LAKE CHELAN SHORE TO SHORE MARATHON Early in 2001 when the Chelan Parks Department decided to host a marathon, Lenore helped Greg Moser, the first race director, choose a date and gave him assistance in planning the first race. She and our longtime friends, Hal and Patty Porter of Manson, were in charge of the finish line and race results while I ran the inaugural race on September 15, 2001, just four days after 9/11. Our involvement started the annual tradition of spending an enjoyable “end of summer” weekend each year with the Porters as we have returned for all of the Shore to Shore Marathons. The Chelan Parks Department transferred the race management to the Chelan Chamber of Commerce in 2008. This year, the Chamber hired Geoff Rhodes, Keith Hughes and Dominic Guinto of Sunset Racing Events to be the directors. Packet pickup was moved to the Lake Chelan Winery, the awards ceremony was held at the Wapato Point Cellars Winery, and timing chips were used for the first time. The course remained the same….starting near Fields Point Landing on the South Shore and ending near the park by the lake at Manson. In past years the sky had been cloudless for many of the races, but this year it was mostly overcast with the temperature ranging from 60-78 degrees. While waiting for the race to begin at 7:00 a.m., I had a chance to visit with runners I knew, including Marathon Maniacs Keith Parks, Janice Moyer, Rick Haase, Mel Preedy, Edward Mason and Alan Nabors. This was the third weekend in a row that Alan and I had run a marathon together. The other two were the New Mexico Marathon on September 6 and the Skagit Flats Marathon on September 13. Soon after the race started, I found myself in last place. This prompted me to work harder so that I could finish before the six-hour cutoff. I enjoyed running in the hilly early miles with solitude and great views of the narrow lake and the far shore with its adjacent hills and mountains. In the 8th mile I passed a running couple and then ran alone for miles with no runners in sight in either direction. It was a treat to cross the lake outlet bridge at Chelan and then run towards the finish line at Manson. However, after passing the 18 Mile marker in Chelan, the sun came out, and the heat affected my running. By the time I walked up a long hill to Milepost 19, I could run the downhill to Milepost 20. After that I could walk faster than I could run, so I changed to brisk walking for most of the last 10K. In Mile 24 the couple I had passed earlier re-passed me, and I followed them to Manson. With the finish line in sight and my pace slowing, time was running out for a sub six-hour race. Lenore gave me a hug as I came in, and the clock showed my time to be 5:54:37! I had met my goal!! And it was my second best time of 2009 and three minutes faster on this course than in 2008. I was the last finisher in a field of 42. As far as I know, I’m the only one who has run all nine of the Lake Chelan Shore to Shore Marathons. At the awards ceremony the mood was festive, and I was pleasantly surprised to be given a 3rd place award in the 70+ Male category. The race was won by Pedro Reyes, 47, of Seattle in 3:11:12. Close behind, Todd Knowles, 46, of Shoreline ran a 3:11:55. Third place finisher, Taft Knowles of Shoreline, finished in 3:19.20. The winner of the women’s race was Kim Formo, 29, of Woodinville with a 3:36:09. Kaylee Brooks, 16, the youngest runner, from Kennewick ran a 3:47:32. Alicia Britt, 47, of Seattle finished in third place with a time of 3:54:59. In the 70+ Male division, Mel Preedy, 76, of Ravensdale finished first with a 5:26:36. Ed Mason, 71, of University Place ran a 5:38:53 for second, and I came in third. The total number of participants in the marathon, half marathon and 10K races was only 233, and it leaves me with this question, “Was it worth $108.00 (online cost of $100.00 plus $8.00 fee) to be able to have chip timing for this marathon?” The course is beautiful and the volunteers at the many aid stations were friendly and helpful, but I think the substantial raise in price (from $70.00 to $108.00) kept many runners from participating. I’ll keep my string going by returning for the 10th annual Lake Chelan Shore to Shore Marathon, and I hope some changes will be made (price-wise) to encourage more runners to join me in 2010. …………………………………………….Written by Bob Dolphin
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * RESULTS – LAKE CHELAN SHORE TO SHORE MARATHON, Sept. 19, 20093:11:12 Pedro Reyes, 47, Seattle, FIRST OVERALL, First in Age Group |