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Royal Victoria Marathon
October 7, 2000
Race Report by Bob Dolphin
As Lenore and I arrived at Victoria, BC, on October 7, 2000, the day
before the Royal Victoria Marathon, I felt apprehension. While I love
everything about Victoria and its marathon, the clear, sunny weather with
70 degree temperatures on that Saturday did not bode well for the run to
come. However, on race morning the running conditions were ideal. There
were overcast skies and air temperatures in the 50's. Surely, the clouds
would soon burn off, and cold natured runners such as I would be working
hard for a slow time. I was wrong. The cloud cover and cool temperatures
persisted, and I had a good run.
I had hoped to run a sub 3:50 Boston Marathon qualifying time so that I
could run in Boston in 2002 instead of 2001. After 10K it appeared that a
finishing time in the 3:55-4:00 range was more realistic. I thought I was
running well but with most road markers being in kilometers, it's not easy
to judge one's running progress. Three miles from the finish, I felt that
I could reach my primary goal. I pressed the last few miles and finished
in 3:46:17 (8:38), 742 of 2386 participants and first of 4 in the 70+M
division. It was my most satisfying marathon this year!
The race was won by Colin Dignum, 30, of North Vancouver, BC, who ran a
2:26:52 (5:36.) He was followed by John McCrank, 25+, of Vancouver, BC,
(2:32:22) and David Beaulay, 30+ (2:36:59.) The women's race was won for
the 6th consecutive year by Cindy Rhodes, 40+, of Kelowna, BC, in a good
time of 2:54:22. In second and third were Stephanie Owen, 35+, of North
Vancouver, BC, (2:57:17) and Tina-Louise Harris, 30+ of Mission, BC
(3:01:50.)
There were a few runners on hand whom I knew. They are listed below:
3:11:47 Leland Wakelin, 40+, White Rock, BC
3:19:15 Greg Judge, 50+, Des Moines, WA
3:30:44 Mel Preedy, 67, 1st 65-69M, Ravensdale, WA
3:33:12 Ken Bonner, 55+, Victoria, BC
3:42:23 Mike Dutton, 30, Everett, WA
3:46:17 Bob Dolphin, 71, 1st 70+M, Renton, WA
4:08:56 Andrew Dunn, 40+, Seattle, WA
4:36:28 Richard Andrews, 55+, Mukilteo, WA
4:52:32 John Sullivan, 71, 2nd 70+M, Rockport, WA
5:08:47 Catherine Grunenfelder, 45+, Olympia, WA
5:08:47 Phyllis Sund, 40+, Tumwater, WA
5:21:08 Clive Heatherington, 65+
Due to an injury, our friend Eb Engelman, 50+, of Salem, OR, briskly
walked the course.
Thanks to Rob Reid, his staff, and volunteers for putting on a
well-organized marathon. We enjoyed the Saturday night pre-race dinner
and speakers and the post-marathon awards ceremony.
Local artist, Richard Hunt, prepared a Native American design of the moon
and two ravens which adorned the marathon sweatshirt and finisher's medal.
He patiently autographed sweatshirts for many of the marathoners. Thanks
to Sandra Hunt for tracing and locating my entry form!
Fringe benefits of the post-marathon ferry ride back to the mainland were
the conversations generated by our Royal Victoria Marathon sweatshirts
that we wore proudly. Anne Yutrzenka of Anchorage, AK, had run her second
marathon at Victoria and was pleased with her PR 4:18:20. Her description
of her first marathon at Anchorage was very appealing. She encouraged us
to stay with her and her husband when we go north for the Anchorage
Marathon. We hope to do that within the next few years.
Valerie Roy of Edmonton, Alberta, was euphoric about running her first
marathon in 4:24:40. She trained as a member of the Running Room Running
Club (Edmonton Chapter of 11 Canadian cities.) She was noncommittal about
running a second marathon....but time heals. Her husband Dale ran the 8K
at the Victoria Festival of Running and enjoyed the race.
We look forward to returning to Victoria again next year. Our hotel
reservations have already been made!!
Written by Bob Dolphin
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