WENATCHEE MARATHON
April 18, 2009

Running the Wenatchee Marathon in the city in Washington with the same name was something that I had wanted to do since its establishment in 2005.  Race conflicts prevented my running it until this year when the race date of Saturday, April 18, 2009, was open.  I looked forward to exploring the paved trails on both sides of the Columbia River during the run.  

In recent years we’ve been the weekend guests of our niece and nephew, Andrea and Kirk Hudson, and their three children who live in Wenatchee as I ran the nearby Leavenworth Marathon.  Kirk is a well established marathoner.  He ran his 10th marathon at the Yakima River Canyon Marathon on April 4, 2009, and his 11th marathon at Wenatchee to become a candidate to join the Marathon Maniacs (MM).  In this marathon the 12 Maniacs represented 15 % of the field. 

Packet pickup the day before the race was held at Arlberg Sports in downtown Wenatchee.  Timing chips and short sleeved technical shirts were available there.  Lenore and I renewed our acquaintanceship with the race directors who also conduct the Leavenworth Marathon in the fall.

Near the sport store, the various events started and finished by the Performance Arts Plaza on race day.  Early-bird half marathon and marathon walkers left together at 7:30 a.m.   The half marathon started at 8:00 a.m., while the combined field of 10K, marathoners and marathon relay runners left at 8:15 a.m.

The temperature was 40 degrees, and the sky was clear and calm as we ran north on Wenatchee Avenue and on several side streets to the River Trail.  At the 5K mark in a park there was a turn-back for the runners as we continued south through attractive parks and ran two ten-mile loops counter-clockwise on each side of the Columbia River.  Crossings were made at a foot bridge and a pedestrian walkway on a highway bridge.

There was quite a contrast between the two sides.  The south side had three city parks, and the north side was “natural” with woods, fields and sagebrush.

Some spring flowers were noted as I ran by.  Sweet Cherry, white Juneberry, Golden Currant, blue Lupine, pink and white Phlox, and yellow daisy Balsamroot were seen.

The course was relatively flat with a few minor hills, mostly on the north shore and at the access to the bridges.

In the first out-and-back miles it was possible to see the entire field and to greet friends.  During my 14-16 miles the front runners lapped me, and I saw the following men and women pass me:  Winner Michael Bergquist, 36, Medical Lake, 2:51:33, (2) Arthur Dunn, 48, Tacoma, 3:13:16; (3) Clint Wright, 39, Seattle, 3:15:42; (1F) Jodi Brautaset, 33,  Mt. Vernon, 3:18:57; (2F) Selina Danko, 40, Wenatchee, 3:21:23; and (3F) Katherine Wilson, 20, Eatonville, 3:36:30.

Selina Danko wished me well as she passed by.  MM Gary Otheim had introduced her to me before the race, and I congratulated her for her second place finish at the April 4th Yakima River Canyon Marathon.

My race went well, just slower than I wanted it to be.  I finished with a 6:16:39, 76th of 78 overall and second of two in the 75+M Division.  Nephew Kirk Hudson had a good run with a 3:55:45 finish.  He waited for me and walked with me on the footbridge to the timing mat at the finish line.

Congratulations to Loretta Johannessen, 23, 5:58:55, for completing her first marathon and to Mel Preedy, 76, of Ravensdale who was the first 75+M with a time of 5:31:31.

Thanks go to the race directors for putting on a well-organized and interesting marathon.  I hope to return in future years.

………………………………..Written by Bob Dolphin
                                                   Edited, Typed and Distributed by Lenore Dolphin

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WENATCHEE MARATHON – Partial Results……..April 18, 2009

2:51:33  Michael Bergquist, 36, Medical Lake, FIRST OVERALL, First in Division
3:13:16  Arthur Dunn, 48, Tacoma, SECOND OVERALL, 1st
3:15:42  Clint Wright, 39, Seattle, THIRD OVERALL, 2nd
3:18:57  Jodi Brautaset, 33, Mt. Vernon, FIRST WOMAN OVERALL, 1st
3:21:23  Selina Danko, 40, Wenatchee, SECOND WOMAN OVERALL, 1st
3:31:22  Narvie Seals, 42, Marathon Maniac (MM), 1st
3:36:30  Katherine Wilson, 20, Eatonville, THIRD WOMAN OVERALL, 1st
3:51:25  Sherry Mahoney, 44, Palm Desert, CA, MM, 2nd
3:55:45  Kirk Hudson, 41, Wenatchee, 3rd
3:59:38  Jon Mahoney, 57, Palm Desert, CA, MM, 2nd
4:03:24  Deanna Ashby, 36, MM, 1st
4:06:28  Ron Fowler, 61, Seattle, 2nd
4:07:56  Bill Voiland, 61, Richland, 3rd
4:11:20  Lesa Overfield, 50, MM, 3rd
4:16:29  Jim Kunz, 60, Seattle
4:17:56  Sharon Reese, 45, MM, 3rd
4:22:05  Gary Otheim, 66, East Wenatchee, MM, 1st
4:32:43  Dennis Spurlock, 46, MM
4:42:49  Pamela Brulotte, 36, MM
4:49:48  Janet Burgess, 48, Renton, MM
5:31:31  Mel Preedy, 76, Ravensdale, MM, 1st
5:58:55  Loretta Johannessen, 23
6:16:39  Bob Dolphin, 79, Renton/Yakima, MM, 2nd