Race Information: Marine Corps Marathon

Running the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC, and northern Virginia is a special treat that I look forward to each year. This year the marathon was held on Sunday, October 26, 2003, for the 16, 456 runners who started the race. This event is well-organized and follows a military operational plan to ensure its success.

I was assigned bib number “8”……….I couldn’t believe it! The pressure was on, and I had to live up to the billing.

At the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Crystal City Lenore and I attended a Race Directors Conference, listened to race director Rick Nealis there and later at a seminar, and went to the race packet pickup and Expo.

Our friend Marty Wanless, sports marketer, had his running brochures that included those for our YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON displayed on a huge rack. Ray Scharenbrock from South Milwaukee, WI, found us at the Expo. His marathon exploits are legendary. He had run our inaugural YRCM, and the Marine Corps Marathon was going to be #485 for him! Ray will soon complete his EIGHTH cycle of running 50 States & DC. He is so personable that it is always a delight to meet him and hear about his marathoning all over the country and the world.

Later that evening we had dinner at a nearby restaurant with runners from the Interurban Running Club of South King County in Washington State. Joining us were J. Ellis, Meredith Johnson, John Kokes, Kathy West, Todd Byers and Angie McCusker. Ed and Lois Driver of Palm Springs, CA, our weekend companions, also attended. We had a good time with the Drivers and look forward to our week with them in Hawaii for the Honolulu Marathon in December.

At the marathon start on race day there were welcoming remarks from Rick Nealis and from the Commandant of the Marine Corps. A navy chaplain said a prayer, the national anthem was sung, the colors were presented, doves were released……and then it was time to race. The wheelchairs left two minutes before the runners were released by a blast from a howitzer.

I crossed the starting line in 8 seconds……and then enjoyed the downgrade in the first mile. In the fourth mile there was a major hill on a new out-and-back configuration. This was a course change due to security purposes relative to the Pentagon. As always, the run in Rock Creek Park, by the Potomac River, Watergate, Lincoln Memorial, Supreme Court, Capitol, Smithsonian Institute (with the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument in the distance) made the miles fly by.

Only in the last 10K did it get a bit laborious. The sun came out, the temperature rose to the 60’s, humidity was high, and the wind increased to 15 mph. I passed quite a few slow walkers and runners in the last two miles. Then I walked up a short, steep hill, ran a loop road around the Marine Corps Memorial and ran to the finish line. My chip time was 4:15:59, and I finished 4,158th overall of 15, 974 finishers. I was first in the 70+Male Division, and this made my day!

Lenore met me in the finishers chute and steered me to the VIP tent where I could rest, eat and drink, and watch a steady stream of runners cross the finish line. There were stimulating conversations……and pictures taken with The Dollies (four runners from Texas in patriotic costumes) and with Rick Nealis and other friends.

It was here that we met Bob Elling of Albany, NY, and his wife Kirstin. Their race numbers were “6” and “7”, and Bob wore a singlet that had “Anniversary” printed on the front. He explained to us that they had been married at the starting line of the Marine Corps Marathon seven years ago….and then they ran the race. They return each year to celebrate their anniversary by running the marathon together.

The winner of the marathon was Peter Sherry, 35, of Great Falls, VA. At 21 miles, he was a minute behind the lead group of runners. Then he picked up the pace and began to pass the opposition. At the 24 mile marker he caught the leader, Eric Post, 24, of Fairfax, VA. Peter finished in 2:25:07 while Eric held on to second place with a 2:27:49.

In 10th position and the first military finisher was Gerardo Avila, 30, of Fort Lewis, WA. He was the winner of the third annual YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON on April 5, 2003!

Running her first marathon, Heather Hanscom, 25, of Alexandria, VA, won the women’s race in a fine time of 2:37:59 and placed 19th overall. She broke away from the competition in the first mile and pulled away to a 20+ minute lead by the time she crossed the finish line……tired, but running strong! In second place was Lindsay Gannon, 38, of the United Kingdom who finished in 2:58:46.

Later, the Drivers, Lenore and I returned to our motel to clean up, rest and get ready for the evening function at the race headquarters hotel. This post-race party featured dance music, food, drinks and stimulating conversation about the marathon.

Before we left, we told Rick Nealis how much we enjoyed the marathon and how much we appreciate his efforts and those of his staff and the thousands of Marines who help make the “People’s Marathon” the great success that it is. We’ll be back in 2004 for my 5th consecutive Marine Corps Marathon!!

Written by Bob Dolphin

          
Partial Results..........Marine Corps Marathon

1........2:25:07  Peter Sherry, 35, Great Falls, VA
2........2:27:49  Eric Post, 24, Fairfax, VA
3........2:28:24  Aaron Church, 28, South Riding, VA

1........2:37:59  Heather Hanscom, 25, Alexandria, VA
2........2:58:46  Lindsay Gannon, 38, United Kingdom
3........3:00:14  Kristin Van Eron, 31, Timonium, MD

2:32:59  Gerardo Avila, 30, Fort Lewis, WA
3:32:14  John Kokes, 48, Seattle, WA
4:04:54  Herb Allen, 61, Bainbridge Island, WA
4:05:32  George Banker, 53, Oxon Hill, MD
4:15:59  Bob Dolphin, 74, Renton/Yakima, WA
4:37:06  Rob Willis, 52, Tacoma, WA
4:37:06  Meredith Johnson, 51, Tacoma, WA
4:37:06  J. Ellis, 44, Tacoma, WA
4:38:49  Todd Byers, 40  Long Beach, CA
4:54:59  Ed Driver, 78, Pasadena, CA
5:21:09  Ron Baker, 62, Albany, NY
5:37:01  Kathy West, 46, Seattle, WA
6:12:49  Ray Scharenbrock, 70, South Milwakee, WI