in the downtown area, with cool 50 degree temperatures, overcast skies and calm air with light wind on the course.
In the starting area and in the first few miles I had the opportunity to greet many friends……Marathon Maniacs, 50 Staters, Evil Triplets, members of the Hard Core Runners Club, the Interurban Running Club and the Fort Steilacoom Running Club.
A good luck kiss from Lenore sent me on the way from Washington Street after the starting gun went off at 7:00 a.m.. A few spectators called out greetings as I ran by. Many of them were runners who would race in the half marathon and Five Miler (Erick & Sally Lindbergh) a short time later.
We ran through the city center and past waterfront businesses on Marine Drive. That was followed by a scenic run along East Bay Drive. On our left was a marina with many boats on Budd Inlet of Puget Sound. In the third mile as we ran by wooded Priest Point Park, I concluded that I was having a good run and should make the most of it.
I pushed the pace, decreased the hill walking and keyed on runners ahead. I enjoyed the course which has long, flat stretches and many rolling hills that were neither steep nor long. The area is rural and wooded with scattered housing, and the vehicular traffic was light. Where there was cross traffic, policemen stopped the vehicles until runners safely crossed.
I cruised along fairly well, but I slowed down, involuntarily, in the last 10K and was re-passed by many runners. Among them was Karl Rysted, 45, a Marathon Maniac from Moore, Oklahoma. We ran together off and on in mid race, but he had a stronger finish and beat me by ten minutes.
In the 13th mile I caught up with my friend Paul Fouch, 73, of Klamath Falls, Oregon. His new orthotics were giving him some foot problems, so I was able to pass him. He recovered well and passed me in the last mile. I chased him down the Capitol Boulevard hill by the Capitol Building and grounds to the finish line at the Sylvester Park and Governor Hotel. We both trailed my Renton neighbor Janet Burgess, 46, (4:52:43). Paul had a 4:53:20 for first place in the 70+ Male Division. I finished next with a 4:54:07, 264th of 323 overall and second 70+M of five septuagenarians.
Jesse Stevick, 25, of Spokane returned to his hometown, Olympia, to defend his win of 2006 with a 2:31:50 finish. In second place was Tony Hawkes, 41, of Olympia who ran a 2:38:52. He was followed by Phil Jasperson, 40, also of Olympia, who ran a 2:47:19.
The women's race was won by Jill Beals, 37, of Newberg, Oregon, with a 3:11:37. Coming in second was Jacqueline Van Allen, 43, of Seattle (3:23:43). Third place went to Shari Brennecke, 38, of Everett (3:25:22).
The marathon was also a family reunion for us. Our "adopted" grandson Michael Dutton, 37, his wife Maggie, daughter Leslie, son Miles and baby son Matthew had a neighboring room in the Governor Hotel. Michael ran his first marathon here on May 22, 1994, and has run the Capital City Marathon every year since them for a total of 14! We last saw him as he ran his 100th marathon at the Skagit Flats Marathon last September and became a member of the 100 Marathon Club North America.
Michael is the head chef at Anthony's Woodfire Grill in Everett, WA. As a special treat, he invited Lenore, our friends Fenny Roberts, 54, and Jim Scheer, 65, and me to join him and his family at a pre-race dinner at the Olympia Anthony's Home Port Restaurant. There was also a post-race dinner celebration at the new Anthony's Hearthfire Grill on the Olympia waterfront.
It was great to see Tom Adair, 65, of Alpharetta, Georgia (near Atlanta). He's the president of the 50 States Marathon Club and a member of the 100 Marathon Club NA. Tom, Winston Davis, 56, (Alpharetta), Charles Savage, 68, (Ocala, FL) and Robert Parker, 64, (Benson, NC) traveled together and had run the Fargo Marathon in North Dakota the day before Capital City for a weekend double. Running a marathon on Saturday and Sunday is tough enough, but driving from Fargo to Minneapolis and flying 2,000 miles to SeaTac Airport near Seattle in between boggles the mind!!!
This was the second year for the new course. In the 22 consecutive years that I've run the event (since 1986) there had been tri-city tours of Tumwater, Lacey and Olympia with several variations. Of all of these courses the new one that runs in Olympia only is the one that I like the best. It's more rural, secluded, variable and almost traffic-free.
As in years past, the volunteers at aid stations and those who direct the runners at junctions were friendly and helpful. I liked this year's T- shirt design with Capital City Marathon in bold letters to bring attention to our sport and accomplishments. It was great to have hot pizza and other food in the finish area for the back-of-the-pack runners.
Thanks to the Governor Hotel, a sponsor for: (1) giving reduced room rates for registered runners and their families; (2) providing a free parking garage stall; (3) providing an early breakfast for the runners; (4) extending the checkout time so that runners could leisurely shower and change clothing after the race. We plan to stay at this convenient hotel at future Capital City Marathons.
Special thanks go to race director Leslie Roberts, the race committee and the many volunteers who put on a great race with a lot of community support.
Written by Bob Dolphin
Edited, Typed and Distributed by Lenore Dolphin
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