NORTH OLYMPIC DISCOVERY MARATHON The North Olympic Discovery Marathon was held on Sunday, June 7, 2009. This point-to-point race started at 8:00 a.m. at Carrie Blake Park in Sequim, Washington, and ended near the Red Lion Hotel Race Headquarters in Port Angeles. The race course followed the Discovery Trail through field and forest and, for the most part, was on a paved, rails-to trail roadbed. Of the 352 finishers, there were 42 marathon walkers who left the park at the 6:00 a.m. early start. Our Renton neighbors Dick and Shirley Ziehe were first-time “buddies” with Lenore at the finish line. Prior to their volunteering, Dick drove Lenore and me to the community meeting hall at the Carrie Blake Park where we visited with many running friends before the start of the race. I said “goodbye” to Lenore and left with the other 350+ runners. At the end of the first mile I looked back and saw only three people behind me. In the third and fifth mile two of them passed me. By the time I stopped to visit with Lenore and Dick in downtown Sequim in the seventh mile, a married couple on sweep bicycles rode up and told me that I was the last runner. When I asked about the third runner behind me, I was told that he was a relay runner who had finished his leg. Not liking to be dead last in a race and holding up the finish line volunteers, I chased after the last person to pass me, keeping him in view. I didn’t catch him until the last 10K, but I gained on a woman participant who ran/walked near my pace. In the 11th mile, I approached and passed a young man who was walking to a seven hour finish. From then on, as I moved up somewhat in the field, I didn’t have to be concerned about sweep bikes and delaying the race closure. On the course it was good to visit with Carolyn Price, 60, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and friends Ultra Al Miller, Jr., 55 of Deer Island, Oregon, and Marathon Maniac (MM) Tim Bruce, 56, of Sequim. Congratulations to Stephanie Dietlen, 31, and Leonard Dietlin, 36, of Stanwood whom I met in mid-course as they were running their first marathon. It’s always nice to leave the forest at Mile 22 and follow the trail along the Strait to the Port Angeles finish. I held a 16 minute walking pace and finished with a time of 6:07:57, 315th of 352 overall and second in the 75-79M division. Lenore was waiting for me with a hug and a finisher’s medal! The race was won by Ian Fraser, 35, of Port Townsend who had a one mile lead at his 2:36:02 finish. Aaron Ladd, 26, of Seattle ran a 2:42:18 for second place and finished only seven seconds ahead of Jeff Hashimoto, 38, of Ellensburg who ran a 2:42:25. The women’s race was won by Margreet Dietz, 38, of Squamish, British Columbia, who ran alone to win in 3:10:39. MM Ginger Gruber, 39, of Port Orchard came in second with a 3:23:20, and Sarah West, 33, of Portland, Oregon, had a 3:26:06 for third place. MM Terry Sentinella, 45, of Anacortes ran his first marathon at the inaugural North Olympic Discovery Marathon on June 16, 2003, and returned this year to complete Marathon #100. CONGRATULATIONS!!! You’re the newest member of the 100 Marathon Club North America. Thanks go to race directors Larry and Michelle Little, the race committee and all of the volunteers for putting on a fine marathon and other events during the weekend. I look forward to returning next year to be the first 80 year old runner in the marathon. ……………………………………Written by Bob Dolphin
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PARTIAL RESULTS – NORTH OLYMPIC DISCOVERY MARATHON, 6/7/2009 2:36:02 Ian Fraser, 35, Port Townsend, FIRST OVERALL, FIRST IN AGE DIVISION |