SKAGIT FLATS MARATHON
September
9, 2007
The night before the September 9, 2007, Skagit Flats Marathon Lenore and I stayed with our son Jeff Stensland and his family at their Mt. Vernon home. Early the next morning I left by myself to be on hand at the 8:00 a.m. start of the marathon and half marathon at the Burlington-Edison High School at nearby Burlington, WA.
About four hours later there was an event that I wish I could have witnessed. When Lenore arrived at the parking lot to be there for my race finish, her usual 3-5 minute walk to the finish area took at least 45 minutes to make! Running friends who hadnt seen her since her open-heart surgery on July 10th gathered around and waited in line to talk with her, wish her well and get a hug. This was the first marathon and travel that she had done since the fourth of July trip to the emergency entrance of the Yakima Regional Hospital. All of her many friends were concerned about her, and those who saw her at the Skagit Flats Marathon were delighted to see that she is well on the road to recovery and can travel to marathons again. This was a great celebration!
All of us were celebrating the 30th anniversary of this marathon. Race director Terry Sentinella and his staff recognized this milestone on the metallic finishers medals and the race logo on the red, technical shirts. The age class awards were large and striking in appearance. Gift certificates from $50.00-$150.00 in value were awarded to the first to third place men and women and the first Masters Male and Female in both races.
The dozen aid stations were well stocked with water, sports drinks, gels and candy for a race on a typical summer day. It was clear and sunny with air temperatures in the 60s at the start that increased to the 70s at the finish. Often a northerly 15 mph wind was present that had a cooling effect by tempering the solar radiation. As always, I enjoyed seeing friends and acquaintances on this out-and-back course.
When Cliff Richards, 46, Marathon Maniac of Maple Valley, passed by, he was in second position. He ran on to take the lead and become the winner of the 30th annual Skagit Flats Marathon in a time of 2:53:49. He had a clean sweep: Overall winner, first Male Master Runner and age class winner in the 45-59 Male Division!
In second place was Daniel Ederer, 37, of Seattle who ran a 2:57:30. The early leader, Ruslan Tkebuchava, 26, of Vancouver, WA, was third with a 2:58:28.
For the women, it was a tight race between two Marathon Maniacs. Defending womens champion, Annie Thiessen, 37, from Tacoma finished with a 3:17:22 while her friend Mary Hanna, 46, of Maple Valley was close behind with a 3:18:32. Monica Ochs, 38, of Anacortes was third with a time of 3:19:29.
Congratulations to Stan Nakashima of Mt Vernon for having run all 30 Skagit Flats Marathons. He deserved to wear Bib #1 for this great accomplishment!
In my 15th Skagit Flats Marathon I ran one of my slowest races of the year, a 5:50:56, to come in 180th of 185 finishers and first in the 70 and over male division. I had run comfortably in the cooling winds but was slowed by headwinds at times.
The highlight of my day was approaching the finish line while running on the high school track and seeing Lenore waiting for me there. She gave me a big hug and put a finishers medal around my neck. It was like old times!!!
Thanks go to Marathon Maniac Terry Sentinella, his committee and the volunteers for putting on a great marathon and maintaining a 30 year tradition.
..Written by Bob Dolphin
Edited, Typed and Distributed by Lenore Dolphin
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2:53:49 Cliff Richards, 46, Maple Valley, OVERALL
WINNER, First Male Master,
Marathon Maniac (MM), Age Division First
2:57:30 Daniel Ederer, 37, Seattle, Second Overall,
1st
2:58:28 Ruslan Tkebuchava, 26, Vancouver, WA, Third
Overall, 1st
3:07:38 Gregg Walchli, 45, Seattle, MM
3:13:45 Ruben Contreras, 53, Stanwood, MM, 1st
3:15:15 Joseph Tompkins, 37, MM, 2nd
3:16:18 Eric Gierke, 44, Shoreline, MM, 3rd
3:17:22 Annie Thiessen, 37, Tacoma, FIRST WOMAN
OVERALL, MM, 1st
3:18:32 Mary Hanna, 46, Maple Valley, Second Woman
Overall, MM, 1st
3:19:39 Monica Ochs, 38, Anacortes, Third Woman
Overall, 2nd
3:25:50 Doug Arcus, 60, Tahsis, BC, 1st
3:27:08 David Spooner, 39, Buckley, MM
3:29:23 Mark Looi, 47, Issaquah, MM
3:29:30 Chris Warren, 40, Renton, MM
3:29:52 Tony Covarrubias, 46, Seattle, MM
3:30:21 Jon Mahoney, 55, Vernon, BC, MM, 1st
3:33:59 Sherry Mahoney, 43, Vernon, BC, MM, 1st
3:42:03 Steve Yee, 48, Renton, MM
3:42:03 Bill Barmore, 55, Gig Harbor, MM, 2nd
3:43:20 Jake Lin, 33, MM, 3rd
3:43:23 David Jones, 61, Seattle, MM, 2nd
3:46:25 Mark Cook, 34, MM
3:46:29 May Cheng, 42, Mercer Island, MM, 2nd
3:46:59 Tony Phillippi, 46, Tacoma, MM
3:47:40 Van Phan, 36, Maple Valley, MM
3:48:28 Michael Wakabayashi, 59, Spokane, MM, 3rd
3:49:19 Steve Ellis, 40, Kent, MM
3:50:43 Michael Shiach, 56, Bainbridge Island, MM
3:52:15 Robert Lopez, 41, Seattle, MM
3:59:56 Linda Barton, 29, Everett, MM, 3rd
4:07:20 Jim Boyd, 65, Seattle, MM, 1st
4:09:36 Herb Allen, 65, Bainbridge Island, MM, 2nd
4:10:33 Ron Fowler, 60, Seattle, 3rd
4:15:03 Janice Moyer, 51, Wellpinit, MM, 1st
4:15:57 Jim Kunz, 58, Seattle
4:16:19 Michael Lacombe, 52
4:17:20 Al Harman, 46, West Vancouver, BC, MM
4:18:03 Jeanette Quintana, 30, MM 3rd
4:22:20 Tom Rogers, 62, Bellevue, MM
4:30:02 Cheri Pompeo, 55, Woodinville, MM, 1st
4:31:51 Leslie Miller, 27, Bellevue, MM
4:32:01 Stan Nakashima, 55, Mt. Vernon
4:36:59 Rick Haase, 62, Shoreline, MM
4:42:02 David England, 52, MM
4:43:48 Unha Lee, 57, Olympia, 2nd
4:55:50 Monte Pascual, 47, Federal Way, MM
4:57:19 Janet Burgess, 46, Renton, MM, 3rd
5:00:21 Jerry Lawrence, 68
5:47:56 Hajime Nishi, 58, Japan, MM
5:49:55 Ric Hart, Monroe, 60
5:50:29 Ashish Deshpande, 29
5:50:30 Shalene Jha, 25
5:50:56 Bob Dolphin, 77, Renton/Yakima, MM, 1st
5:51:02 Stuart Jackson, 33, MM
5:51:15 Ben Kantner, 55
5:53:59 Raymond Shaw, 49, Tacoma, MM
6:04:28 Mel Preedy, 74, Ravensdale, MM, 2nd
6:42:19 Carol Dellinger, 45, Spokane, MM