ROYAL VICTORIA MARATHON
October 12, 2008
On Sunday morning, October 12, 2008, Lenore and I were in our room at the Embassy Inn at Victoria, BC, waiting for the start of the 29th annual Royal Victoria Marathon on the street below us. It would be my 19th running of this beautiful and well-organized marathon that is near the top of my “favorite” list.
For the first time ever, around 10,000 participants registered in the Kids’ Run (900+), 8K (2,140), Half Marathon (4,800) and Marathon (2,075). By staying in a room that is the closest to the starting line, we could listen to the P.A. System and watch each race field gather and then leave at the scheduled time.
At 6:30 a.m., in darkness, the hundred or so early participants began their run/walk. To be eligible for this start, a projected finish time of 5-7 hours was required. Because this group is excluded from the age-class competition, I chose not to leave at this time. I preferred to start with my friends and enjoy running with the main field of runners as I hoped to place in my 75-79 Male age division.
At 7:30 a.m. we watched the start of the Half Marathon, and one hour later it was time for the full Marathon to begin. The temperature at that time was about 50 degrees, the sky was overcast and calm, so this mild, fall weather made for good running. It was one of the best days for running at Victoria that I can remember.
With flat sections that are interspersed with easy grades uphill and down, this course is a pleasurable one. Starting next to the Parliament Buildings in Victoria, the runners soon passed the historical Empress Hotel that faces the Inner Harbour. We then saw the city center on the way to many miles of attractive, landscaped suburbs. A tour of Beacon Hill Park was followed by running along sea bluffs and beaches.
At Oak Bay Village we were on the main street before we went to Oak Bay and admired the marine views. Much of the course had an out-and-back configuration, so I was able to see the whole field. When it became apparent that I hadn’t seen anyone going in the same direction, I checked my position on a long, straight uphill in the eleventh mile in the Victoria Golf Course area. I couldn’t see anyone in front of me nor behind me. Becoming apprehensive about being the last runner and possibly delaying the closure of the aid stations and finish area, I pressed on faster and hoped to pass one or more runners. Three miles later I overtook a middle-aged male runner and no longer felt that I was the “last” person on the course!
After the 14.6 mile turn-around, I soon saw three other runners who were headed for the turn-around. Eventually, there were eleven others behind me. In the last mile, I concentrated on improving my Portland Marathon time of the previous week and successfully achieved this goal by three minutes.
I appreciated the kind words that announcer Steve King broadcast as I crossed the finish line. Lenore was waiting for me with my “congratulatory hug” and a finishers medal. My time was 5:21:58, and I placed 1,928th of 2,039, and first in the 75-79M division.
The winner of the marathon was Steve Osaduik, 25+, of Langley, BC, who won the race with a time of 2:25:31. In 2007, he had won the race with a record-setting time of 2:20:14. Todd Howard, 25+, of Victoria was the second marathoner to finish. His time was 2:28:42. In third place overall was Jason Terauchi-Loutitt, 30+, of New Westminster, BC, with a 2:31:12.
Cheryl Murphy, 35+, of Victoria won the women’s race with a 2:43:00. In second and third place were Wendy Terris, 35+, a Marathon Maniac of Milwaukie, Oregon, (2:48:03), and Katherine Moore, 30+, of Vancouver, BC, (2:54:12).
In addition to the overall winners and the age group winner, other runners who were recognized at the post-race awards ceremony at the Victoria Conference Centre were: Betty Jean McHugh, Jon Mahoney and Janet Green.
Betty Jean McHugh is an 80 year old marathon runner from North Vancouver, BC, who BROKE THE WORLD RECORD for women over 80 by completing the Royal Victoria Marathon on October 12, 2008, in a time of 4:36:38! The record of 4:49:52 had previously been set at the 2004 New York Marathon by 100 Marathon Club North America member Helen Klein of Rancho Cordova, California.
Marathon Maniac Jon Mahoney of Palm Desert, California (formerly from Vernon, BC), ran his 300th MARATHON. After he crossed the finish line with his wife Sherry, Lenore was there to present him with a commemorative medallion and 300 Marathon pin from the 100 Marathon Club NA. The night before the marathon, Jim Kunz had presented Jon with a special trophy from the Evil Triplets.
The Victoria Marathon is very special to Janet Green of Courtenay, BC. This race was her FIRST, 100th and now her 200th MARATHON. This time, the goal wasn’t an easy one to reach. She’s a doctor at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Comox, BC, and unfortunately received three broken ribs in a recent fall there. Marathon #199 at Leavenworth the weekend before was a BIG challenge. On October 12th, wearing bib #200 she persevered and accomplished what she had set out to do……run Marathon #200 at the Royal Victoria Marathon. Lenore was at the finish line to present her with a 200 pin from the 100 Marathon Club NA, and fellow marathoner Evan Fagan of Victoria was responsible for a recognition gathering in her honor.
As in past years, the Carbo Gala Dinner was the best pre-race meal that we have attended. This event in the Embassy Hotel Crystal Ballroom had an excellent buffet dinner, many drawing prizes and Dick Beardsley as the guest speaker.
Years ago we met marathoner Bill Schnitzler from Calgary, Alberta, on the ferryboat ride from Victoria to the mainland, so it’s a treat each year to see him and his wife at this race. They, their daughter and son-law-joined us for the dinner. This was the time we became acquainted with Marathon Maniacs Betsy Rogers (MM #1077) and Matt Hagen (MM #1078). The next morning we saw them again at the Embassy Inn and all of us agreed that we were lucky the power outage in Victoria occurred on Sunday night rather than the night before.
I’m sure that Race Director Rob Reid, his committee and the volunteers all feel the same way. Thanks to them, we had another great marathon weekend in Victoria.
…………………………………Written by Bob Dolphin
Edited, Typed and Distributed by Lenore Dolphin
2:25:31 Steve Osaduik, 25+, Langley, BC, OVERALL WINNER, First in Age Division
2:28:42 Todd Howard, 25+, Victoria, BC, SECOND OVERALL, 2nd
2:31:12 Jason Terauchi-Loutitt, 30+, New Westminster, BC, THIRD OVERALL, 1st
2:43:00 Cheryl Murphy, 35+, Victoria, BC, FIRST WOMAN OVERALL, 1st
2:48:03 Wendy Terris, 35+, Milwaukie, OR, SECOND WOMAN OVERALL,
Marathon Maniac (MM), 2nd
2:54:12 Katherine Moore, 30+, Vancouver, BC, THIRD WOMAN OVERALL, 1st
3:00:54 Annie Thiessen, 35+, Tacoma, WA, MM, 3rd
3:17:24 Eric Gierke, 45+, Shoreline, WA, MM
3:20:43 Rick Cooney, 50+, Sechelt, BC, MM
3:28:14 Bill Schnitzler, 60+, Calgary, AB
3:35:17 Robert Britain, 50+, Wayzata, MN, MM
3:40:48 Matt Hagen, 35+, Seattle, MM
3:44:46 Sherry Mahoney, 40+, Palm Desert, CA, MM
3:44:46 Jon Mahoney, 55+, Palm Desert, CA, MM
3:46:36 Loreli Sadowski, 45+, Port Coquitlam, BC, MM
3:52:58 Robert Roach, 30+, Lancaster Park, AB, MM
3:54:02 Janet Green, 55+, Courtenay, BC
4:00:26 Betsy Rogers, 40+, Seattle, MM
4:04:40 Ken Bonner, 65+, Victoria, BC, 2nd
4:06:22 Will Gerber, 70+, Algergrove, BC, 2nd
4:08:04 Mae Palm, 65+, Squamish, BC, 1st
4:16:01 Richard Sadowski, 45+, Port Coquitlam, BC
4:17:27 Jim Kunz, 55+, Seattle, WA
4:24:07 Linda Walter, 55+, Puyallup, WA, MM
4:24:10 David England, 50+, Richmond, BC, MM
4:31:53 Jill Hudson, 45+, Seattle, MM
4:36:38 BETTY JEAN McHUGH , 80, North Vancouver, BC, WORLD RECORD, 1st
5:07:51 Richard Stewart, 50+, Prince George, BC, MM
5:21:58 Bob Dolphin, 79, Renton/Yakima, WA, MM, 1st
5:40:39 Grant Yule, 80+, Prince George, BC, 1st
6:46:47 Carol Dellinger, 45+, Spokane, WA