CRATER LAKE MARATHON
August 13, 2005
Because of extensive re-construction at the Crater Lake Village, the staging area for the 30th Annual Crater Lake Marathon on Saturday, August 13, 2005, was moved to the Annie Creek Sno Park ten miles from the South Entrance.
On race morning we left the Whispering Pines Motel on Highway 97 at the Diamond Lake Junction by 4:00 a.m. for our 50 mile drive to the Sno Park where Lenore was a volunteer to help load the buses. It was an exciting trip for us as we traveled in the dark to the North Entrance, through Crater Lake National Park, out the South Entrance and beyond to our destination.
First, a meteor arced across the dark sky in a streak of light before it was extinguished. Then we saw the constellation Orion, a winter star group, that I had never before seen in the summer. As we left the lodge pole pine forest and drove through the Pumice Desert, we passed through two “dust devils,” mini cyclones of volcanic ash, that obscured visibility for a few seconds.
Next we saw movement in the headlights as three black-tailed deer, all with antlers in the velvet stage, crossed the road. After that a great horned owl flew by a few feet above the car. Then the show was over, and we arrived at the Sno Park.
By 6:30 a.m. the last of eight school buses left the area to transport runners from the Sno Park and other stops along the 20 mile drive to the windy starting area at Watchman’s Tower. The marathon is part of the Crater Lake Rim Runs event which consists of a 6.7 distance, a 13.0 race and the full 26.2 miles. It is presented by the Linkville Lopers, a running club in Klamath Falls, Oregon, 50 miles south of the park. For the first time in several years, the cap of 500 participants for the three races was reached.
Shortly after 7:30 a.m. Bob Freirich, event director, started everyone simultaneously. The skies were clear, the temperature was in the 50’s, and the wind was blowing at 20 mph. The temperature rose to the low 80’s before the last marathoners finished, and the south wind persisted to give a cooling influence. Generally, the running conditions were good.
I enjoyed looking at distant peaks, the forest, the many species of wild flowers and the beautiful blue lake in its crater. What magnificent views!
It had been a long time since a local runner had won the Crater Lake Marathon, but Tony Hawkes, 39, of Klamath Falls finished with a time of 2:49:00, the fastest since 1997 and the 10th fastest time ever in the history of this event.
Michael Georgi, 53, of Honolulu, Hawaii, finished in second place with a 3:15:42, and Jack McDermott of Tallahassee, Florida, was third with a 3:16:47.
In 8th place overall, Annie Thiessen, a Marathon Maniac (MM) from Tacoma, Washington, won the women’s division in a time of 3:30:56. This was Annie’s 60th marathon and her 23rd for the year. Crater Lake was her 10th MARATHON WIN in 2005!! She is probably the only woman in the country who has accomplished such a feat.
The second woman to finish was Yukiko Nichide of Rye, New York, who had a time of 3:34:21. In third place with a 3:47:38 was Sarah Guttery of Titusville, Florida, the leader in the first half.
The two marathon winners, Tony Hawkes and Annie Thiessen, were awarded copies of the recently published book From Fairbanks to Boston – 50 Great U.S. Marathons (Rainmaker Publishing LLC, Oakton, Virginia). Bob Freirich authored the chapter on the lone Oregon entry, the Crater Lake Marathon, and I wrote the chapter on the only Washington state race, the Yakima River Canyon Marathon. Lenore is a sales agent for the publisher, and copies may be purchased by contacting her at (425)226-1518 or by e-mail at dolphinmteam@earthlink.net.
It was good seeing Michael Dutton, our “adopted grandson,” as he ran his 7th Crater Lake Marathon. He and I have run many marathons together, including these seven. He’s looking forward to his October 2005 marriage and his milestone of completing 100 Marathons in 2006.
Congratulations to Billie Worthen of Winston for finishing the marathon in a wheelchair in 6:14:55. When his wheelchair became stuck in pumice in the last hills, he was permitted to make up the distance on a nearby paved road.
It’s always great to see megamarathoners Mike Brooks of Danville, Maine, and Larry Macon of San Antonio, Texas. They’re 50 Staters and members of the 100 Marathon Club North America. Larry is also a Marathon Maniac.
The second male MM to finish was Tony Phillippi of Tacoma. He ran the race wearing Bite Sandals and was still able to finish in 3:33:02. The next day Tony joined 11 other MM’s for a “weekend double” by running the inaugural Haulin’ Aspen Trail Marathon at Bend.
There have been 30 Crater Lake Marathons, and I’ve run half of them. In each of these this event has been my toughest marathon of the year, and reaching the finish line was never guaranteed. My first (and fastest) one was at age 61 when I ran a 3:56:36. Subsequently, my times were in the four to five hour range….until 2004. Last year I slowed to a 5:52:41 as my spinal tilt syndrome was developing. I had no idea how this year’s run would go, so I ran/walked the first half conservatively as I enjoyed the scenery and engaged in infrequent conversations with friends on the course.
I reached the half way mark in 2:52:00, and this was comparable to my 2004 time. At the Mile 14-16.5 out-and-back I counted eight runners behind me, so I thought that I was doing okay. However, when I reached a long downhill between Miles 16.5 and 19.0, I realized that my tilt prevented running and I would have to walk to the finish. The “wall,” 80 degree heat, sunshine etc. all took a toll, and I became the 133rd finisher in a time of 7:29:15 Bob Freirich gave me a finishers medal and a last place plaque that stated, “You did it.” Our friend Don Benberg of Burien, WA, won several of these awards before he retired from marathoning.
I’m not retiring from marathoning, but I am retiring from the Crater Lake Marathon. At age 75, I’m the oldest runner to have completed this great race. This had been my goal for several years, and I reached it in 2004. Next year’s challenge will be the 13.0 race. So, I’ll be back to do half the distance, and Lenore will help with the buses and at the finish line again.
Visiting with friends during meals is a fringe benefit at marathons. Lenore and I enjoyed breakfast with Joe Henderson, renowned running author, columnist and coach, at Eugene the day before the race. The evenings before and after the marathon we had dinner at Chemult with Cyndie Merten & her daughter Pam, Fenny Roberts, Jim Scheer and Craig Harrington of Naples, Florida. On the return trip we stopped at Bend for a pleasant lunch with Priscilla Welch, the world’s fastest women’s master marathoner (2:26).
Congratulations to Dr. Ralph Eccles of Klamath Falls who came in 1st overall in the 6.7 Mile Walk with a time of 1:02:15, a fast 9:17 walk pace. My thanks go to Ralph for his medical and moral support on the marathon course!
Thanks also to Bob Freirich, the directors of the three races, the medical staff, the friendly volunteers at the aid stations and finish line and those who maintain the course. They all did a great job. We’ll be back in 2006 and will encourage others to join us at this beautiful national treasure.
…………………………….Written by Bob Dolphin
Partial Results, Crater Lake
Marathon, August 13, 2005………..
2:49:00 Tony Hawkes, 39, Klamath Falls
3:15:42 Michael Georgi, 53, Honolulu, HI
3:16:47 Jack McDermott, Tallahassee, FL
3:28:32 Eric Jensen, 40, Athena, MM
3:30:56 Annie Thiessen, 34, Tacoma, WA, MM
3:33:02 Tony Phillipi, 43, Tacoma, WA, MM
3:34:21 Yukiko Nichide, Rye, NY
3:38:16 Craig Harrington, 49, Naples, FL
3:39:32 Chris Warren, 38, Renton, WA, MM
3:41:42 Damien Glynn, New Milford, NJ
3:47:38 Sarah Guttery, Titusville, FL
3:52:05 Keith Panzer, Aurora, CO, MM
4:07:08 Jeff Carlton, 46, Reno, NV
4:10:29 Andrew Moore, 37, Ambler, PA, MM
4:10:29 Steve Yee, 46, Renton, WA, MM
4:15:13 Kurt Lauer, 43, Seattle, WA, MM
4:27:35 Lesa Overfield, 46, Tacoma, WA, MM
4:37:36 Craig Holcomb, Garrettsville, OH, MM
4:40:19 Kevin Brosi, Flower Mound, TX, MM
4:43:08 Rick Haase, 59, Shoreline, WA, MM
4:44:49 Jeff Perry, 46, Bend, MM
4:49:28 Michael Dutton, 35, Everett, WA, MM
4:52:03 Paul Fouch, 71, Klamath Falls
4:55:25 Ed Hansen, Stayton
5:11:36 Ron Knecht, 62, Sunriver, MM
5:30:10 Sue Fauerbach, 58, Renton, WA, MM
5:41:26 Cyndie Merten, 48, Corvallis, MM
5:47:44 Mike Brooks, 59, Danville, ME
5:49:26 Eugene Brukert, 70, Arlington Heights, IL
5:55:15 Larry Macon, 60, San Antonio, TX, MM
6:29:30 Fenny Roberts, 52, Salem, MM
6:29:30 Jim Scheer, 63, Vancouver, WA, MM
6:50:00 Ultra Al Miller, 51, Deer Island
7:29:15 Bob Dolphin, 75, Renton, WA, MM