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Seattle Marathon
November 27, 2005
Race Report by Bob Dolphin
At 6:00 a.m. on race day, Sunday, November 27, 2005, it was raining as our houseguests, Jim Scheer and Fenny Roberts, Lenore and I left our Renton home for the 15 mile drive to the Seattle Center start/finish of the Seattle Marathon, Half Marathon and associated walking events. By the 8:15 a.m. start of the marathon the rain had stopped, the skies were clearing, and the temperature was in the high 30's.
We watched the 7:15 a.m. start of the Marathon Walk adjacent to the Space Needle landmark. An hour later it was the marathon runners' turn. In the first mile we passed the Race Headquarters Westin Hotel as we ran under and parallel to the monorail track. At a curve in the track we could look up to see the two monorail trains that were wedged together from a side swiping accident the previous evening.
It was a treat to admire the tall buildings alongside the streets as we ran without traffic and stoplights in downtown Seattle. In a few miles we left the city behind and ran on several lanes of I-90, through a tunnel to reach a floating bridge over Lake Washington, and then to a turn-around in another tunnel on Mercer Island.
From Mile 8 to Mile 11.5 there was an attractive run on Lake Washington Boulevard South along the lakeshore in a long, strip park to a loop around Seward Park, a peninsula that is hilly and forested. Thankfully, the 2.5 mile park loop is at lake level and flat. After the half way timing mat was crossed on the loop, the course retraced the boulevard route and continued north to the 20 Mile marker. It passed by villages, marinas and lakeshore housing and then left the lake area.
The last 10K was scenic, but tough. There were hills to climb, followed by downhills, as the runners passed through part of the Washington Park Arboretum and the forested Interlaken Park. The last 5K paralled I-5 for two miles on residential streets and then headed for the Memorial Stadium for the finish on the artificial turf.
For the SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR it was Uli Steidl's race. When I saw him twice on the course, he was running strong and alone. Announcer Laurel James, former owner of the nationally acclaimed Super Jock and Jill Running Store in Seattle, proclaimed, "It's the Uli Steidl Marathon," as he finished in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 24 seconds. Wearing bib #7, he had broken his own 2001 course record by 14 seconds.
Uli, a native of Germany, and his wife Trisha Rosenberg Steidl live north of Seattle in Shoreline. Trisha is an accomplished marathon runner herself, but an injury kept her from participating. However, she was there to run across the finish line with Uli as he broke several records.
In second place was Jesse Stevick of Spokane who finished with a 2:34:22. He was followed by Gerardo Avila of Federal Way who ran a 2:35:02. Gerardo is stationed at Fort Lewis and was the winner of the 2003 Yakima River Canyon Marathon.
The women's race was won by Sara Otepka, 29, of Seattle in a time of 3:07:44. This was her first Seattle Marathon and her sixth career marathon. She took the lead in the eighth mile and was the front runner for the rest of the race. Lisa Shelito, 30, also of Seattle was second with a time of 3:10:00. With a 3:10:59 Ann Armstrong, 43, of Poulsbo was the third woman overall and the first masters woman.
Congratulations to Cliff Richards, 44, my friend and physical therapist, who ran a 2:50:33 to be the first male masters runner and the 40-44 male age division winner.
Kudos to the Banisters, our friends from Pendleton, Oregon. Jill, 46, won the 45-59F age division and was the second women's master to cross the finish line. When Lenore put a finishing medal around her neck, Jill said, "I passed Cliff." This was a rare accomplishment. When I first met Cliff, he was the overall winner of some marathons, such as the Snake River and Trails End Marathons. He continues to be a talented masters runner.
For the most part, my run went well. I especially liked running by Lake Washington from Mile 5 to Mile 20. It was nice that there are about nine miles of out-and-back on the course where one can observe the race and greet friends.
The migratory waterfowl are returning to the lake for the winter months. Just offshore, I saw ring-necked ducks and buffleheads. Some new pavement on the course in Seward Park made running there a lot easier than in years past.
When I crossed the half way mark, my split suggested that, barring major problems, I would finish in the 5:00-5:30 range. Walking the Madison Street hill in the 21st mile took a toll, and I slowed to a 13-14 minute pace. I crossed the finish mat in the stadium in 5:09:48. This was the third best time of my 20 marathons in 2005, three minutes slower than my fastest. My finishing places were 1,890 of 2,104 and first in the 75-79M group.
A year ago I ran the Seattle Marathon injured and dropped out in the 15th mile, my first ever DNF (Did Not Finish) in a 26.2 mile race. I broke my string of 20 consecutive Seattle marathons, so I'm especially grateful that I was able to finish the marathon this year. It could be the start of my second string of 20!
Congratulations to Yakima Hard Core Runners Club member Rick Becker, 51, of Selah who ran the Seattle Half Marathon in a swift 1:17:21. He won the Masters Division and finished before all runners in the race who were older than 37 years of age!! He was 13th of 8,158 entrants and first in the 50-54M age group.
Thanks go to race director Louise Long, Seattle Marathon Association president John Kokes, the staff, association members and the many volunteers of the Seattle Marathon. It was another great event!
Written by Bob Dolphin
PARTIAL RESULTS: SEATTLE MARATHON, November 27, 2005
2:24:24 Uli Steidl, 33, Shoreline, First Overall, Course Record, 1st 30-34M
2:34:22 Jesse Stevick, 23, Spokane, Second Overall, 1st in age division
2:35:02 Gerardo, Avila, 32, Federal Way, U.S. Army, Third Overall, 2nd
2:50:33 Cliff Richards, 44, Maple Valley, First Masters, 1st
2:57:18 Pete Hansen, 49, Birch Bay, 3rd
2:59:40 Gregg Walchli, 44, Seattle, Marathon Maniac (MM), 6th
3:01:03 James Drew, 44, 9th
3:03:52 Tony Phillippi, 44, Tacoma, MM, 10th
3:04:16 Ken Blauvelt, 40, MM
3:07:44 Sara Otepka, 29, Seattle, First Female Overall, 1st
3:08:59 Tony Covarrubias, 45, Auburn, MM, 6th
3:10:00 Lisa Shillito, 30, Seattle, Second Female Overall, 1st
3:10:20 Doug MacLean, 53, Mercer Island, MM, 6th
3:10:59 Ann Armstrong, 43, Poulsbo, Third Female Overall, 1st
3:11:27 Ruben Contreras, 51, Stanwood, MM, 5th
3:15:01 Steve Yee, 46, Renton, MM
3:15:49 Jill Banister, 46, Pendleton, OR, 1st
3:15:49 Jennifer Yogi, 30, Seattle, MM, 2nd
3:17:57 Eric Gierke, 42, MM
3:18:45 Tony Johns, 32, MM
3:22:05 Kurt Lauer, 44, MM
3:23:12 Chuck Bodeen, 54, Yakima
3:23:53 Terry Sentinella, 41, Anacortes, MM
3:24:25 Cliff Banister, 44, Pendleton, OR
3:24:56 Amy Yanni, 51, MM, 1st
3:24:58 James Klarich, 43, Wapato
3:25:56 Van Phan, 34, Maple Valley, MM, 4th
3:26:22 Doug Arcus, 58, Fort St. John, BC, 2nd
3:26:35 Steve Supkoff, 40, North Bend, MM
3:27:26 Alicia Britt, 43, Seattle, MM, 4th
3:35:31 Al Harman, 44, MM
3:37:35 David Jones, 59, Seattle, MM, 6th
3:37:46 Pete Nicholson, 46, MM
3:38:17 Barb Blumenthal, 49, MM, 4th
3:39:48 May Cheng, 40, MM
3:40:18 Mark Looi, 45, Issaquah, MM
3:40:18 Susan Looi, 45, Issaquah, 5th
3:40:29 Janet Green, 52, Courtenay, BC, 2nd
3:45:45 Dale Shoup, 58, MM
3:47:00 Tim Pate, 41, MM
3:47:59 Larry Carroll, 65, Spokane, 1st
3:48:09 Ethan Bergman, 53, Ellensburg
3:48:18 Christel Elliott, 27, Tacoma, MM
3:48:37 Lesa Overfield, 46, MM, 8th
3:48:44 Bill Voiland, 57, Spokane
3:52:06 Guy Yogi, 51, Seattle, MM
3:53:23 Jon Mahoney, 53, Vernon, BC
3:54:54 Gunhild Swanson, 61, Spokane, MM, 1st
3:56:12 Virginia Rodriguez, 35, Yakima
3:56:46 Ron Fowler, 58, Seattle
3:57:22 Paul Emmett, 59, Redmond
3:58:44 Dennis Spurlock, 43, MM
4:00:11 Ken Bonner, 63, Victoria, BC, 6th
4:00:29 Kirk Hudson, 38, Wenatchee
4:00:34 Judy Fisher, 62, Auburn, MM, 2nd
4:01:25 Bill Torsen, 56, Bellevue
4:03:28 Jeff Perry, 47, MM
4:03:34 Cheri Gillis, 53, Woodinville, MM, 6th
4:05:43 David Olsho, 54, Seattle
4:06:38 Michael Dutton, 35, Everett, MM
4:10:37 Arthur Martineau, 38, MM
4:13:50 Wendy Scott, 33, Mt. Vernon, MM
4:13:53 Jim Kunz, 55, Seattle
4:14:50 Eddy Hahn, 40, Lakewood, U.S. Army, MM
4:17:02 Mel Preedy, 72, Ravensdale, MM, 1st
4:19:29 Beverly Stuart, 40
4:19:53 Michael Shiach, 55, Bainbridge Island, MM
4:20:10 Rick Haase, 60, Shoreline, MM
4:23:29 Greg Judge, 57, Renton
4:35:54 Paul Fouch, 71, 2nd
4:37:08 Todd Barefoot Byers, 42, Long Beach, CA
4:39:34 Ed Hansen, 59, Albany, OR
4:41:04 Evan Fagan, 68, Victoria, BC, 7th
4:41:11 Barefoot Jon Gissberg, 62, Seattle, MM
4:49:06 Stacy Otter, 28, MM
4:49:07 Diana "Slug" Robinson, 39, Bellingham, MM
4:49:46 Diane Wilcox, 53
4:50:13 Steve Frederickson, 59, Kent, MM
4:53:59 Jon Nevitt, 66, Mt. Vernon, 9th
5:04:13 Sue Fauerbach, 58, Renton, MM
5:04:20 Herb Allen, 63, Bainbridge Island, MM
5:09:48 Bob Dolphin, 76, Renton/Yakima, MM, 1st
5:14:07 Bernadette Langdon, 52, Portland, Walked
5:14:41 Andrew Dunn, 47
5:21:52 Fenny Roberts, 53, Salem, OR, MM
5:21:52 Jim Scheer, 63, Vancouver, WA, MM
5:40:49 Ultra Al Miller, Deer Island, OR
6:18:99 Diana Anderson, 68, 4th
6:55:45 Michael Webb, 21, Last Male Runner to finish
6:58:57 Karen Wallace, 50, Last Female Runner to finish
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