Race Report by Bob Dolphin

One nice feature of Bob Green’s “holiday” marathons is that they don’t start until 10:00 a.m. To get to the Easter Marathon south of Olympia on Saturday, April 19, 2003, Lenore and I left Renton at 7:30 a.m. and were at the Millersylvania State Park race site before 9:00 a.m. This allowed time for Lenore to help with registration/packet pickup at a picnic shelter. Later she worked at the finish line for the medley of five events (marathon, half marathon, 5 K, 1 mile and duathlon) at this same shelter.

My watch may have been a few minutes slow, so before I knew it, the combined field of about 50 participants of the marathon and half marathon took off. I was walking behind the pack trying to get my two watch timers going. When I did, the fun began.

I caught the walkers, and then the runners slower than I. After that I passed a group of four. By the first mile on rural Tilley Road, I had found my niche in the pack and ran comfortably. In fact, I had over-extended myself on adrenaline, and two runners re-passed me on a hill at three miles. They went on to beat me by 15 minutes.

The five mile stretch on two-lane Tilley Road heading south of the park is a gently rolling area of forest, swamps, a lake and residential houses. These are set off by pastures, some of which were occupied by horses. Big-leafed maples and red alders were leafing out, and woodland flowers of coltsfoot, candyflower, trillium and Dutchman’s breeches bloomed under the trees.

From mile 5 to mile 6.5 (the turn-around) we were on flat Goddard Road in farmland country. Before I reached the turn-around of this double out-and-back course, I had a chance to see most of the runners coming back. The ones I knew in order were Jon Eaton, Paul Emmett, Connie Ridenour, Ron Fowler, Greg Judge, Bill Pech, Richard Andrews and Chris Baeger in the marathon…..and the family unit of David Olsho, Lynne Werner and their daughter Alexis Olsho in the half marathon field. Of these Jon, Paul, Ron, Greg, Bill and David had run the YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON two weeks earlier. In addition, Jon, Paul and Ron had run the Whidbey Island Marathon the previous weekend for three marathons on three consecutive weekends!

At 13 miles I was back at the park at the half-way turn and greeted Lenore as I headed out for the second lap. As the half marathoners finished their race, the small field became smaller. In the 15th mile I was surprised when the group of one male and three female runners whom I had passed in the first mile went by. In this group was Cliff Falberg, 51, of Portland, Oregon, who reminded me that we had talked at the Trail’s End Marathon finish at Seaside, OR, in the mid 90’s. Later I learned that the women were Renee Gibb, 31, Cheryl Bonds, 34, and Shari Green, 35, all from Portland….and all were running as a group.

Shortly afterwards, for the third time in the race I saw John Steel, 31, of Newport Beach, OR, and Andrew Hays, 30, of Otis Orchards, WA, pass together going in the opposite direction. In the last 5K, John opened a lead over Andrew to finish in 3:24:55 while Andrew crossed the line in 3:28:07.

It was lonesome for me in the last quarter of the marathon, but I gained on one young runner. He was Thomas Evans, 21, of Moses Lake, WA, a student at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. He was running his first marathon and finished with periodic short walks.

With four miles to go I spotted by friend Richard Andrews, 50, of Mukilteo ahead of me. I worked at it and finally caught up with him at 25 miles. His legs were in better shape than mine at this time, and he pulled ahead to finish with a 4:28:45. I followed nine seconds later with a 4:28:54, 16th of 20 and first 70+M. Richard told me that of our many marathons together, this was the first time that he finished ahead of me. I hope that I made his day.

It had been a good day with cooperative weather. The temperature was in the 50’s with overcast skies and a light wind….good running weather. Adequate water, sportsdrink, and energy gel were available on the course. At the finish area there were sandwiches, hot chili, pop, coffee, bottled water, cookies and pastry to refuel the finishers.

Because the field was small, most marathoners earned a trophy to go with their classy T-shirts and finishers medals. It had been a good racing and training experience for me.

Written by Bob Dolphin

 Easter Marathon Race Results

 1. 3:24:55  John Steel, 31, Newport Beach, OR
 2. 3:28:07  Andrew Hayes, 30, Otis Orchards, WA
 3. 3:32:51  Jon Eaton, 42, Bothell, WA
 4. 3:38:45  Paul Emmett, 57, Redmond, WA
 5. 3:43:48  CONNIE RIDENOUR, 44, Spokane, WA
 6. 3:49:34  Ron Fowler, 55, Seattle, WA
 7. 3:49:34  Greg Judge, 54, Renton, WA
 8. 4:06:17  Bill Pech, 53, Bellingham, WA
 9. 4:15:44  Dave May, 52, N. Westminster, BC
10. 4:15:53  Hanan Berman, 56, Kirkland, WA
11. 4:16 47  RENEE GIBB, 31, Portland, OR
12. 4:16:47  Cliff Falberg, 51, Portland, OR
13. 4:17:33  CHERYL BONDS, 34, Portland, OR
14. 4:18:33  SHARI GREEN, 35, Portland, OR
15. 4:28:45  Richard Andrews, 54, Mukilteo, WA
16. 4:28:54  Bob Dolphin, 73 Renton/Yakima, WA
17. 4:35:23  Thomas Evans, 21, Moses Lake, WA
18. 4:36:30  SHANNON BUENTING, 32, Kirkland, WA
19. 4:40:41  SUZANNE STARCINI, 31, Maple Ridge, BC
20. 4:45:00  Chris Baeger, 41, Tumwater, WA