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Coeur d' Alene Marathon
May 26, 2002
Race Report by Bob Dolphin
The 25th Coeur d' Alene Marathon in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, on May 26,
2002, was a historic occasion. Celebrating this silver anniversary, the
commemoration was portrayed on the long- sleeved finisher T-shirt and on
the ribbon of the finisher's medal. The 1980 marathon was canceled due to
the eruption of Washington's Mt. St. Helens a few weeks before the
scheduled race date. The four participants of this marathon who ran the
inaugural race in 1977 and all subsequent ones were recognized and
applauded at the awards ceremony. They were given a lifetime free entry
to future Coeur d' Alene Marathons and a permanent bib number of their
choosing.
The four recipients, all in the 65-69 age division, are Sylvia and Pat
Quinn of Spokane, WA, Russ Akers of College Place, WA, and Malcolm Bohlman
of Walla Walla, WA. Showing considerable courage and perseverance, Sylvia
and Pat, who are recovering from leg injuries, took early starts and
walked the marathon in order to maintain their finish completion records.
Harold Copeland, an 82 year old runner from Richland, WA, had his string
of Coeur d' Alene completions interrupted when a leg aneurism prevented
him from running the 2000 marathon. He ran the half marathon on May 26,
2002, and placed first in the 75+ male division. When he reaches 25 Coeur
d' Alene completions, he will be given the above mentioned amenities, too.
Even though the Coeur d' Alene Marathon was celebrating its silver
anniversary, three major course records fell this year. The winner, Vance
Cole, 48, of Turner Valley, Alberta, in Canada ran with Rob Benedetti, 50+
of Spokane for 20 miles before pulling away. Vance's winning time of
2:48:04 established a new men's masters record by over six minutes. Rob
finished second with a 2:51:29 for first 50-54M and second men's masters.
Gayle Jacklin, 38, of Post Falls, Idaho, had not run a marathon for eight
years, but she had been running well in short races. She reported having
a bad second half, but she hung on and established a new women's course
record of 3:00:37....placing 9th overall.
At packet pickup Lenore and I talked with our friends Jill and Cliff
Banister from Pendleton, Oregon. Jill, a short race specialist, hadn't
run a marathon for years and was apprehensive about the race to come.
However, she ran extremely well, and with her 3:14:25 finish she was the
second woman overall and the first 40-44F. She also established a new
women's masters record by almost eight minutes. Cliff also ran well with
a 2:57:01 for 5th overall, 3rd masters and 1st 40-44M.
Jerry Martin of Greenacres, WA, won the wheelchair division in the
marathon with a quick 2:05:52. He holds the course record.
Records also fell in the half marathon. Brett Winegar, 20+, of Kalispell,
MT, set a course record with a 1:10:46 as did Heather McLaughlin, 30+, of
Spokane with a 1:22:26.
I enjoyed my run. It went smoother than some years
when the weather had been warmer. In the first half there was comfortable running
under overcast skies. But then the sun came out, and the temperature crept up
to the upper 60's. At the halfway mark a 2:01 was encouraging, but two major
hills were ahead. I ran the 14 mile hill and enjoyed the view of Lake Coeur
d' Alene and the distant mountains while running on the downside of the long
hill. At 16.5 miles the course reversed, and running toward the finish line
instead of away from it was a psychological lift. Then is was up and down the
above mentioned hills again going in the opposite direction....and a run to
Coeur d' Alene staying close to the shoreline. With a 3:07 split at 20 miles,
I was motivated to keep pressing in order to finish under 4:10. As it turned
out, with a lot of water dowsing on my head, I was able to finish in 4:06:43......my
best time of the year by a minute. I finished in mid-pack, 142nd of 318 runners.
I was also first of two in the 70-74M division and was given a medal for being
the oldest runner in the marathon. I' m used to being the oldest marathoner
in a race, but this was my first old timers medal. Harold Copeland, 82, received
one also as the oldest participant in the half marathon.
Thanks to Steve Pierce (race director and Marathon Achiever), his
committee, and the volunteers for making the 25th Anniversary Coeur d'
Alene Marathon available to the running community.
Written by Bob Dolphin
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