MARSHALL UNIVERSITY MARATHON
HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA
NOVEMBER 4, 2007
Continuing our travel routine of running a new state in conjunction with our annual trip East for the Marine Corps Marathon, we spent a delightful weekend at Huntington, West Virginia, where I ran the Marshall University Marathon on Sunday, November 4, 2007.
Our good friend, Roger Biggs, 59, of Stevenage, England, was there to run his 49th state prior to becoming a 50 States finisher next month at the Honolulu Marathon. Roger is the chairman of the 100 Marathon Club United Kingdom and an avid marathoner. He has run about 450 marathons/ultramarathons including more than 45 so far this year. He is a member of the 100 Marathon Club North America, the Marathon Maniacs and was a 2002 participant of the Yakima River Canyon Marathon.
When we met him prior to the race, he introduced us to Donald Taylor, 76, a British native and a member of the UK 100 Marathon Club. He’s a long time U.S. resident who lives in northeastern West Virginia. Roger and Don joined us at packet pickup for the pasta feed that was provided at no charge to the runners.
It was amazing that we were so far from home and were able to have dinner with locals Gregg Walchli and Cheri Pompeo. Later on we had a chance to visit with another Rentonite, Janet Burgess, and with Steve and Paula Boone from Humble, Texas, who are officers of the 50 States Marathon Club. There were at least 65 members of this club and 19 Marathon Maniacs who participated in this marathon.
For years we have read John Wallace’s report on his many world-wide marathon adventures, and it was great to finally meet him in person. He’s a megamarathoner who is known, among other accomplishments, for running marathons in all of the European countries.
On race morning I met Roger and Don at our motel lobby and rode with them to Marshall University. The starting line was on a wide thoroughfare conveniently adjacent to the Cam Henderson Center, a fitness place at the university where the runners spent the pre-race period in a warm building.
As we stood outside this center during the ceremonies, I was pleasantly surprised when Dave Bell, Marathon Maniac from Colorado, came over to greet me. We had been together at the Marine Corps Marathon the previous weekend.
Of the 850 runners at the starting line about 400 were participating in the marathon, and the rest were in the half marathon and the 5 mile race.
The weather was ideal with the air temperature in the 40’s at the start and no higher than 51 degrees later on. The sky was partly cloudy, and the wind was variable and moderate. It was a good day for running a marathon!
The course was flat to gently rolling with a few minor hills. It was scenic as we ran by the Ohio River and in wooded and shady Ritter Park on two occasions. The suburbs we ran through were pleasant, and there were trees with fall color and flowers that were in bloom.
The last mile was a treat as we ran on the Marshall University campus and then finished on the football field at the University Stadium. I even got to carry a football the length of the field! I crossed the finish line in 5:21:50, 321st of 366 finishers and first of three 70+ male runners.
After I relinquished the football, a volunteer congratulated me on my first place finish for my age group and presented me with a large, green glass vase. Later I learned that one of the few glass-making businesses in the country is located nearby and contributes these unique trophies each year.
At some point in the early miles, I saw a police motorcycle approaching. Behind it was Chuck Engle, 36, of Columbus, Ohio, in the lead……actually a “commanding lead.” This Marathon Maniac is a phenomenal runner who ran 52 marathons in 2006, averaging one per week for a year. Remarkably, he won more than half of these with 34 first place finishes and many seconds and thirds.
The most impressive were two wins in one weekend when he ran Tupelo Marathon in Mississippi on a Sunday and the Heart of America Marathon at Columbus, Missouri, on Labor Day Monday. The latter was my first and my 100th marathon and is one of the toughest races that I’ve run.
On this day at Huntington Chuck finished in 2:34:08 to win the marathon and set a new course record by ten minutes! Other front runners are listed in the Partial Results at the end of this article.
In the finish area I had a chance to talk with Jim Simpson, 65, of Huntington Beach, California, who runs marathons every weekend. Jim has completed six 50 State Cycles and is well on the way to finishing his seventh. We’re proud of his accomplishments.
Lenore and I enjoyed our Huntington visit, and I appreciated the cool weather for the Marshall University Marathon. Race Director Tom Dannals, his staff and the volunteers put on a well-organized marathon and associated events. This was reflected by the large number of 50 Staters and Marathon Maniacs who were on hand. West Virginia can now be added to my list of “states completed.”
…………………………………….Written by Bob Dolphin
Edited, Typed and Distributed by Lenore Dolphin
2:34:08 Chuck Engle, 36, OVERALL WINNER, NEW COURSE
RECORD!
Marathon Maniac (MM), First 35-59 Male Division
2:39:49 David McCollam, 28, SECOND OVERALL, 1st
2:51:03 Jeff Mires, 44, THIRD OVERALL, 1st
2:57:09 Amanda Luksetich, FIRST WOMAN OVERALL, 1st
3:07:15 Gregg Walchli, 45, MM, 3rd
3:17:41 Chechee Kim, 39, SECOND WOMAN OVERALL, 1st
3:22:44 William Ouchark, 43
3:28:20 Megan Schuerger, 25, THIRD WOMAN OVERALL, 2nd
3:30:56 Amy Yanni, 53, MM, 1st
3:38:18 Roger Biggs, 59, MM
3:41:56 Robert Bishton, 57, MM
4:05:00 Gregory Taylor, 33, MM
4:06:53 Stephen Velott, 23, MM
4:07:08 Darrell James, 46, MM
4:08:09 John Wallace, 53
4:09:40 Cheri Pompeo, 55, MM, 2nd
4:16:06 Michelle Smith-Harden, 44
4:20:46 Wendy Redmon, 39
4:20:46 Alan Redmon, 41, MM
4:26:54 Kenneth Hart, 48, MM
4:35:05 Tony Blair, 52
4:37:32 Ed Nikowitz, 51
4:38:47 Steve Boone, 58 MM
4:50:00 Rich Holmes, 57
4:54:58 Dave Bell, 44, MM
4:57:16 Jim Simpson, 65
5:04:01 Gwen Payne, 53, MM
5:09:35 Ed Peters, 56
5:15:34 Janet Burgess, 46, MM
5:21:50 Bob Dolphin, 78, MM, 1st
5:24:58 Phillip Walchli, 52
5:28:39 Paula Boone, 41, MM
5:41:06 Lora Ecklund, 49, MM
5:44:34 Donald Taylor, 76, 2nd
5:50:19 Angela Ivory, 39, MM
5:50:59 John Connor, 51
6:07:38 Paul Butler, 55
6:44:11 Eugene Bruckert, 72, 3rd
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