Race Information: Portland Marathon

The Portland Marathon is such a class act that it always is a pleasure to be a participant. I have run this marathon every year since 1985 enjoying the good weather and the clear skies. But on October 1, 2000, a downpour preceded the 7:00 a.m. start, and for the first time in 20 years it was a wet race. Eventually, the rain stopped, but overcast skies, temperatures in the low 60’s, and light winds continued….my kind of weather!

This year’s winner was Yoshikazo Aizawa, 32, of Japan. With a time of 2:22:15, he had a comfortable lead over his countryman, Shinya Morisaki, 25, (2:22:50) and John Dimoff, 29, of Portland, OR (2:32:06.)

The women’s race was somewhat closer. Lisa Anne Trenholme, 26, of Portland ran a 2:58:33. She was followed closely by Yasiko Wagatsuma, 37, of Japan (2:58:56) and Erica Koenig, 27, of Mercer Island, WA (2:59:11.)

My race went as I hoped it might. I had a 9-minute-per-mile goal of 3:55:48. This would keep me under four hours and competitive in age class competition. I felt fine throughout and didn’t fall off of the pace much. At the halfway mark I was timed at 1:55:31 (8:48,) so I was on target. I did some walking on the steepest hills and conserved my strength for running the last 10K. I passed that key point of 20 miles at 2:55 and started an hour countdown. Instead of making time on the downhill’s in Miles 23 and 24, I lost time massaging a hamstring cramp. My 3:45 time at Mile 25 was encouraging, and I ran to the finish in 3:56:45 (9:01.) This was my best Portland finish time since 1996 (must be the cool temperatures!!) I was first of 8 in the 70-74M division with an hour to spare.

As always, I enjoyed visiting with friends and acquaintances as they passed me on the course or went by in the opposite direction on the out-and-back section between Miles 7 and 11.

On September 29 and 30, Lenore and I attended the 2000 Portland Marathon Race Directors Workshop. As co-directors of the YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON we profited from this conference and made many contacts in the running industry. We finally got to meet Joe Henderson of Eugene, OR, personally. For 20 years I have been reading his running books and his column in Runners World Magazine. More recently, I’ve subscribed to his Running Commentary Newsletter (commentary@joehenderson.com) This is an excellent report on running information that is always current and informative….(e.g., Olympics 2000, road running, marathons, and track and field.)

We met and became well acquainted with Rick Nealis, Race Director of the Marine Corps Marathon. A few months ago he helped me get an entry for his October 22, 2000, marathon. Before the conference was over, I had an invitation to start the marathon in the seeded section. While I’m sightseeing on the race course, Lenore will be at the finish line watching the event from the VIP tent.

Jerry Martin, 52, of Spokane was the winner of the wheelchair division in a remarkable time of 2:12:36. He joined us for birthday cake (my 71st) at the awards ceremony. Others who stopped at our table to celebrate were Jack and Gunhild Swanson, Richard and Barbara Olafson, Martin Rudow (editor of the popular Northwest Runner Magazine,) Marty Wanles (Sports Marketing Guru,) Michael Dutton (our adopted grandson,) Mel and Sonia Preedy, Diana Anderson, Fenny Roberts, Larry Brown, and many new friends from the workshop we had just attended.

Our thanks go to Les Smith, Race Director of the Portland Marathon, his marathon committee, the many volunteers, and the sponsors. The Portland Marathon is a race we always look forward to attending, and our participation in the workshop this year made the weekend more special than ever!!

Written by Bob Dolphin

Here are the race results of friends and acquaintances

Men's Race

2:57:50  Cliff Banister, Pendleton, OR
3:00:04  Chuck Cammack, Albany, OR
3:06:23  Rene Van Doorn, Renton, WA
3:08:55  Glenn Tachiyama, Seattle, WA
3:09:55  Eric Hansen, Yakima, WA
3:11:27  Kenneth Yager, Selah, WA
3:12:40  Michael Wakabayashi, Spokane, WA
3:18:21  Charlie Bodeen, Yakima, WA
3:24:00  Davey Jones, Seattle, WA
3:29:14  Terry Cliett, Selah, WA
3:33:02  Jim Boyd, Seattle, WA
3:34:28  Michael Dutton, Everett, WA
3:35:33  Max York, Yakima, WA
3:36:16  Bill Fallon, Vancouver, WA
3:36:37  Paul Hinen, Soap Lake, WA
3:37:35  Sonny Conder, Portland, OR
3:42:47  Mel Preedy, Ravensdale, WA
3:47:21  Jim Kunz, Seattle, WA
3:48:47  Greg Judge, Des Moines, WA
3:49:19  Ron Fowler, Seattle, WA
3:51:07  James Scheer, Vancouver, WA
3:51:59  William Kastner, Monterey, CA
3:52:37  Bill Torsen, Bellevue, WA
3:52:41  Ken Bonner, Victoria, B.C.
3:56:45  Bob Dolphin, Renton, WA
3:57:21  John Rogers, Tacoma, WA
3:59:19  Lionel Wilridge, Kent, WA
4:08:27  Russ Akers, College Place, WA
4:13:21  Mark Konodi, Seattle, WA
4:14:22  Ray Wold, Lebanon, OR
4:15:55  Jon Nevitt, Burlington, WA
4:18:01  Steve Love, Mansfield, WA
4:23:08  Tim Trudeau, Kennewick, WA
5:14:44  Aurelio Garcia, Selah, WA
5:22:50  Larry Brown, Salem, OR
5:38:52  Sid Carlson, Portland, OR

Women's Race

3:08:56  Laura Baird, Seattle, WA
3:11:47  Jill Banister, Pendleton, OR
3:27:35  Jodi Kartes, Lake Oswego, OR
3:34:54  Eva Lust-Wright, Yakima, WA
3:34:55  Carol Stuhley, Yakima, WA
3:51:32  Nicole Weippert, Yakima, WA
3:51:59  Susan Meyer, Monterey, CA
3:57:00  Dana Clauson, Yakima, WA
4:06:53  Maryann Carter, Vancouver, B.C.
4:21:45  Mary Riehl, Yakima, WA
4:28:54  Sue Cammack, Albany, OR
4:33:09  Fenny Roberts, Salem, OR
4:56:56  Barbara Bartz, Yakima, WA
4:57:33  Phyllis Sund, Tumwater, WA
4:57:34  Catherine Grunenfeld, Olympia, WA
5:18:28  Jeanne Blondin, Yakima, WA
5:21:14  Diana Anderson, Enumclaw, WA
6:06:18  Carol Dellinger, Spokane, WA