ROYAL VICTORIA MARATHON On October 9, 2009, Lenore and I again returned to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia on Vancouver Island in southwestern Canada, for the 30th Royal Victoria Marathon. Since 1990, this is an annual tradition that I’ve followed for 20 years, including one year when I was injured and came as a spectator. For years it was my favorite marathon, and in many years I ran my best time of the year in Victoria. However, after the Yakima River Canyon Marathon that Lenore and I direct (and I run) was initiated in 2001, that marathon became my “favorite” and this one slipped to a “near-favorite second.” The drive from Renton to the ferry at Tsawwasen, BC, south of Vancouver, was a nice one with lots of fall colors to admire. But the wait at the ferry was longer than usual due to a generator fire that morning on the newest and largest ferry in the fleet. On this busy, Canadian Thanksgiving weekend the waiting time doubled from what it usually was, but we still made it to Victoria in time to go to the Conference Centre to get my bib, timing chip and technical long-sleeved T-shirt…..and to visit with our friend, sports marketer Marty Wanless from Vancouver, BC. On Saturday Lenore and I returned to the Conference Centre for the afternoon speaker sessions. Dr. Pushpa Chandra had a remarkable story to tell about her 100+ marathons and ultramarathons as she always “pushed her limits” in desert, mountain, and near the North and South Poles. In the “Age Unlimited” presentation Ken Bonner of Victoria and Rose Marie Preston of Burnaby, BC, were panel members who have run all previous 29 Royal Victoria Marathons and would be running the next day to keep their unbroken string intact. Joe Henderson of Eugene, Oregon, former chief editor of Runners World Magazine, had much to offer on the titled topic drawing from his extensive experience as runner, writer, speaker and coach. Other running icons who talked about “Marathon Mania” were Rod Dixon, Olympian from New Zealand (winner of the 1983 New York Marathon), Dick Beardsley from Austin, Texas (winner and near-winner of many marathons, author, speaker and training camp director) and Bruce Deacon (well-known runner in British Columbia who has won many events including the Royal Victoria Marathon in 1999 and 2004 and now teaches students how to improve their running). Steve King from Penticton, BC, long-time road racer and announcer led these interviews, while Rod McCrimmon was the emcee for all of the sessions. On Saturday evening we attended the 30th Anniversary Carbo Gala Dinner at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in the Crystal Ballroom. Lenore and I were pleased that Joe Henderson joined us as we had our annual get-together with Bill Schnitzel and his wife from Calgary, Alberta. As always, the meal was excellent, and it’s rated by us as the “best marathon pre-race meal anywhere.” Emcee Steve King introduced Rod Dixon who had a short motivational address and Dick Beardsley who gave a special presentation. The next morning I got up early enough to open the door of our room at the Embassy Inn to watch the early starters of the marathon begin their race at 6:30 a.m. At 7:15 a.m. I could watch from our room as the 8K road race runners started their event in front of the Parliament Buildings. Then at 7:30 a.m. the large field of half marathoners started alongside the hotel in early light. Including the children’s race, there were over 10,000 participants in the four events with 5,571 registered in the half marathon. At 8:00 a.m. Lenore and I left the hotel to join the runners who were gathering for the marathon’s 8:30 a.m. start. In the beginning I enjoyed running around the Parliament Buildings with our “adopted” grandson Michael Dutton from Marysville. In the second mile Ken Bonner ran my pace for awhile to give us a chance to visit. Then in Beacon Hill Park I visited with Mo Gillis of Woodinville, a new Marathon Maniac whom I just met at the September Skagit Flats Marathon in Burlington. I enjoyed the park, the offshore scenery and the suburban housing. For miles it was a pleasure to see the main marathon field running toward Victoria while I was running toward Oak Bay. There were many greetings and high fives along the way. At eleven miles I looked back from a hilltop and saw only one runner. After I reached the halfway mat, I passed an early starter and several others before I came to the 14-mile turn-around. From then on to the finish I passed about 25 people who were moving slower than I. In the 25th mile I caught up with my friend Evan Fagan from Victoria, and we ran to the finish together. It was a treat to run and talk with Evan and cross the finish line side by side. My 5:23:32 gun time and 5:22:19 chip time placed me at 2,362 of 2,571 finishers overall and first of one in the 80+ Male Division. My time was 21 seconds slower than last year, but this year’s 5:22:19 set a new course record in my age group. So far, it was my best time by eight minutes in 2009, and it was 50 minutes faster than my time at Portland the previous week! The race was won by Hillary Cheruiyot of Kenya in 2:19:26. Three-time past marathon winner Steve Osaduik of Langley, BC, pushed the second half for a negative split to finish second with a time of 2:22:42. Lameth Mosoti of Kenya came in third with a 2:24:43. The women’s race was won by the 2008 winner, Cheryl Murphy of Victoria, with a 2:49:01. Katherine Moore of Vancouver came in second with a 2:47:29 improving her third place finish of 2008. Suzanne Evans, a three-time winner of Victoria from New Westminster, was third with a 2:48:20. There was a strong women’s field with the first nine finishers running sub-three hour races. The total of 2,571 finishers was an increase of 25% over last year. There seemed to be more walkers this year…..with the last one finishing in 7:49:59. Thanks go to Race Director Rob Reid, his committee and the volunteers for putting on another great marathon. All of the events were well organized, and the weather cooperated! ……………………………………..Written by Bob Dolphin
PARTIAL RESULTS – Royal Victoria Marathon, October 11, 20092:19:26 Hillary Cheruiyot, 25-29M, Kenya, FIRST OVERALL, First in Division |