Race Information: Seattle Marathon

The 2003 Seattle Marathon had been my goal as a milestone for several years, and I was happy to run it on November 30, 2003…..along with 2,325 others. This marathon was my 20th consecutive Seattle Marathon since I moved to Yakima, Washington, in 1984. By then I had run 23 marathons, mostly in the mid-west while living in Columbia, Missouri, and Nevada, Iowa.

The Seatte Marathon of November 25, 1984, was my first marathon in my new (and last) state. The course at that time was a double out-and-back with loops around Seward Park, the start/finish area. We ran north twice along Lake Washington (as we do now) to a turn-around beyond Leschi with returns to Seward Park. I ran a 3:20:49 the first year and a 3:09:41 the second year.

Then the marathon was relocated to Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA, for the start of a point-to-point course. It ran along the Sammamish River Trail and the Burke-Gilman Trail by the Lake Washington shore to finish near the University of Washington in Seattle. While not as scenic as the present course, it was FAST.

I ran a 3:07:13 on that course when I was 60 years old. It was my best time ever at a Seattle Marathon. My times really slowed down when the present course was adopted. The hill climb from Lake Washington to the Seattle Center and the Space Needle in the last 10 miles takes a toll on my aging body. However, I like meeting the challenge of finding my way to the finish in Memorial Stadium each year. The course provides a good sampling of what Seattle has to offer.

Leaving the Space Needle area at the start, we run through downtown Seattle and then onto a ramp of I-90. After running through the Mt. Baker Tunnel, there is an out-and-back section on the interstate floating bridge to the Mercer Island tunnel and back. Following the run on I-90, there is a long stretch along the west shore of Lake Washington heading south.

After three miles, the course takes us to Seward Park, a peninsula jutting into the lake with a lake level road, for a 2.5 mile circuit of the park. Then it’s a return to Lake Washington Boulevard going north. Steep hills, suburbs, the Arboretum, and the Interlaken curvy, wooded trail provide scenic variety. At an overpass at busy, I-5 the Space Needle and finish area are in view……only three miles away.

I enjoyed seeing the leaders and all of the runners in front and behind me on the I-90 floating bridge as we ran in opposite directions. The friends with whom I exchanged greetings here or on the Lake Washington Boulevard out-and-back are listed in the Partial Results at the end of this article.

I went out too fast at the beginning, so I visited with some friends who paced themselves better and passed me in the second half. I had pushed myself early in the race because I wanted to do well in age class competition. At age 74, I am at the upper end of my division, and I hoped to make a good showing by racing from the outset. However, I had to walk the hills in the second half and use a walk/run pattern on minor grades in the last two miles. Unbelievably, I didn’t cramp at all!

Eventually, I crossed the finish line in 4:22:53 in mid-pack with a position of 1,186 of 2,314 marathon finishers……and first 70-74M. Lenore, a finish line volunteer, gave me my rewards….. a hug & kiss and a finisher’s medal.

Uli Steidl, 31, of Seattle, a graduate student from Germany at the University of Washington, was the winner of the marathon for a record FIFTH consecutive year in a time of 2:23:21. He ran in a three-runner group until the halfway mat in Seward Park. Then the third place finisher, Shawn Miller, 23, of Juneau, AK (2:38:10) fell back. Nik Southwell, 29, of Victoria, BC (2:37:43) dropped back in the 17th mile.

Elizabeth Frame, 21, a graduate student at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in LaJolla, CA, was a dark horse winner of the women’s race. She ran her first marathon last June, and in her second marathon she was a surprise winner in 2:57:19. In the tenth mile she passed the early leader (and winner in 2000, 2001, & 2002), Joan McGrath, 42, of New Westminster, BC. Accompanying her for much of the race was Trisha Rosenberg, 27, of Seattle who finished in second place with a 2:57:36. Joan was third with a time of 3:01:27.

It was a special occasion for many. Congratulations to Richard DeCample of Renton, WA, for running his 150th marathon! He wore a singlet that was autographed by well-wishers (including me) for the event. He last wore the shirt at his 100th marathon.

Congratulations, also, to Steve Barrick, 41, of Kent, WA, who sported bib number 100 as he ran his 100th marathon. He is the director of the Green River Marathon and a member of the Interurban Running Club. We hope that Steve will join the 100 Marathon Club North America (no dues!)

Two local 100 Marathon Club members, Ron Fowler and Greg Judge, ran the marathon with “triplet” Paul Emmett in 4:02:15. Ron and Paul were there to support Greg who had just completed the Philadelphia Marathon on November 22 and the Atlanta Marathon on Thanksgiving Day, November 27. The Seattle Marathon made it THREE marathons for Greg in EIGHT days!!

It was good to see 100 Marathon Club member Don Lang of Glendale, CA, in the 18th mile of the course near Leschi. His marathon total is close to 350.

Participating in a “first marathon” is something very special. Lenore and I were happy to send off a first timer with hugs and good wishes for a successful race. Our grand-niece Niki Kuhlman, 32, a nurse from Vancouver, Washington, was a Team in Training participant from the group that supports research for cures of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. An injury during her training didn’t discourage her. She changed her goal from “running” her first marathon to “walking” it. Because the walkers started an hour before I did, our paths crossed twice on the I-90 floating bridge over Lake Washington and again on the boulevard along the lake. Walking a marathon in 8:01:12 (with an injury) is quite an accomplishment. We’re proud of you, Niki!!

My 20th Seattle Marathon lived up to expectations. I ran a Boston qualifier, beat my Seattle times of the past two years, and kept my fall/winter string of age-class firsts going. I hit the wall harder than usual, but I still finished in mid-pack even though I was the oldest runner in the marathon. It had been a good day, and weather-wise it was the “day between two storms.”

Thanks to the many volunteers for making the marathon happen. They were cheerful, supportive and industrious. Thanks, also, to race director Louise Long and to Denika Voget, Todd Byers, John Kokes and the many other section leaders who coordinate the event and solve problems as they arise during the race weekend.

Written by Bob Dolphin

          
Partial Results - Seattle Marathon - November 30, 2003

1.  2:32:21  Uli Steidl, 31, Seattle, WA
2.  2:37:43  Nik Southwell, 29, Victoria, BC
3.  2:38:10  Shawn Miller, 23, Juneau, AK

1.  2:57:19  Elizabeth Frame, 29, LaJolla, CA
2.  2:59:36  Trisha Rosenberg, 27, Seattle, WA
3.  3:01:27  Joan McGrath, 42, New Westminster, BC

2:55:18  Cliff Banister, 42, Pendleton, OR, 3rd in Age Division
3:12:59  Tony Phillipi, 42, Tacoma
3:12:59  Christopher Warren, 36, Renton
3:18:42  Stephen Yee, 44, Renton
3:26:29  Larry Carroll, 63, Spokane, 1st
3:34:35  Glenn Tachiyama, 47, Seattle
3:34:44  Tony Covarrubias, 43, Auburn
3:37:14  Michael Wakabayashi, 55, Spokane
3:37:49  Roseanne Bacon, 40, Yakima
3:38:15  Richard DeCample, 58, Renton
3:43:34  Steve Barrick, 41, Kent
3:44:09  David Jones, 57, Seattle
3:48:45  Gunhild Swanson, 59, Spokane, 2nd
3:49:05  Bill Voiland, 55, Spokane
4:02:15  Greg Judge, 55, Renton
4:02:15  Ron Fowler, 56, Seattle
4:02:16  Paul Emmett, 57, Redmond
4:04:55  Lionel Wilridge, 68, Kent, 1st
4:10:22  Pete Hansen, 47, Birch Bay
4:10:43  John Little, 60, Vancouver, BC
4:11:38  Cheri Gillis, 51, Woodinville, 2nd
4:11:54  Bill Torsen, 54, Bellevue
4:12:46  Phil Weiser, 47, Kent
4:16:54  Lori Kory, 47, Spokane
4:17:41  Jim Kunz, 54, Seattle
4:19:19  Greg  Kermgard, 55, Bellevue
4:19:53  Beverly Stuart, 38, Kent
4:22:53  Bob Dolphin, 74, Renton, 1st
4:27:40  Ed Hansen, 57, Stayton, OR
4:28:49  Herb Allen, 61, Bainbridge Island
4:34:14  Sarah Gallazin, 51, Vancouver, BC
4:36:53  Jon Gissberg, 60, Seattle
4:42:44  Andrew Dunn, 45, Kent
4:45:02  Lynn Yarnell, 53, Edmonds
4:50:39  Roger Hauge, 72, 2nd
4:52:12  Mel Preedy, 70, Ravensdale, 3rd
4:58:16  Todd Byers, 40, Long Beach, CA
5:10:06  Ultra Al Miller, 49, Coos Bay, OR
5:30:22  Fenny Roberts, 51, Salem, OR
5:30:22  Jim Scheer, 64, Vancouver, WA
5:52:50  Larry Brown, 64, Salem, OR
5:33:52  Bernadette Langdon, 50, Portland, OR
5:58:00  Don Lang, 69, Glendale, CA
8:01:12  Niki Kuhlman, 32, Vancouver, WA

Partial Results - Seattle Half Marathon - November 30, 2003

1:30:18  Niko Skartvedt, 17, Seattle
1:32:45  Jill Banister, 44, Pendleton, OR
1:41:23  Janet Green, 50, Victoria, BC
1:45:53  Scott Lucke, 35, Port Orchard
1:50:36  David Dick, 39, Seattle Area
1:57:45  Denny Brooks, 46, Lacey
2:05:16  Evan Fagan, 66, Victoria, BC
2:35:59  Slade Gorton, 75, Seattle Area
2:57:46  June Curry, 76, Kent
3:01:29  Barbara Jarvis, 67, Kent
3:10:36  Diane Anderson, 67, Enumclaw