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SKAGIT FLATS MARATHON
September 11, 2005
Race Report by Bob Dolphin
This year the date for the 28th Skagit Flats Marathon fell on Sunday, September 11, 2005. Because this was the fourth anniversary of 9/11 when the United States was attacked by terrorists, it was an important date to be recognized.
Terry Sentinella, the new race director, and his staff added a patriotic theme to the marathon and half marathon. An appropriate circular logo was designed for the T-shirts and finishers medals. The red, white and blue colors of our flag were used in conjunction with a black running figure. In the background was a portion of the U.S. flag with the slogan Free and Moving, plus the event name, distances offered and race date.
Kudos to Terry in his first year as race director for upgrading the Skagit Flats Marathon and providing better organized race functions overall!! For the first time there was a hotel race headquarters, the Cotton Tree Inn, at nearby Mt. Vernon. The hotel offered a reduced rate for participants and a room for the new packet pickup/expo the day before the race.
Search and Rescue provided two medics on bicycles and other medical personnel in a roving ambulance and at the finish area. The mobile aid units also served as sweep vehicles.
The mile marker signs provided by Talking Rain, sponsor for the water at aid stations and the finish area, were excellent.
There were 337 participants in the two events. The 120 marathoners started with the half marathoners at 8:00 a.m. near Burlington-Edison High School in Burlington, Washington. Both races finished on the school track, and showers were available in the gymnasium.
The weather, for the most part, cooperated. During the race the temperature was in the 60's with a heavy cloud cover. However, on the return of the out-and-back course there was a constant headwind up to 20 mph that slowed the runners.
As the front runners returned, Pete Hansen, 49, of Birch Bay was leading the way. Wearing bib #1, he kept his lead and became runner #1 with a time of 2:55:45. Last year's winner, Greg Walchli, 43, of Seattle came in second with a 2:59:32. Greg is a member of the 100 Marathon Club North America and of the Marathon Maniacs (MM). Fourteen seconds later Bryon Robertson, 30, crossed the finish line (2:59:46).
When MM Wendy Scott, 33, of Mt. Vernon was returning from the halfway mark, she had a substantial lead over the women runners behind her. Wendy is a former race director for this race, and this year she crossed the finish line in 3:19:27 to become the winner for the women. Second and third places went to Kristen Mossman, 41, (3:24:38) and Cathleen Knutson, 23 (3:42:56).
My run went well in the first half, but the headwind caused me to struggle in the second half. I briskly walked the last five miles because it was my faster gait at the time. I finished with a 5:34:31, 114th of 115, and 2nd of two in the 70+M age division.
At Saturday's expo, Lenore and I had a booth in which we promoted the Yakima River Canyon Marathon (April 1, 2006), the 100 Marathon Club North America, the Marathon Maniacs, and the book From Fairbanks to Boston - 50 Great U.S. Marathons (which includes our YRCM).
We enjoyed talking with runners and their families at the expo and were happy to meet Ron Bucy from West Virginia for the first time. He's a 50 Stater and a member of the 100 Marathon Club who may become the newest member of the Marathon Maniacs!
The current "new member," #177, is Arthur Martineau, 38, of Renton. He recently ran the inaugural Tampico Grey Rock 50K Trail Run near Yakima on August 20th in a time of 7:46:42.
Congratulations to MM Stan Nakashima, 53, of Mt. Vernon who completed his 26th Skagit Flats Marathon on 9/11/05 to bring his total to 128 marathons. He, too, is a member of the 100 Marathon Club.
Congratulations also to Laurie Hatch, 33, of Snohomish for completing her first marathon in 3:58:04. Her next goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Thanks to Terry Sentinella, his committee, staff and all of the volunteers who made the "new version" of the Skagit Flats Marathon a great success.
Written by Bob Dolphin
Partial Results…….Skagit Flats Marathon……September 11, 2005
2:55:45 Pete Hansen, 49, Birch Bay
2:57:32 Greg Walchli, 43, Seattle, MM
2:59:46 Bryan Robertson, 30
3:06:13 Ruben Contreras, 51, Stanwood, MM
3:13:26 Tony Covarrubias, 44, MM
3:14:50 Doug MacLean, 52, Mercer Island, MM
3:17:55 Mark Looi, 45, MM
3:19:26 Wendy Scott, 33, Mt. Vernon, MM
3:26:53 Kurt Lauer, 43, MM
3:31:14 Steve Yee, 46, Renton, MM
3:33:10 Michael Wakabayashi, 57, Spokane, MM
3:47:53 Robert Lopez, 39, MM
3:49:14 Michael Shiach, 54, Bainbridge Island, MM
3:52:11 Gene Morris, 49, Seattle
3:52:26 Bruce Quam, 50
3:53:07 Earl Fenstermacher, 56, MM
3:53:55 Jeff Perry, 46, MM
3:54:47 Christel Elliott, 27, MM
3:58:04 Laurie Hatch, 33, Snohomish
3:58:39 Shelleena Bunker, 33, MM
3:59:07 Ron Fowler, 58, Seattle
3:59:08 Jim Kunz, 56, Seattle
4:08:54 Mel Preedy, 72, Ravensdale, MM
4:10:36 Arthur Martineau, 38, Renton, MM
4:11:01 Stan Nakashima, 53, Mt. Vernon, MM
4:11:32 Cheri Gillis, 53, Woodinville, MM
4:14:21 Rick Haase, 60, MM
4:21:23 Michael Dutton, 35, Everett, MM
4:25:26 Diana Slug Robinson, 38, Bellingham, MM
4:32:21 Ruth Balf, 54, MM
4:32:22 Jon Nevitt, 66, Burlington
4:36:58 Debbie Iketani, 52
4:40:07 Janet Burgess, 44, Renton, MM
4:43:36 Jerry Lawrence, 66
4:45:39 Ron Bucy, 60, Bridgeport, WV
5:16:41 Sue Fauerbach, 58, Renton, MM
5:34:31 Bob Dolphin, 75, Renton, MM
6:19:48 Carol Dellinger, 43, Spokane, MM
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