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Green River Marathon
June 4, 2005
Race Report by Bob Dolphin
For years I have wanted to run the Green River Marathon, but there were always conflicts and commitments that prevented it. This year was the one when it favorably came together, and Lenore and I advised race director, Marathon Maniac (MM) Steve Barrick of our plans to be there.
We attended the carbo-loading lunch at a Seatac restaurant the day before the race. This gave us an opportunity to get acquainted with some of the participants, race committee members and volunteers and to pick up a well-designed T-shirt. Lenore would be working as a volunteer at the finish line, so she learned of her duties at that time.
On race morning, Saturday, June 4, 2005, we drove from Renton to the Green River Trail near Highway 167 in Kent. At 7:30 a.m. in ideal weather (high 50's, overcast, calm) Steve started the race for the four early starters, Jim Moffitt, MM's Mel Preedy, Gary Wright and myself.
We ran on a riverside paved trail in an attractive, strip parkland with grass and wildflowers nearby. We were on a multi-use trail with runners, walkers, bikers, skaters and dog-walkers sharing the space.
Mel ran out of sight in the first mile, and Jim and I visited as we ran/walked together for five miles. Then as I began to walk for longer periods, he and Gary ran ahead. I enjoyed the familiar trail in Kent and Tukwila where I had run several 5K and 10K races years ago and where I have done some training.
The friendly and helpful volunteers at the 10 well-stocked aid stations kept us supplied with water, Gatorade and gels. Familiar sights along the way were the Riverbend Golf Course, Van Doren Park, Boeing Company buildings and Briscoe Park in Kent. Then came Costco, Strander Boulevard Park, I-405 and Fort Dent Park near the 11 mile mark in Tukwila. From there on the route was new to me except for the final three miles in West Seattle. Route 167, West Valley Highway, I-405, Grady Way, Interurban Avenue and I-5 underpasses and overpasses were used to cross busy highways on the course.
After I passed the Foster Golf Course and the Mile 13 aid stations, the marathon front runners who started at 8:30 a.m. began to pass me. MM Tony Covarrubias and Mary Hanna were the first to go by. They kept their leads and finished first and second overall.
Eventually, the rest of the field and many members of the 12 marathon relay teams passed me as well.
As I ran behind the Boeing Employees Credit Union at Mile 15, I saw a familiar building from a different perspective. From there on, following the river and trail made it easy to stay oriented even when no other runners were in sight to lead the way.
At about mile 17.5 the trail ended. Luckily for me, at that time MM Steve Hamling (webmaster for the marathon) came by, and I followed him through several miles of residential streets before we came to West Marginal Way, a major route to West Seattle. I followed this street on its parallel trails and sidewalks for several miles. At one point the trail went by the broad Duwamish Waterway which is what the Green River becomes before the waterway flows into Elliott Bay of Puget Sound.
A maze of roads under the West Seattle Bridge made the link between West Marginal Way to Harbor Avenue SW a minor diversion for first timers Jim Kunz, MM Guy Yogi and myself, but we took the right road and found Steve Barrick at a nearby aid station.
Because I'm familiar with Harbor Avenue, the Duwamish Head junction with Alki Avenue and the Alki Beach Park, things went well on my final 2+ mile brisk walk.
Lenore, Steve Barrick and some marathon participants welcomed me at the finish area as I came in last with a 6:01:10. The finish line is near a small replica of the Statue of Liberty, an Alki Beach landmark and across the street from Spud's Fish and Chips, a post-marathon gathering place.
All marathoners finished and were given a unique finishers medal with a picture of participant MM Van Phan (last year's first woman) on it. These were made and donated by MM Jim Boyd.
Thanks to Steve Barrick, MM Jim Anderson, Steve Hamling and others who helped make the ninth annual Green River Marathon a success.
Written by Bob Dolphin
Green River Marathon Results - June 4, 2005
3:28:31 Tony Covarrubias
3:31:55 Mary Hanna
3:32:14 Kent Sizer
3:33:55 Rob Keller
3:47:34 Terry Byrnes
3:53:42 Van Phan
3:56:10 Jim Anderson
4:28:47 Steve Coons
4:35:49 Jim Boyd
4:43:09 Guy Yogi
4:43:09 Jim Kunz
4:47:20 Steve Hamling
4:56:57 Mel Preedy
4:58:09 Jim Moffit
5:32:35 Gary Wright
6:01:10 Bob Dolphin
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