SEATTLE MARATHON Since 1984, it’s been a tradition for me to be at the starting line of the Seattle Marathon. That’s where I was at 8:15 a.m. on the morning of November 29, 2009 when the race began near the Seattle Center. Under overcast skies the temperature was in the high 40s, and there was a light breeze….good weather for running a marathon! The course was interesting as it went through downtown Seattle on 5th Avenue, onto I-90, through a tunnel and onto the floating bridge over Lake Washington to Mercer Island and back. Then came the lakeshore run to a loop around the lake peninsula of Seward Park before it went north by the lake. There were hills in the second half that took a toll, and I walked the last 10K when calf cramps interfered with my running. Welcome sights in the last mile were volunteers Rich deCample of Renton, Rich Menzel of Everett and roving medic Mark Moody of Bellevue. Fenny Roberts of Salem, Oregon, finished earlier and then ran back to escort me to the finish line where a group of friends had gathered for a “photo session.” I finished in 6:18:33, 2,188th of 2,229 finishers and first 80+ male. The 2009 Seattle Marathon was won by Charlie Sunderlage, 29, of Bellingham…..running his first marathon and leading the field with a time of 2:32:27. During the race he pulled ahead of the others and finished a minute before the second place finisher, Jess Steyick, 27, of Olympia who ran a 2:33:33. In third place was Brandon Fellows, 22, of Mercer Island with a 2:35:19. Running her second marathon, Lauren Breihof, 20, also of Bellingham, won the women’s race with a 2:58:59. In second place was Katrina Tucker, 28 of Vancouver, BC with a time of 3:08:23, and third place went to Catrin Jones, 30, of Victoria, BC with a 3:03:28. CONGRATULATIONS TO: Kelsie Phillips, 25, of Seattle for finishing her first marathon in 4:35:28. She’s the granddaughter of Lenore’s longtime Renton friend, Judy Payseno. Ruben Contreras, Marathon Maniac from Stanwood, for winning the 55-59M division with a 3:17:14……finishing before 73 others in his division! Jake Assink, 17, and Jose “Jojo” Pena, 17, of Yakima for running their first marathons. Jake’s participation was part of a senior class project, and he finished with a time of 4:05:42. Jojo’s time was 4:53:11. Bill Iffrig, 75, of Everett for running a 3:51:48 for first place in the 75-79M Division. He’s been an age class leader in Puget Sound Area races for many years. Marathon Maniacs Cheri Pompeo and her daughter Maureen “Mo” Gillis of Woodinville for running together and finishing in 4:57:47. Cheri is the author of “Fifty Trail Runs in Washington.” THANKS TO: Terry Wood for interviewing me for the Seattle Times. He wrote a great article that appeared in the November 27, 2009, Seattle Times and the Yakima Herald Republic newspapers……and on the homepages of the Marathon Maniacs and MarathonGuide.com websites. Race director Louise Long, Seattle Marathon Association President John Kokes, their staff and the volunteers for making the 2009 Seattle Marathon another successful event. I plan to be at the starting line again in 2010!!! …Written by Bob Dolphin………..Edited, Typed & Distributed by Lenore Dolphin 3:02:42 Chris Warren, 44, Renton, Marathon Maniac (MM)
|