SEATTLE ROCK ‘N ROLL MARATHON On Saturday, June 27, 2009, I fulfilled my interest in running a Rock ‘n Roll Marathon. Like many marathoners in the Pacific Northewest, I entered the inaugural Seattle Rock ‘n Roll Marathon and found that the race lived up to expectations. The organization, amenities, well-designed course, camaraderie, rock bands, cheer leaders, and the many well-stocked aid stations were all there. This was the ninth Rock ‘n Roll Marathon to be established, as it joined others across the country. The race capped at 25,000 in May, so I was glad that I had signed up at the Marine Corps Marathon Expo last October. On race morning our Renton neighbor Dick Ziehe and Lenore dropped me off in Tukwila near the starting line about eight miles from our home. I joined the many runners who had gathered for the marathon and half marathon that started at 7:00 a.m. The two events started together in a combined field that was dominated by the half marathoners in a 2 to 1 ratio. The marathoners wore yellow bibs in contrast to the blue bibs of the half marathoners, so it was easy to determine race identity. This point-to-point race started at the Gateway Corporate Center in Tukwila and ended at Qwest Field in Seattle where the Seattle Seahawks play their home football games. As I oriented myself to the Runners Village, I took advantage of the bottled water and bagels that were available at an aid table. It was there that I met the first runner whom I knew. It was “Ultra” Al Miller, 55, (6:16:08) from Deer Island, Oregon, and this would be our third marathon together in recent weeks. The “Ultra” in his name was earned by running many 100 mile trail runs in the United States. There were about 200 Marathon Maniacs (MM) on hand, and the first one I met was Guy Yogi, 55, (3:45:26) of Seattle. Guy and I run many of the same marathons that are offered in Washington State, so our paths often cross. After I found the start line by Interurban Avenue, I back-tracked on a side road following numbered, roped-off and barricaded corrals. Along the way I met MM Henry Rueden, 59, (6:22:08) from DePere, Wisconsin, a 50 States & DC finisher and member of the 100 Marathon Club North America. This veteran of the Iraq War recently ran his 600th marathon at the Green Bay Marathon in his home state. I enjoyed talking with Henry before, during and after the marathon. As race time neared, I entered Coral #27 (of 36) to join my fellow wave members (identified by the first two digits of our bib number. Here, I met another out-of-state friend, MM Dana Mosell, 57, (6:22:09) of Walnut, California. It took 45 minutes for our group to move up to the starting line in one minute increments, and it was nice to visit with Dana along the way. As I crossed the starting line, I was pleasantly surprised to hear my name called out on the PA system by the announcer. It was John Bingham, “The Penguin,” and I’m pleased that he recognized me. I had attended one of his presentations and talked with him at the Health and Fitness Expo at the Qwest Event Center two days before the marathon. The temperature at the start was in the high 50’s, and the skies were clear and calm. Later in the day the temperature rose to 78 degrees, and nice breezes came from nearby bodies of water on the course. In the first mile MM Mel Preedy, 76, (5:46:18) of Ravensdale ran by on the way to a first place win in the 75-79 Male Division. I didn’t see my friend Ralph Riddick, 77, of Spokane on the course, but he ran a 6:04:52 for second place in our age group. The first two miles in Tukwila took us across the Green River bridge and the I-5 overpass to reach the rolling South Seattle suburbs. It was on a downhill to Seward Park by Lake Washington that I briefly caught up with MM Ric Hart, 62, (6:07:11) of Monroe. The run along the lake and its narrow shoreside park is one of my favorites in Seattle. MM Michelle Barnes, 51, (6:04:40) of Puyallup and several companions greeted me as they passed by. I came to a group of runners pointing cameras at a lakeside tree and looked up to see the object of interest, a Bald Eagle on a dead branch. One advantage of this large field of runners was that I could see friends from near and faraway places as we ran the course. Near the lake I saw Henry Rueden again and met Sharon Kerson, 67, (7:40:21) of Culver City, California, a 100 Marathon Club NA member. As we approached the I-90 floating bridge to Mercer Island, the two fields parted. The marathoners ran an out-and-back on the express lanes while the half marathoners turned in the opposite direction onto I-90 to run through the Mount Baker Tunnel. Later, both groups merged in the tunnel. Then the magnificent Seattle skyline came into view. We ran onto the halfway timing mat and took an I-90 off-ramp to the historic Pioneer Square District. We were then routed onto the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and a second race field split occurred. The half marathoners ran to Qwest Field to the finish line while the marathoners ran on this elevated highway near the Seattle waterfront of Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. There were views of ferries, boats, a docked liner, islands and mountains in the distance. When the elevated highway ended, we ran through another tunnel that linked to Aurora Avenue (Highway 99), a major artery that was closed to vehicular traffic during the race. Within a few miles, we went over the Aurora Bridge near Lake Union, and then turned back to the center of Seattle, the tunnel and the Alaskan Way Viaduct. There was one final out-and-back before we finished at Qwest Field. As I crossed the finish line, John Bingham had favorable comments for me. My time was 6:21:39, and I placed 5,204 of 5, 602 finishers……and third of four in the 75-79 Male Age Group. Only Sid Jones, 86, (7:01:41), of Laguna Hills, California, was older than I. He was the first (and only) 80+ male finisher. In the finish area my friend Paul Nguyen, 40, (5:31:59) of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, was waiting for Dana Mosell. He’s an accomplished triathlete, so our paths don’t often cross. It was a pleasure to see him again, and I appreciated the ride that he and Dana gave me to the Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle. There I had a happy reunion with Lenore and neighbors Dick and Shirley Ziehe. The inaugural Seattle Rock ‘n Roll Marathon was won by Peter Omae of Kenya who admitted to fading on a major hill in the last mile and expecting to be passed as he felt “light-headed and leg-heavy.” He prevailed and crossed the finish line in 2:18:17 to become the overall winner. Close behind him was Peter Gilmore of San Mateo, California, who also was struggling in the final miles but finished with a time of 2:18:52. A minute later David Kiprop Yego of Kenya finished third with a 2:19:23. Michele Suzek, 27, of Colorado won the women’s race with a time of 2:38:37, a personal record by four seconds. The win didn’t come easily as she trailed Leah Thorvilson of Little Rock, Arkansas, by as much as 100 meters for the first 21 miles when she took finally the lead. Leah then took the lead back in the 23rd mile. With a burst of speed Michele regained the first position and ran to the finish as fast as she could to become the winner. Leah was only 12 seconds behind her with a time of 2:38:49, and third place Christine Glockenmeister ran a 2:56:02. Now I can say that I’ve run a ROCK ‘N ROLL marathon! Knowing that this event fills up early, I resolve to send my 2010 entry form in promptly. …………………………………………Written by Bob Dolphin |