Race Information: Portland Marathon

It is always a pleasure to run the Portland Marathon. It’s a large event in terms of numbers with 8,000 runners, walkers, and wheelchair athletes divided into a marathon run and walk, 5 mile run, Mayor’s 10K walk, and a 2 mile kids’ run. This big event is well organized, and everything runs smoothly with many amenities given to the participants. Because Lenore and I have attended the Race Directors Conference on the two days before the marathon for three years, we have a better appreciation of the behind-the-scenes activity that makes this weekend such a success.

This year the marathon was held on Sunday, October 6, 2002, under ideal weather conditions. There was a solid cloud cover, and the air temperature remained in the 60’s with brief winds of approximately 10 miles per hour. The gentle-grade hills never rose more than 150 feet above river level, so there was good running. The last four miles were downhill or flat. The course starts and finishes in dowtown Portland with a tour of the suburbs and views of the Willamette River.

The winner of the marathon was Akhiro Oshikiri, 27, of Japan who ran a 2:19:56 (5:20 pace). He had a comfortable seven minute (plus) lead over Dan Olmstead, 30, of Eugene who ran a 2:27:09. Next were Shin Nozaki, 30, from Japan in 2:27:36 and Mark Donahue, 31, of Seattle, with 2:29:05.

The women’s race was won by Katie Galdabini, 30, of Seattle with a 2:54:09 (6:38 pace). Close behind were Nikki Rafie, 40, of Portland in 2:54:38 and Tae Kumasaka, 26, from Tokyo with a 2:56:57 time.

Jerry Martin, 54, of Green Acres (near Spokane) re-passed the front runners after 18 miles and wheeled to a 2:16:30 (5:13 pace) to win the wheelchair division.

A national age division record was established at the marathon by John Besson, Jr., of Lake Oswego (near Portland). At 90 years of age he walked the marathon in 6:48:44 to break the old record by over a half hour. This retired U.S. Navy rear admiral plans to return in five years to take a shot at the 95-99M record!

Mel Preedy of Ravensdale at 69 is still winning the 65-69M age division. He ran a swift 3:35:12 and will dominate the 70-74M division after his 70th birthday in April 2003. Gunhild Swanson, 58, of Spokane ran a 3:31:23 race to finish in second place for the 55-59F group.

Runners World was well represented at the Portland Marathon and the concurrent Race Directors Conference. As speakers and/or panel contributors were Amby Burfoot (editor), Joe Henderson (west coast editor), and Bart Yasso (race and event promotion director). They and their associates manned a booth at the Race Expo answering questions about their leading running magazine in the Unites States. They participated in running seminars and aid stations during the race and provided the beer at the awards ceremony. Runners World participation was very much in evidence during the marathon weekend.

Bart was the 3:10:00 pacer and crossed the finish line with his group at 3:09:52. Amby was the 4:00:00 pacer and finished the marathon in 3:59:59. Amazing!! Bart’s wife Laura ran the marathon in 4:28:55. Jerry Martin’s fiance, Stella Evans, completed her first marathon and finished with a time of 7:55:00.

My race went fairly well. I was under an average nine minute pace for twelve miles. At the half marathon mark I had a 1:58:08, but I slowed and struggled through the last 10K. The “wall” and leg cramping were the main problems. I was apprehensive at the 24 mile cone where I tore a hamstring last year. But nothing untoward happened, and I finished without injury. Lenore and the other race directors at the VIP tent cheered as I approached the finish line, and this spurred me on. I finished with a 4:12:22 (9:38 pace) and was the first of eleven in the 70-74M group. I am proud to report that I received my third, consecutive, first place plaque at the awards ceremony. Next year, there will be younger 70 years olds to compete with, and I’ll, no doubt, move down the pecking order.

Thanks go to the many running friends and acquaintances who visited with me on and off the course. Some wished me a happy 73rd birthday or asked about my marathon count and schedule. In the 24th mile a 20 year old man who was running his first marathon told me that he wanted to be running like I am when he reached my age. I appreciated his comments and those of other young runners who were so complimentary.

Race director Les Smith, his event committee, and hundreds of volunteers are also extended thanks for putting on a great medley of running and walking events.

Written by Bob Dolphin

The following is a list of finishers that includes the names of friends and acquaintances who finished the Portland Marathon:

2:43:42  Cliff Richards, 41, Maple Valley, WA  
3:09:52  Bart Yasso, 46, Emmaus, PA 
3:18:48  Glenn Tachiyama, 45, Seattle, WA 
3:18:49  Laura Baird, 33, Portland, OR 
3:26:48  Mike Dutton, 32, Bellingham, WA 
3:29:02  Ron Hayden, 46, Kennewick, WA 
3:31:23  Gunhild Swanson, 58, Spokane, WA 
3:35:12  Mel Preedy, 69, Ravensdale, WA 
3:35:57  Connie Ridenhour, 44, Spokane, WA 
3:36:35  Gerald Buchman, 44, Ephrata, WA  
3:37:49  Bill Torsen, 53, Bellevue, WA 
3:40:59  Ron Fowler, 55, Seattle, WA  
3:43:14  Richard Bona, 64, Yakima, WA 
3:43:55  Pete Hansen, 46, Ferndale, WA 
3:45:28  Terry Cliett, Selah, WA 
3:45:56  Jim Kunz, 53, Seattle, WA 
3:54:08  Lionel Wildridge, 67, Kent, WA 
3:55:31  Rick Jensen, 41, Washougal, WA 
3:57:37  Mike Lewis, 59, Enumclaw, WA 
3:59:59  Amby Burfoot, 56, Emmaus, PA 
4:03:37  Davey Jones, 56, Seattle, WA 
4:12:22  Bob Dolphin, 73, Renton/Yakima, WA 
4:16:15  Ed Hahn, 36, Fort Lewis, WA 
4:17:20  Ed Hansen, 56, Slayton, OR 
4:19:16  Jack Swanson, 68, Spokane, WA 
4:23:42  Andrew Dunn, 43, Normandy Park, WA 
4:28:55  Laura Yasso, 42, Center Valley, PA 
4:49:32  Karen Buchman, 45, Ephrata, WA 
4:57:39  Jim Scheer, 60, Vancouver, WA 
4:58:06  Fenny Roberts, 50, Salem, OR 
5:05:58  Eb Engelmann, 60, Salem OR 
5:25:47  Larry Brown, 63, Salem, OR 
6:53:33  Diana Anderson, 65, Enumclaw, WA 
7:55:00  Stella Evans, 44, Spokane, WA