PIGTAILS FLAT ASS MARATHON & 50k
December 20, 2008
Last year I ran the Pigtails Flat Ass Marathon at my hometown of Renton, Washington, for the first time. I enjoyed it a lot and signed on again for the event that was scheduled for Saturday, December 20, 2008.
The Cedar River Park start/finish area is located near the north end of a footbridge across the Cedar River that’s adjacent to the Renton Community Center. It’s under an I-405 bridge over the river, so the area has a road for race vehicles to access and it’s protected and dry. That’s where registration took place. Warming heaters helped with the recovery, and cook stoves provided hot soup for the finishers.
On race morning when I awoke at 5:00 a.m., it was dark and cold but, thankfully, it wasn’t snowing and none had fallen during the night. Assuming that low temperatures were the challenge of the day, I wore seven layers of clothing on my torso and three layers below. A stocking cap and leather-lined gloves completed the weather protection that I thought I needed.
I made the short drive to the race starting area by 6:30 a.m. where race director Van Phan had the area lighted and heated. I registered, “paid” the modest entry fee of two cans of chicken soup (one for the run and one for the Maple Valley Food Bank) and made a monetary contribution.
With Van’s permission, I started my race with the 50K starters at 7:00 a.m. There were 10-15 of us who ran several hundred feet on the bridge to the far side onto the Cedar River Trail. As we headed east and upstream, everyone else ran on the snow, but I shifted to a walk. Concern about protecting various joints from the stress of running in snow was the prime reason.
The official minimum temperature for the day was 14 degrees with a 26 degree maximum. After I had walked a few miles, daylight appeared and eventually the sun came out. Walking my first marathon in three years became quite comfortable. On the paved trail there was only a half inch of new powder snow, so walking was easy.
I knew that I’d be on the course for quite awhile, so I participated in activities that I enjoy…..such as visiting with runners who pass me once or twice on the course, talking to volunteers as they passed out hot chocolate and other drinks and snacks, and observing the spectacular views of the river from the many footbridges.
The natural history along the way was interesting. I saw a Red-tailed Hawk, a Northern Flicker, Pigeons, Crows, a Steller Jay, Starlings, House Sparrows, Juncos, Song Sparrows and Spotted Tohees. In the early miles there were a lot of fresh mammal tracks from raccoons, rabbits and mice in the new snow.
Eventually the landmarks near the finish area came into view, and I walked through the Cedar River Natural Zone, crossed the footbridge to finish in 7:13:41. I was the oldest participant, the only walker, and the last one to finish.
Congratulations to the following for special accomplishments: Ray Shaw and Leslie Miller each ran marathon/ultra #55 for the year 2008; Jane Herzog ran her 50th career marathon/ultra, a major milestone; Jerry Thayer, an experienced marathoner, ran his first ultramarathon.
Thanks to Van Phan for making this marathon happen on a day when the weatherman didn’t want it to happen! The great volunteers who provided hot food were special…..as were the clever, hand-made finishers medals that Van gave to each of us who “braved the elements” on December 20th.
……………………………………Written by Bob Dolphin
Edited, Typed and Distributed by Lenore Dolphin
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PIGTAILS FLAT ASS MARATHON/ULTRA RESULTS – December 20, 2008
MARATHON
3:35:33 David Cole, 32, Springfield, NJ, OVERALL WINNER
3:41:01 Shawna Wilskey, 36,Burlington, OVERALL WOMEN’S WINNER,Marathon Maniac (MM)
3:41:01 Joe Tompkins, 38, Mt. Vernon, SECOND MALE, MM
3:49:30 Mitch Parker, 48, Kent, THIRD MALE
3:57:09 Andre O’Donnell, 30, Seattle, MM
3:58:26 Narvie Seals, 41, Bonney Lake, MM
4:05:00 Matt Hagen, 38, Seattle, MM
4:05:36 Heather Nugent, 42, Renton, SECOND WOMAN
4:12:40 Kelsey Boys, 25, Seattle, THIRD WOMAN, MM
4:22:35 Richard Cockrell, 44, Puyallup, MM
4:27:18 Mark Dahlby, 45, Tacoma, MM
4:40:50 Rikki Bogue, 45, University Place, MM
4:45:14 Betsy Rogers, 45, Seattle, MM
4:45:55 Eric Barnes, 52, Puyallup, MM
4:47:28 Barb Blumenthal, 52, Sammamish, MM
4:47:28 Lisa Hurley, 46, Carnation, MM
4:48:00 Darren Boone, 47, Kennewick, MM
4:55:00 Thoman Tan, 37, Newcastle, MM
4:56:44 Gary Marr, 57, Snohomish, MM
4:59:30 Linda Walter, 57, Puyallup, MM
5:04:42 Rob Hester, 35, Bonney Lake, MM
5:04:42 Steve Stoyles, 52, Puyallup, MM
5:04:42 Jenny Appel, 35, Puyallup, MM
5:08:50 BJ Farish, 35, Maple Valley, MM
5:09:05 Marilyn Pyke, 47, Graham, MM
5:11:57 Bret Henry, 49, Lake Oswego, OR, MM
5:23:45 Hannah Roberts, 22, Annapolis, MD
5:44:18 Gail Phillips, 48, Lake Oswego, OR, MM
5:46:48 Dan’l Martinez, 23, Seattle
5:54:06 Ray Shaw, 50, Puyallup, MM
5:54:08 Monte Pascual, 48, Federal Way, MM
6:26:32 Jane Herzog, 45, Puyallup, MM
6:27:12 Jessica Williams, 30, Puyallup, MM
6:27:12 Michelle Barnes, 50, Puyallup, MM
6:23:00 Paul Piplani, 61, Phoenix, AZ
7:13:41 Bob Dolphin, 79, Renton/Yakima, MM
3:58:46 Bryce Mercer, 32, Seattle, OVERALL WINNER
4:10:08 Chris Twardzik, 33, Snoqualmie, SECOND OVERALL
4:23:52 Ryan McKnight, 36, Bothell, THIRD OVERALL
4:28:32 Bruce Hoff, 46, Renton, MM
4:49:04 Samuel Pichinini, 30, West Seattle
5:11:10 Nic Plemel, 27, Seattle, MM
5:15:55 Brian Hampsch, 43, Seattle, MM
5:24:12 Bronwen Williams, 37, Seattle, FIRST FEMALE WINNER
5:26:26 David Forbes, 49, Kent, MM
5:29:12 Rich Wells, 46, Covington
5:36:37 Andy Fritz, 42, Olympia, MM
5:36:37 Ashley Kuhlmann, 22, Lakewood, SECOND FEMALE OVERALL, MM
5:43:17 Mary Hanna, 47, Maple Valley, THIRD FEMALE OVERALL, MM
5:43:17 Cliff Richards, 47, Maple Valley, MM
5:43:22 Hoa Pham, 30, Seattle, MM
5:59:07 Michael Kuhlmann, 58, Lakewood, MM
6:01:21 Jerry Thayer, 54, Maple Valley, MM
6:08:11 Linda Barton, 30, Everett, MM
6:08:11 Alison Moore, 39, Seattle
6:10:11 Mike Shiach, 58, Bainbridge Island, MM
6:16:15 Leslie Miller, 28, Newcastle, MM
6:19:38 Jill Hudson, 46, Seattle, MM