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Skagit Flats Marathon
September 9, 2000
Race Report by Bob Dolphin
The weather for the Skagit Flats Marathon at Burlington, WA, in early
September is usually clear and warm with temperatures in the 70's. This year,
on September 9, 2000, there was a favorable turn of events during the
race....a light rain and cool temperatures in the high 50's and low 60's. It
was a good day for running through farmlands with a tail wind in the first 13
miles on the out-and-back course. Only after turning back at the halfway mark
did we learn that we would be running into a 10-15 mile per hour wind on our
way to the Burlington-Edison High School where the race started and would
finish. Running against the wind and reaching the finish line eventually was
the challenge of the day.
I ran with Ron Fowler, Greg Judge, his daughter Yunae Wilson, Paul Emmett,
and Jim Kunz in the early miles, and we talked about marathoning. Greg had run
the Paris Marathon in April, an experience we thought was "cool." My
pace slowed by 10K, so this group kept their pace and ran on ahead. They all
finished with good times in the 3:32 to 3:51 range.
Between Miles 8 and 10, I ran with Jim Boyd, a recent transplant to Seattle
from San Diego, CA. We had corresponded for several years, but this was the
first time that we actually met and became better acquainted. He has an
enviable record that includes: (1) Completing a marathon in all of the 50
states and the District of Columbia as a member of the 50 States and DC Club;
(2) Running all of the many marathons in the state of California; (3) Running
15-20 marathons and ultras per year with a combined total of 163.
My race went reasonably well. The winds prevented me from running a Boston
qualifier and even a sub-four-hour marathon. However, my time of 4:00:19 was
my best Skagit Flats time since 1996. I finished 56th of 106 and first (and
only) 70+ male runner. Mel Preedy was running the Berlin Marathon in Germany
that weekend, so there was a void in the 65-69M ranks as a consequence.
Gary Rasmussen, 43, of British Columbia was late in signing up for the
marathon at the day-of-race registration. He hurriedly filled out the form,
stripped off his running suit, and dashed to join the runners just before the
race started. He took the lead and held it throughtout the race for a 2:58:47
win. In second and third were Doug Maclean, 48, (3:03:04) and Daniel Haffner,
24, (3:06:54.)
The first woman to finish was Laura Baird, 31, (3:28:40.) She was followed
by Yunae Wilson, 29, (3:32:40) and Amy Dahl, 29, (3:37:04.)
First time marathoners from Castle Rock, WA, were Phillip Ayoub, 17, and
Marty Byrne, 19, who ran together for most of the race. They passed me at Mile
4 looking strong and finished in 3:53:08 and 3:56:27.
Carol Burwell, 39, of Yakima (3:42:29) visited with Lenore and me in the
finish area. She was sporting a classy Boston Marathon 2000 jacket. I'm always
impressed with Boston qualifiers!
Don Zahn from Richland, WA, is back on the marathon circuit after an
absence of several years. It was good to see him and his wife Peggy before the
start of the race.
Lenore and I always enjoy meeting 50 States and DC Club members at the
marathons. Carol Dellinger came from Spokane. Edson Sanches from New York
City, and Bill Mack from Defiance, OH, added WASHINGTON to their list of
states.
In the concurrent half marathon, I saw running friends, Daulot Fountain,
Pat Warner, Floyd Copeland, and Turtle. Daulot, 44, placed 7th overall, and
was 3rd in the 40-44M division. Pat, 55, ran with her daughter Andrea and
placed 1st in the 55-59F group. Andrea placed 1st in the 20-24F group with a
time of 1:40:02. Floyd ran a 2:06:59 and was 2nd in the 65-69M division. We
are always running into "Turtle" at our races and as volunteers for
the Seattle Marathon registration. He ran the half marathon in 1:50:49, hardly
a turtle pace! We finally learned that this 32 year old avid runner has a last
name. It's Van Dalen, and his first name is Pete.
Race director, Marshall Will, and his wife Jean left early to meet a tour
group for their flight to Europe and a bicycle tour of France. Steve and Becky
Wade and the other members of the Skagit Runners conducted the awards ceremony
for the marathon and provided another great finish for a super marathon.
Written by Bob Dolphin
Partial Results of the Skagit Flats Marathon
3:15:30 Mike Wakabayashi, 52, 1st 50-54M
3:28:40 Laura Baird, 31, 1st overall female
3:28:43 Glenn Tachiyama, 43, Marathon Achiever (MA)
3:32:40 Yunae Wilson, 29, 1st 25-29F
3:32:41 Greg Judge, 52, 3rd 50-54M
3:33:25 David Olsho, 49
3:36:18 Leland Wakelin, 41
3:36:54 Mike Dutton, 30, MA
3:37:10 Michael Lacombe, 45
3:38:56 Paul Emmett, 54
3:42:29 Carol Burwel, 39, 1st 35-39F
3:43:36 Jim Boyd, 58, 2nd 55-59M
3:44:41 Matt Hennigan, 21, 2nd 20-24M
3:45:42 Dave Dutton, 44, MA
3:50:47 Edson Sanches, 50
3:51:01 Jim Kunz, 51
3:51:02 Ron Fowler, 53
3:53:08 Phillip Ayoub, 17, 1st 19 & Under M
3:56:27 Marty Byrne, 19, 2nd 19 & Under M
4:00:19 Bob Dolphin, 70, MA, 1st 70+M
4:05:10 Lynne Werner, 49, 2nd 45-49F
4:07:53 Richard Andrews, 57
4:11:13 Stan Nakashima, 48, MA
4:11:14 John Nevitt, 61, 3rd 60-64M
4:11:15 Mark Konodi, 44, MA
4:13:41 Melinda Moore, 46, 3rd 45-49F
4:13:42 Ken Bonner, 57
4:19:43 Steve Pierce, 38, MA
4:23:31 Cheri Gillis, 48, MA
4:29:41 Don Zahn, 46
4:35:28 Diane Wilcox, 48
4:36:40 Andrew Dunn, 41
4:41:30 Bill Mack, 59
4:48:14 Jim Davison, 67, 1st 65-69M
5:43:15 Ed Galiger, 61
6:10:43 Carol Dellinger, 38, MA
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