Myself, Jack Brooks and Big Dave Carter were invited out to Washington State for the Yakima River Canyon Marathon by Bob
& Lenore Dolphin.
Without asking they arranged for us to stay with a friend of
theirs in Edmonds, which is just to the North of Seattle.
After 2 nights with Bruce Katter in a very sunny Seattle, yes it doesn't always rain, we headed through the Cascades via the
14000ft Mount Ranier to the almost desert like town of Yakima.
Yet again Bob & Lenore came up trumps, managing to get us
2 complimentary nights in a local motel, before we spent the last night on their floor. As usual, once Big Dave put on his British Jester's
outfit, he and to a lesser extent us, became folk heroes.
The race itself was truly a wonderful experience from start to finish, and if there is
a more scenic marathon in the world, I haven't done it yet, well ok, maybe it's second to Everest.
Below is a report done by Bob Dolphin, who by the way, at a sprightly 72 is fast approaching his 300th Marathon/Ultra.
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YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON
Weather conditions for the second annual YAKIMA
RIVER CANYON MARATHON (YRCM) were ideal. Overcast skies, air
temperatures in the 50's and light winds on Saturday, April 6, 2002, made for good
running in the scenic canyon.
At the start in Ellensburg, WA, one
wheelchair participant and 347 runners and walkers listened to Fenny Roberts,
a marathoner from Salem, OR, sing the national anthem. Boy Scouts from
Troop 493 of Ellensburg displayed the USA colors and those of Canada, United
Kingdom, New Guinea and Australia.....countries that had runners in the
race. Jose Nebrida of Chicago who would carry a US flag while running
the marathon was introduced. He is well on the way to completing his
goal of carrying the American flag as he runs a marathon in all 50 states and
DC within two years of the 9/11 attack.
At 7:55 a.m., Jerry Martin, 54, from
Greenacres, WA (near Spokane) began his wheelchair race. Following two
Yakima City Poilice motorcycle escorts, he reached the finish line at the
south end of the canyon in 2 hours, 15 minutes and 55 seconds. Joe
Henderson, the renowned running speaker and author, counted down the final
seconds to the 8:00 a.m. start for the runners and walkers....and the whistle
from an adjacent Burlington Northern Santa Fe locomotive was the signal for
the race to begin.
First-time marathoner Jose Garcia, 32, of Yakima
immediately took the lead and increased his time and distance cushion as he
followed his motorcycle escorts.....briefly to the north and east and then
southward to and through the deep, hilly canyon. Jose, a high school
track coach, was the winner in a time of 2:29:43, a course record. In second
and third places were Chris Morlan, 34, of Spokane who ran a 2:36:10 and Tom
St Clair, 36, of Yakima who had a 2:39:16 finishing time. These two
runners also broke the 2001 course record of 2:42:56. Stan Holman, 37,
of Carson, WA, was fourth (2:43:43), and Brian Stoner, 35, of Issaquah was
fifth (2:52:53).
Not far behind in 13th place overall and winner
for the women was Marlene Farrell, 26, of Snoqualmie Pass, WA, a graduate
student at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. Her time of
3:10:00 broke the course record of 3:19:12 set by Carol Stuhley in 2001.
The second through fifth women finishers were: Lindsey Shank, 19,
Wenatchee, 3:12:04; Carol Stuhley, 39, Yakima, 3:17:32; Eva Lust, 32, Yakima,
3:17:34; Susan Haws, 30, Seattle, 3:17:42.
Cliff Banister, 41, of Pendleton, OR, finished in
8th position, the last sub three hour runner with a 2:59:22. He was the
first men's Master and the first 40-44M finisher. Susan Gallas, 41, of
Seattle was the first women's Master and first 40-44F with a finishing time of
3:25:32.
Mel Preedy of Ravensdale was four days short of
his 69th birthday. As one of the oldest runners in the race, he finished
in a fast time of 3:33:54 to break his course record by ten minutes. He
captured the first place award in the 65-69M division and placed 53rd of
346 runners and walkers.
Larry Carroll, 62, of Liberty Lake, WA, was first
again in his age group with a 3:20:37.
The last time Eb Engelmann, 60, of Salem, OR,
qualified for the Boston Marathon he wasn't accepted because the race was on
an uncertified course. On our certified course, he ran a 3:27:10,
a qualifying time with almost 13 minutes to spare. He can be
Boston-bound in 2003 if he chooses to go.
Gunhild Swanson, 57, of Spokane had a good race.
She finished with a 3:38:40 which broke her course record by four minutes and
placed her first in the 55-59F division.
Jeff Hagen, 54, from Yakima ran a 3:50:47 marathon
and was delighted with his "reverse split." (He ran the second
half of the marathon faster than the first half!!)
In the first mile, I could tell that I was going
to have a slow run. Keith Wood, 73, the oldest runner in the race, went
out of sight early.....so I just relaxed and enjoyed the event with its
marvelous scenery, friends on the course, and the great volunteers at the aid
stations. There were a lot of interesting sights. The river was
swollen with snow melt water being released for irrigation in the Yakima
Valley. Migrating tree swallows were moving upstream and feeding on
gnats from the river. The hills were turning green with new grass.
The riverside shrubs and trees were leafing out, and sage buttercups were
blooming on hillsides....a sure sign that spring had come to the canyon.
At Mile 21, I caught and passed Keith Wood.
The race was on! If I could run to the summit of the Roza Dam Hill,
I might have a chance, but it wasn't meant to be. I pressed, and my leg
cramps pressed back. He passed me halfway up the long hill and ran the
downside faster than I did.....beating me with a 4:34:21 for first 70-74M.
I finished in 4:37:56, second 70-74M and 225th of 346 runners and walkers.
As a co-director of the marathon, I was pleased at
how well things went. We had a great co-director (Lenore Dolphin), super
marathon committee and many friendly and helpful volunteers whose collective
efforts resulted in a very successful marathon.
The Yakima YMCA Service Group provided Friday
night's pasta feed, and the Selah Lions and Kiwanis Clubs served the awards
ceremony meal on Saturday.
At the pasta feed 19 of the 22 100 Marathon Club
North America members registered to run the marathon were introduced.
They were presented membership certificates to this club that was
"born" at the inaugural YRCM on March 31, 2001. Runners with
birthdays on April 5th and 7th were acknowledged. Eliot Collins came
from New Jersey to wear bib #50 in honor of his 50th birthday on April 5th.
As he had done last year, Joe Henderson came from
Eugene, OR, to speak at our pasta feed, to start the race the next morning, to
announce all finishers as they crossed the line, and to help with the awards
ceremony.
After a blessing said by Bill McCoy, our medical
missionary runner from Papua, New Guinea, and the singing of God Bless America
by Fenny Roberts, the awards ceremony started. Gifts of thanks for their
support (framed pictures of the canyon) were given to the following people:
Joe Henderson, Martin Rudow (editor of Northwest Runner magazine), Marty
Wanless (sports marketer from Vancouver, BC), Nelsen Petersen (video producer
from Lincoln, Nebraska), and Steve Christofferson (course photographer).
Next came the introductions of the Hard Core
Runners Club members (sponsors of the marathon) and the YRCM committee.....and
50 Staters who came from 23 different states. Dean Rademaker from
Springfield, IL, founder of the 50 States & DC Marathon Group and Bob
Lehew from Tulsa, OK, president of the 50 States Marathon Club, were present.
Then it was time to honor a very special group. There were 73
participants who competed in their first marathon on April 6th, and those
present at the awards ceremony received a standing ovation and a first-timers
"Completion Certificate."
Big Dave Carter and Roger Biggs, both of the 100
Marathon Club United Kingdom and North America and 50 Staters, plus Jack
Brooks, a megamarathoner (50 completions), came from England and added an
international flavor to our marathon. In like manner there were Sandra
Cloughessy, 30, (her first marathon in 3:38:02) and Martyn Flahive (3:47:25)
from Perth, Australia, Bill McCoy, 47, from New Guinea AND 19 of our Canadian
friends. Big Dave wears a jesters costume of Union Jack flag material
and carries a large flag when running. He couldn't be missed on the
course as he ran his 495th marathon in the Yakima River Canyon!! He also
has many tattoos and sported a new one on his right thigh of our YRCM logo.
Roger presented Lenore and me with a medallion
from the original 100 Marathon Club (United Kingdom) for our efforts in
forming the new 100 Marathon Club North America that has 83 members from the
U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany and Sweden. Big Dave gave us our own
"Big Dave" flag, and Lenore's daughter Jan presented her with a
bouquet of two dozen red roses.
Tony Sagare, YRCM registrar, presented the awards
to our winners. Jose Garcia and Jerry Martin were there to receive their
framed canyon pictures. Age class awards went five deep in five year
increments. Acryllic awards for the first three places and ribbons for
fourth and fifth place were awarded to those present or mailed to those who
were absent.
This year's marathon had a number of family groups
on the course. The largest at three was Chris Morlan, 2nd place
finisher, and his parents Gunhild and Jack Swanson, all of Spokane.
Justin Moyer, 13, of Wellpinit, WA, youngest runner on the course, ran his
first marathon in 4:30:47, 2nd 19 & Under Male. His mother, Janice
Moyer, 45, ran her second marathon in 5:22:32.
Bill McCoy, 47, the medical missionary from Papua,
New Guinea, ran a 3:58:30. His son, Josh McCoy, 22, of San Diego joined
him in the race and ran a 3:52:08. It was his first marathon, and he
took first place in the 20-24M group. They were accompanied by their
friend Rob McBane, 40, from Rochester, MN. Rob ran a 4:22:41.
Runners weren't the only ones who came from far
away places. Our thanks go to the following who traveled here to be a
part of our successful second annual YRCM: Catherine Homenchuck,
Burnaby, BC (music on the course); Jeff Stensland and family, Mt. Vernon
(wheelchair transportation and drop bags); Ruth and Roelif Laughlin,
Shoreline, WA (flowers and finish area); Lawrence Mecklenburg, Scott Lucke and
family, Bremerton (transportation co-ordination etc.); Jan Stensland,
Kensington, CA; Teresa Anderson, Seattle; Kathy Lehew, Tulsa, OK; and Bruce
Katter, Edmonds. Jan, Teresa, Kathy and Bruce filled in wherever needed.
We were proud that Jose Nebrida chose our YAKIMA
RIVER CANYON MARATHON for his WASHINGTON in his quest of carrying the American
flag in a marathon in every state and DC in a two year period from September
11, 2001. Fenny Roberts finished her marathon in 4:45:55 and ran back on
the course to accompany Jose as he finished his last five miles. In a
pre-race article in the Yakima Herald Republic, sports writer Scott Sandsberry
mentioned that those of us who became citizens the "easy way" (being
born in the U.S.) some times take patriotism for granted. Neither Fenny
nor Jose was born here. She sang the national anthem and God Bless
America, Jose carried the American flag in our race, and both of them touched
the hearts of all of us.
A second successful YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON
is history. Come join us next year on April 5, 2003, for the third
annual YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON, a race on one of the most beautiful
courses in the world!
