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Green River Marathon
June 3, 2006
Race Report by Bob Dolphin
On the morning before the Green River Marathon, Lenore and I made a hurried drive from our Yakima home to a pre-race lunch/meeting at 11:15 a.m. at Galliano's Cucina Restaurant in Seatac, Washington. This gathering was hosted by race co-directors Steve Barrick and Jim Anderson and provided an opportunity for everyone involved in the marathon to visit and to receive up-to-date race instructions.
We were pleasantly surprised to have Don Lang join us during the lunch. He's a Washington state native who lives in Glendale, California, and he holds the record for having run more marathons than anyone else who lives in the Western United States. The San Francisco Marathon was his first, and he returned there last July on his 71st birthday to complete his 400th marathon.
On Saturday, June 3, 2006, Don took a "first light" start. There were 12 of us who took the scheduled 7:30 a.m. "early start" and 22 who left the starting area in Kent at 8:30 a.m. with 10 relay team members.
Among the early starters were 100 Marathon Club North America members Steve Frederickson, Don Lang, Mel Preedy and myself. Steve is a fast walker and finished in a time of 5:22:27. Mel had completed his 300th marathon two weeks earlier at the Capital City Marathon in Olympia, Washington.
Other megamarathoners in the early group were Eugene Bruckert from Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Hajime Nishi of Sakura (near Tokyo), Japan. Eugene's total is well over 100 marathons/ultramarathons that includes a six-day Sri Chinmoy track race in New York City. He came to the Pacific Northwest for a "weekend double," the Green River and San Juan Island marathons. Hajime plans to run his age (57) in marathons in 2006. He has run over 400 marathons and adds to his total by running two weekends of "doubles" each time he comes to the U.S.
The Green River Marathon was a delightful event that provided a basically flat course along the Green River on pedestrian trails for most of its length. The first half was attractive as we passed through a long strip park by the river and several larger parks along the way.
A run through the South Park village gave us the one major hill in the 18th mile. Then we ran on sidewalks that are shared with bicyclists along busy West Marginal Way to West Seattle. The final three miles took us by Elliot Bay where we enjoyed the view of the Seattle skyscrapers and harbor. Several parks were passed to reach the Duwamish Head point. Then we turned to Alki Beach and its shoreline trails that took us to the finish line across the street from Spud's Fish and Chips Restaurant.
A new course record of 2:59:15 was set by Kent Sizer, 51, of Renton as he ran unchallenged to become the winner of the 10th annual Green River Marathon. On
April 1, 2006, he finished in second place overall at the Yakima River Canyon Marathon.
In second place overall and the women's winner was Gayle Zorrilla, 35, of Tacoma with a time of 3:38:50. Merita Pollard came in third with a 3:39:30.
There were 2-8 runners on each relay team, and two of the smaller teams came in first and second. Steve Rowe, Kent Sizer and Eric Badeau, "MMA Moonlighters," finished first with a 3:09:06. The "Maple Acres" husband and wife team of Lisa and Ken Blauvelt was second with a time of 3:27:48.
For my race, I ran the early miles and walked/ran the last 10K to finish in 5:38:40, 22 minutes faster than my time in 2005. I enjoyed running under partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the 60's. The cooling breezes and shade on the course added to the good conditions of the day.
The field of runners was bigger than in previous years, so it was great to have company along the way and to usually have runners in sight throughout the race.
From the Friday lunch at Seatac to the fish & chips at Alki Beach, it had been another great marathon experience. Thanks go to co-directors Steve Barrick and Jim Anderson, the volunteers, and photographers for a well-organized event.
Written by Bob Dolphin
Edited, Typed and Distributed by Lenore Dolphin
Race Results - Green River Marathon, June 3, 2006
2:59:51 - (New CR) Kent Sizer, 51, Renton, Marathon Maniac (MM)
3:38:50 Gayle Zorrilla, 35, Tacoma, MM
3:39:30 Merita T. Pollard
3:40:48 Eric Grenier, MM
3:41:44 Terry Byrnes
3:47:07 Tim Abel
3:48:05 Alicia Alford
3:48:05 Greg Mills
3:52:07 Guy Yogi, 52, Seattle, MM
3:55:13 Steve Barrick, 43, Kent, MM, 100 Marathon Club (100 MC)
3:57:44 Bruce Quam, 51, Manchester, MM
3:57:44 Dave Conger, 53, Port Orchard, MM
3:57:54 Christie Hayes
3:59:10 Gene Morris, 60, Seattle,
4:06:43 Lesa Overfield, 47, Tacoma, MM
4:08:19 Gary Otheim, 63, East Wenatchee, MM
4:10:07 Rich Jones
4:30:18 Arthur Martineau, 30, Renton, MM
4:39:44 Cheri Pompeo, 53, Woodinville, MM, 100 MC
4:40:10 Amy Mathis
4:40:10 Chelsea Scansen
4:43:43 Patch Dahl, 52, Spanaway, MM
4:45:50 Kelly Marker
4:45:50 Sarah Giles
5:01:50 Jim Anderson, MM
5:03:26 Stacy Otter, 29, Bellingham, MM
5:03:26 Diana Robinson, 39, Bellingham, MM
5:03:26 Genia Kacey, MM
5:22:27 Steve Frederickson, 59, Kent, MM, 100 MC
5:24:58 Jon Gissberg, 62, Seattle, MM
5:25:00 Hajime Nishi, 57, Sakura, Japan
5:35:02 Mel Preedy, 73, Ravensdale, MM, 100 MC
5:38:38 Bob Dolphin, 76, Renton/Yakima, MM, 100 MC
6:01:50 Eugene Bruckert, 70, Arlington Heights, IL
7:32:56 Don Lang, 71, Glendale, CA, 100 MC
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