Race Information: Capital City Marathon

When Lenore and I picked up my runner’s packet at Sylvester Park in downtown Olympia on Saturday, the day before the May 18, 2003, Capital City Marathon, the weather was threatening. It was cold, overcast and windy. If these conditions continued to the next day, racing in the marathon, half marathon and 5 miler would likely be difficult.

Thankfully, the weather changed, and there were good running conditions by the 7:30 a.m. start. There was a light breeze, and the sky was clear. The temperature started out in the 50’s and rose to the high 60’s. It was an excellent day to run a marathon on a scenic course.

The race course in 2001 and 2002 was modified to bypass some road construction to repair earthquake damage. This year, with the construction completed, we were back to running on a newly paved road by Capital Lake in the first mile. This was easier than running up steep Capital Hill as we did during the construction period.

I started fairly close to the starting line, and this permitted me to greet and talk with many friends and acquaintances as they went by. However, it became discouraging when I realized that just about everyone I knew was in front of me. I was nearing the back of the pack as my pace dropped from a 9 to a 10 minute mile. I keep forgetting that great grandfathers, such as I am, don’t run very fast……but I’m enjoying the marathon adventures.

My goal for the day was to run under four hours and thirty minutes so that I could qualify for the Boston Marathon on a certified course. I had missed it by a minute at the Vancouver International Marathon two weeks earlier, so I was hopeful that I could improve that much or more. I looked forward to seeing my half-way split so I could appraise my chances.

When the half arrived, I was at 2:09:00, which was slower by two and a half minutes than my Vancouver time. That wasn’t encouraging. Doubling my split time and adding ten minutes for a potential 4:28 wasn’t promising either. As it turned out, I held my pace and had a good second half. I lengthened my stride and caught up with runners slower than I, while being passed only by a few.

The last 10K went well (no “wall” or cramps), and I negotiated it in 62 minutes. After the half-mile run downhill by the State Capitol, I crossed the finish line in 4:19:48 (9:55)……my best time of the year! My second half was only a minute and a half slower than the first half. I finished 317th of 462 and first of two in the 70+M division. It had been a good run, and I have that Boston Marathon qualification time for 2004.

In the first mile the road curves around Capital Lake, and those of us in the back of the pack could look across the water to see the front runners. There were sizable gaps between the leaders. Only after the race was over did I learn that the front runner had been Phil Jesperson, 36, of Lacey, WA, who went on to win the race in 2:35:45 (5:56 pace). In his 5th win at the Capital City Marathon he had almost a two minute lead over second place finisher, Paul Abdalla, 41, of Duvall, WA, (2:37:32). Both had a comfortable lead over Craig Dickson, 36, of Tumwater, WA, who finished in third with a 2:43:29.

In the women’s division Karen Steen, 38, of Olympia, WA, also won for the fifth time at her home town. In a time of 2:54:44 she was 6th overall. In 10th position was the second place woman, Carla Dunn, 32, of Nanaimo, BC, with a 2:57:37. Jennifer Teppo, 44, of Vancouver, WA, was third with a respectable 3:04:09.

I have never heard of a marathon in which both the first man and the first woman were five time winners of the event. It must be a record of some sort.

Some of our friends and acquaintances had records of their own. Congratulations to Mary Chen, 42, of Vancouver, WA, for finishing her first marathon. Heather Rogers, a student at Boston University, came to Olympia to complete her first marathon. Her cheering section came from California, Whidbey Island and Seattle.

It was Michael Dutton’s 10th anniversary of his first marathon. Jim Boyd (still recovering from an injury) had an 8 minute negative split and ran 35 minutes faster than at Vancouver on May 4th! At age 75, June Curry of Kent was the oldest runner in the marathon.

Debi Durkee ran her 49th marathon and is on track to run her 50th on May 31st at the Newport Marathon that her husband directs. Fenny Roberts ran her 50th marathon. This includes quite a few ultramarathons where her record is 121 miles in a 24 hour race.

Steve Barrick ran his 95th marathon and will soon be eligible to join the 100 Marathon Club North America. Carol Dellinger ran her 160th marathon.

The friendly volunteers and the many cheering spectators made this marathon another great event. This was my 19th consecutive Capital City marathon, and I look forward to many more in the future.

Written by Bob Dolphin

 
Partial Results
Capital City Marathon
May 18, 2003

2:51:46  Christopher Warren, 35, 4th, Renton, WA
3:05:16  James Drew, 42, Port Orchard, WA
3:05:53  Chuck Cammack, 57, 1st, Albany, OR
3:12:41  Michael Wakabayashi, 55, 2nd, Spokane, WA
3:18:20  Tony Covarrubias, 42, Auburn, WA
3:20:33  Pete Hansen, 46, Ferndale, WA
3:22:17  Steve Barrick, 41, Kent, WA
3:36:15  Michael Dutton, 33, Bellingham, WA
3:36:21  Ron Fowler, 55, 5th, Seattle, WA
3:36:37  David Jones, 57, Seattle, WA
3:43:07  Lionel Wilridge, 68, 1st, Kent, WA
3:45:07  Greg Judge, 54, Renton, WA
3:50:31  Jim Kunz, 54, Seattle, WA
3:51:02  Herb Allen, 60, 2nd, Bainbridge Island, WA
3:53:32  Greg Kermgard, 55, Bellevue, WA
4:03:49  Sandra Noel, 53, 2nd, Vashon, WA
4:05:13  Mary Chen, 41, Vancouver, WA
4:12:43  Jim Boyd, 60, 4th, Seattle, WA/San Diego, CA
4:13:14  Dietrich Hildebrandt, 19, 4th, Milton-Freewater, OR
4:14:41  Jim Tucker, 53, Selah, WA
4:19:48  Bob Dolphin, 73, 1st, Renton/Yakima, WA
4:24:13  Richard Andrews, 58, Mukilteo, WA
4:27:00  Cheri Gillis, 51, 4th, Woodinville, WA
4:28:16  Jim Moffit, 56, Kent, WA
4:28:55  Jon Nevitt, 63, Burlington, WA
4:33:13  Ed Hansen, 56, Stayton, OR
4:41:32  Debi Durkee, 48, Newport, OR
4:42:12  John Bandur, 65, 2nd, Federal Way, WA
4:44:05  George Hansen, 59, Fircrest, WA
4:51:13  Heather Rogers, 22, Boston, MA/Seattle, WA
5:04:48  Jim Thatcher, 54, Olympia, WA
5:13:41  Bernadette Langdon, 49, Portland, OR
5:29:08  Fenny Roberts, 50, Salem, OR
5:29:08  Jim Scheer, 61, Vancouver, WA
6:13:53  June Curry, 75, Kent, WA
6:16:53  John Mandy, 70, Spanaway, WA
6:23:55  Carol Dellinger, 40, Spokane, WA

Awards went five deep, except for early starters.

Partial Results
Half Marathon

1:30:18  Arthur Dunn, 43, Tacoma
1:31:10  Brian Fitzpatrick, 61, Federal Way
1:32:50  Ron Taylor, 60, Steilacoom
1:34:43  Richard Ketchum, 48, Kent
1:37:09  Robert McIntosh, 56
1:39:58  Lee Parker, 66, Auburn, 
1:48:25  Larry Williams, 63, Seattle
1:57:16  Clyde Sparks, 68, Seattle
1:58:37  Denny Brooks, 45, Lacey
1:59:20  Wiley Hurst, 66, Yakima
1:59:59  Mike Lewis, 60, Enumclaw
2:02:29  Chuck Fletcher, 73, Olympia
2:12:02  Wilma Parker, 69, Auburn

Partial Results
5 Miler

35:38  Jay Lindbergh, 51, 2nd, Lakewood
42:13  Richard Olafson, 69, 1st, Olympia
44:01  Sally Lindbergh, 57, 2nd, Tacoma
55:43  Barbara Olafson, 69, 1st, Olympia