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(Received by email from Bob/Lenore in August 2003) Editor: Elma can be found in the South West corner of Washington State around 70 miles from Seattle. |
The Gray's Harbor Marathon held near Elma,
Washington, on August 2, 2003, was run on the same course as the St. Patrick's
Day Marathon that I ran on March 23, 2003. That event was my training
marathon for the YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON on April 5th, and the current one
was a prelude to the Crater Lake Marathon in southern Oregon on August 9th. I like to train for major marathons by
running low-key marathons. The Gray's Harbor Marathon fit the bill.
There was a combined field of 27 runners that started at 9:00 a.m. at Vance
Creek Park. It was composed of eleven marathoners, eleven
half-marathoners, and five 5 Mile Race participants. The out-and-back course that was nearly flat initially went east and then southeast on county roads that rolled slightly. It went through the Chehalis River Valley almost to Oakville before turning back. The setting was rural with wooded hills nearby. Some of the greenery seen last March was now brown as hay fields had matured. The hay was being baled with white plastic covers. I enjoyed the race even though no food or sports drink were offered at any of the aid stations. Anticipating this from my March marathon here, I had some gel packets and a water bottle filled with Gatorade to sustain me during the race. Because of this critical omission on a warm day, the race director caught some flack from disgruntled runners after they finished. The race is a fund raiser to support a youth track team's traveling expenses, but the event participants will not tolerate being slighted in their nutritional needs during the race. Denny Brooks was on hand taking pictures of the participants on the race course. Because I knew half of the marathon field and recognized many of the others, I have viewed these pictures with interest on his website, www.ontherun.com. My favorite picture is of Mel Preedy accompanying his granddaughter Hilma Yantis as she was running her FIRST MARATHON. In the picture are fellow runners Gene Morris and first timer Stacey Solie. Another runner doing her first marathon was Diane Pickrel who added this feat to her endurance accomplishments of climbing Mount Rainier and participating in a bicycle race around this mountain's periphery. The marathon was won by Van Phan, 32, of Maple Valley. For her 7th marathon, she ran a 3:28:39 PR. Connie Ridenauer, 44, of Spokane ran with Van for 24 miles and came in second with a 3:31:13. Brian Gawley, 27, of Port Angeles was the first male and the third overall runner with a PR of 3:42:44. My run (often with no one in sight) went well, but my pace slowed from an initial eight and a half minutes per mile to eleven minutes in the final miles. I was thankful that the heat wave early in the week with temperatures in the high 90's was over. Late in the race the sunny skies brought temperatures that did not exceed 80 degrees. A 5-10 miles per hour head wind had a cooling effect in the second half of the race as well. I finished with a 4:19:36, my second best of the year, 8th of 11 finishers and 1st 70-74M. In all likelihood, I will return to run this race again because I like the scenic course. However, I recommend that the race director and his staff provide porta potties on the course, have a paramedic on duty to provide medical care, put out signs to warn drivers of "runners on the road," and provide Gatorade or Powerade at all aid stations. ......................................Written by Bob Dolphin * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Gray's Harbor Marathon Results............. 1. 3:28:39 Van Phan, 32, Maple Valley 2. 3:31:13 Connie Ridenauer, 44, Spokane 3. 3:42:44 Brian Gawley, 27, Port Angeles 4. 3:49:54 Gene Morris, 57, Seattle 5. 3:50:32 Stacey Solie, 28, Seattle 6. 3:51:57 Jim Boyd, 61, Seattle 7. 4:09:39 Ted Clelland, 59, Seattle 8. 4:19:36 Bob Dolphin, 73, Renton 9. 4:33:02 Hilma Yantis, 20, Grapeview 10. 4:33:08 Mel Preedy, 70, Ravensdale 11. 5:31:31 Diane Pickrel, 52, Seattle |
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Last Updated - 6th November 2003