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Coeur d' Alene Marathon
May 27, 2001
Race Report by Bob Dolphin
The weather prediction before the Coeur d' Alene Marathon on Sunday, May 27, 2001, was a bit ominous from my perspective. Low 80's maximum and clear skies were anticipated, and that was accurate. A 10 mph head or side wind in much of the last 15K of the race had a cooling effect. This helped in negotiating two long hills near Lake Couer d' Alene.
There was a footrace to win this marathon. The contest was between Mark Brady, 39, of Spokane and Cliff Banister, 40+, of Pendleton, OR. Cliff pushed the hills and caught up to Mark in the 22nd mile. They ran together to the 24th mile when Mark picked up the pace, and Cliff couldn't respond. Mark's finish time was 2:47:36, while Cliff was almost a minute behind with a 2:48:28.
The women's race was won by Cathy Wellman, 30+, of Portland, OR, with a 3:09:38. The 2000 winner, Jackie Van Allen, 35+, of Spokane was second with a 3:19:48.
There were two wheelchair participants. Our friend Jerry Martin, 53, of Spokane won in 2:06:06, and Jeffrey Erickson of Santa Monica, CA, was second with a 2:18:01. Both said they would attend the YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON next year on April 6, 2002.
On our way to Coeur d' Alene on race day, we met Daren Johnson, 33, of Bowling Green, KY. It was his first visit to Coeur d' Alene, and we offered to guide him to the starting area. While waiting for the race to begin, we learned that this marathon would be his fifth. It would also be his fifth state in his quest for running a marathon in all 50 states. He was a personable young, family man, and we enjoyed getting acquainted with him. He finished in 4:13:34 and plans on adding Washington at our marathon.
I caught up with a very young runner in the 14th mile. He was running effortlessly and showed no signs of discomfort. After the race, Lenore found out for me that this first-time marathoner was Zhenya Mowry, 14, of Coeur d' Alene. He and his sister came to the United States two years ago from Russia. When he told his new parents that he wanted to run a marathon, they arranged for some training from experienced runners. It paid off, and he ran a commendable 4:09:48. He won a 3rd place division award and was 154 of 319 finishers.
Six of us who like to run marathons on consecutive weekends had participated in the Capital City Marathon in Olympia on May 20th. All of us finished with times good enough to place in our age divisions at Coeur d' Alene. (28 overall) 3:21:43, Michael Wakabayashi, 53, Spokane, WA, 3rd 50-54M; (35) 3:25:40, Larry Carroll, 61, Liberty Lake, WA, 2nd 60-64M; (61) 3:38:17, Gunhild Swanson, 56, Spokane, WA, 1st 55-59F; (64) 3:40:21, Mel Preedy, 68, Ravensdale, WA, 1st 65-69M; (131) 4:02:09, Bob Dolphin, 71, Renton/Yakima, WA, 1st 70-74M; (194) 4:21:01, Jack Swanson, 67, Spokane, WA, 3rd 65-69M.
While I went over four hours with a 4:02:09, I finished five minutes ahead of my 1999 time and three minutes ahead of my 2000 time on the present Coeur d' Alene course.
Sylvia Quinn, 65+, of Spokane, retired Bloomsday Race Director, has run all of the Coeur d' Alene Marathons. To participate in this year's 24th annual event to keep her record intact, she walked most of the marathon.... protecting a healing stress fracture. Her husband Pat joined her at the early 5:00 a.m. start. After last year's absence, it was good to see Harold Copeland, 81, of Richland run his 23rd Coeur d' Alene Marathon.
Our friends Pat and Ron Warner from Tacoma were there.....not as participants this time, but as supportive parents for their 24 year old daughter Andrea Warner. She completed the race in a time of 3:19:55 and was the 20-24F division winner.
There were quite a few 50 Staters on hand. Bob Lehew, 58, of Tulsa, OK, and Gina Moore, 49, of Dallas, TX, finished in 4:06:14. Bob is Race Director of the Oklahoma Marathon. I plan to run his race on November 17, 2001, and will add Oklahoma to my state list. Bob ran his 100th marathon at the Boston Marathon this year, a most appropriate race for this milestone event.
I enjoyed the race and compliment the directors on the aid station support. Water, sports drink, energy bar squares, and petroleum jelly were in plentiful supply. The aid station volunteers were friendly and helpful.
We will be back in 2002.
Written by Bob Dolphin
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